"Society of Friends" redirects here. For the Greek movement for independence, see Filiki Eteria.
Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends.[2] Members of these movements are generally united by a belief in each human's ability to experience the light within or see "that of God in every one".[3] Some profess a priesthood of all believers inspired by the First Epistle of Peter.[4][5][6][7] They include those with evangelical, holiness, liberal, and traditional Quaker understandings of Christianity. There are also Nontheist Quakers, whose spiritual practice does not rely on the existence of God. To differing extents, the Friends avoid creeds and hierarchical structures.[8] In 2007, there were about 359,000 adult Quakers worldwide.[9] In 2017, there were 377,557 adult Quakers, 49% of them in Africa.[10]
Religious Society of Friends
George Fox.jpg
George Fox, the principal leader of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakerism)
Origin
Mid-17th century
Some 89% of Quakers worldwide belong to "evangelical" and "programmed" branches,[11] that hold services with singing and a prepared Bible message coordinated by a pastor. Some 11% practise waiting worship, or unprogrammed worship (commonly Meeting for Worship), where the unplanned order of service is mainly silent and may include unprepared vocal ministry from those present.[12] Some meetings of both types have Recorded Ministers present; Friends recognised for their gift of vocal ministry.[13]
The proto-evangelical Christian movement known as Quakerism arose in mid-17th-century England from the Legatine-Arians and other dissenting Protestant groups breaking with the established Church of England.[14] The Quakers, especially the Valiant Sixty, sought to convert others by travelling through Britain and overseas preaching the Gospel. Some early Quaker ministers were women.[15] They based their message on a belief that "Christ has come to teach his people himself," stressing direct relations with God through Jesus Christ and direct belief in the universal priesthood of all believers.[16] This personal religious experience of Christ was acquired by direct experience and by reading and studying of the Bible.[17] Quakers focused their private lives on behaviour and speech reflecting emotional purity and the light of God, with a goal of Christian perfection.[18][19]
Past Quakers were known to use thee as an ordinary pronoun, refuse to participate in war, wear plain dress, refuse to swear oaths, oppose slavery, and practise teetotalism.[20] Some Quakers founded banks and financial institutions.
