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Officially known as the Religious Society of Friends or Friends Church, the Protestant religious movement is also known as the Friends or the Quakers.

The movement began in England in the mid-17th century as one of the more radical expressions of the Puritan movement. The founder of the Quaker movement, George Fox, was a mystic and social activist who began preaching in 1647 after he had experienced what he described as an inner illumination, or inner light, which remains a part of the beliefs of members of the various Quaker groups today.

Fox was also a Dissenter, one of the English Separatists who parted ways with the Church of England during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. He rebelled against the religious authorities by teaching an uncompromising and unusual approach to Christianity, which included pacifism.

In 1650, Fox was arrested and charged with blasphemy. In his autobiography, Fox wrote that it was the magistrate who first referred to his followers as Quakers. Although it was first used in ridicule, the term became accepted and used among Quakers. Other terms that were used to describe the movement and its followers included True Christianity, Saints, Children of the Light, and Friends of the Truth.

It wasn't until after the fall of the Puritan Commonwealth and the restoration of the English Monarchy that the Quaker movement was able to grow.

The Society of Friends hold that the Bible was not the end of revelation, but that every believer possesses an inner light through which the living Spirit could be contacted. At meetings, Quakers would wait quietly for the Spirit to speak through one of its members. Often, the coming of the Spirit upon a member would be characterized by involuntary body movements, which is what led to their being referred to as Quakers. As messages were received and related, the congregation would examine them in light of the teachings of Jesus.

Friends were taught to lead simple lives. Thus, they refrained from jewelry and colorful clothing. When most people discarded the use of the English familiar tense in daily speech, the Friends continued to use it for a long period of time.

They also became known for their activism against slavery, for their pacifism, and for prison reform.

The Quakers found a home in North America when one of their members, William Penn, turned his land grant into the Pennsylvania Colony, inviting fellow Quakers and other persecuted religious minorities to settle there. The Quakers settled in and around Philadelphia and in southern New Jersey.

Their growth was inhibited by the Revolutionary War, as their pacifist stance was resented by many, and their strong anti-slavery positions restricted expansion of the movement into the Southern states.

Today, the theological beliefs of the various Quaker groups vary considerably. As most Quakers believe in continuing revelation, diversity has always been part of Quaker theology.

Conservative Friends share some of the beliefs of the Quaker founder, George Fox, and the early Friends. Sometimes known as Wilburites for their founder, John Wilbur, some of the Conservative groups continue to wear plain dress, speak the plain language, and are usually active in rural areas or small villages.

Evangelical Friends regard Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, and adhere to religious beliefs similar to that of other evangelical Christians. Evangelical Friends International is one of the Evangelical Quaker groups.

Gurneyite Friends, such as the Friends United Meeting, are a modernized form of Evangelical Quaker, first taught by Joseph John Gurney. Nearly half of the worldwide membership of Quakers belong to this group, who place a stronger emphasis on the authority of the Bible than on direct experiences.

Holiness Friends are influenced by the Holiness movement, particularly John Wesley's doctrine of Christian perfection or sanctification. This view is found in the Central Yearly Meeting of Friends and the Holiness Mission of the Bolivian Evangelical Friends Church.

Liberal Quakerism is a reference to those who have been influenced by liberal Christian theology, believing that the Bible represents its human author's beliefs and feelings about God, and multiple interpretations of Scripture are acceptable. This group is represented in the Friends General Conference, Britain Yearly Meeting, and Beanite Quakerism.

Universalist Friends, such as the Quaker Universalist Fellowship, believe in religious pluralism, believing that there are many paths to God. Universalists do not necessarily consider themselves to be Christian or even religious.

The Society of Friends, Quakers, and any of the various groups within the Quaker movement, are the focus of topics in this category, regardless of perspective.

Categories

Conservative Friends

Evangelical Friends

Gurneyite Friends

Holiness Friends

Liberal Friends

Universalist Friends

 

 

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