What is a Quaker?

[kerrywins]

Is it the same thing as someone who's Amish?

[Az]

1. No

Quackers are a theistic sect that believes one's relationship with God is only possible through a personal relationship. Thus Quacker services and practices focus on developing that relationship through meditation and internal examination. Quackers can be part of modern culture and can appear as anyone around you.

[kerrywins]

2. thanks....

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. Plus they are a completely pacifistic sect

they believe that all forms of violence and war are completely wrong. Most are a pretty liberal and accepting people. If ever I were to convert to any other religion I would go Quaker

[Gato Moteado]

8. nixon was a quaker.....

not a very good one i guess. he wanted to nuke vietnam.

[Az]

10. Nixon unfortunately was likely a nontheist

He had all the earmarks of a person that claimed spirituality as a cover for political reasons.

I of course say unfortunately because as Robertson is a bad example of a Christian Nixon is a bad example of a nontheist (it is true).

[LynneSin]

13. West Coast Quakers tend to be more conservative that east coast ones.

East Coast Quakers (like myself) practice a non-structured service where there isn't a preacher who leads the service but instead led by all those who attend. However, as you move west, you'll find more and more Quaker services that are "structured" meaning that they have a devotional leader to run the Sunday services.

[Reverend_Smitty]

14. I did say most...

I guess he was one of the Quakers that didn't get the "memo" about the tenants of his religion

[yellowcanine]

17. Somehow it didn't work for Dick Nixon. His mother was Quaker but I

am quite sure he never was. Quakers originated in England in the 17th century. They were of completely different origin from Amish, Mennonites, and Dunkard Brethern, who were Anabaptists originating in Switzerland and Germany in the 16th century. Quakers have tended to be much more politically active than the Anabaptist groups over the years. In particlar, the Quakers were heavily involved in the slavery abolitionist movement in both England and America. While the Anabaptists opposed slavery they did not become as involved in the movement - though some apparently did participate in the Underground Railroad and supposedly a bishop at the Dunkard meeting house on the Antietam battlefield used to go into Sharpsburg and buy slaves at auction and free them.

[Sticky]

6. I worked for a Quaker

He was a wonderful person who never tried to convert me. I respected him because he LIVED his religion, never preached it. His honesty sometimes bordered on rudeness and his ethical practices often lost him customers. I admired him.

[artfan]

4. NO

very different they are very into non violence and related issues. You should find a "Friends Meetinghouse" and check it out. I am a UU but Quakers are very cool people. They do not reject the modern world or dress 'weird'. The history of the Quaker religion is interesting.

[deutsey]

7. Quakers were/are very active in our local anti-war activities

It was them, the UU Fellowship I attend, and the Church of the Brethren that have formed a loose coaltion here in our conservative area of Maryland.

[imenja]

5. they have a very strong commitment to social justice

They were the first religious group to come out against slavery. They did so early, the 1600s, just as slavery was taking hold in Virginia.

It is a religion that values simplicity. They call their places of worship Meeting Houses, not churches. I'm not certain about this, but I have the sense that their equivalent of a minister has less authority than in other Christian denominations. I think all members are free to speak during their services.

[Az]

9. They also started the idea of facilitators rather than leaders

The reason for the simplicity and other aspects is because they do not believe one person can lead another to God. It is a personal relationship and only one's self can lead there. Their house of worship is just a place for people to come together to meditate and discuss their shared passion. No one member is the leader and each session is lead by a different person (facilitator) each time.

Their services may seem very boring to those new to the sect. Very little goes on as the point is for the individuals to meditate and commune with God personally. Intervention of a preist or a leader would be disruptive to their communion.

[imenja]

12. question

How do you happen to know so much about religion?

[Az]

16. I take time to find out

There are a lot of people investing time in a lot of beliefs. I don't believe that all aspects of these beliefs are wrong. There is wisdom contained within each surviving belief system. Therefor there is value in investigating them.

Furhtermore keen insite can be found by discussing things with people heavily invested in various beliefs. Despite the fact that when it boils down to absolute truths concerning the conclusions drawn from their beliefs are possibly wrong, there still exists that fact that the sects work to varying degrees.

Beliefs do not hang around if they don't work at some social level. Over time they tap into parts of our nature that may not be so readily seen by simple objective observation. Turning one's back on wisdom is foolish in my opinion. Too many fine thinkers have come from a background of belief to dismiss such things out of hand.

[Teaser]

15. True but only for

unprogrammed meetings. Programmed meetings (common in the midwest) do have the generic protestant pastoral leadership structure.

[China_cat]

18. I am a Quaker

who belongs to an unprogrammed meeting. Unprogrammed means that there is no 'minister', pastor, or other 'spiritual leader'. The 'leading of the light' is up to each and every participant who sits in silence and waits for it. The clerk of Meeting keeps the time and ends the hour with the handshake. Takes some getting used to but is wonderfully refreshing.

And you don't even have to believe in a god to be a Quaker.

[Teaser]

11. "The Society of Friends"

Quakerism, or the Society of Friends, is an acreedal religious organization established by revelation to George Fox in the 1600s.
Although regarding statements of faith as idolatry, Quakerism as originally practiced was a gnostic and charismatic movement whereby direct experience of the divine was the goal. Initially manifesting itself in ways that are similar to charismatic churches today (hence the term Quaker- lots of shaking and rolling around) the practice of Quakerism has evolved into a largely meditative one. Quaker meetings tend to revolve around periods of meditation during which one waits to receive divine impetus to speak or do or remain silent. Unprogrammed Quaker meetings are usually hour long meditation sessions, lacking any pastor, singing, or sermon, while programmed Quaker meetings tend to incorporate both meditation practice and traditional protestant aspects of the worship service.

The Society of Friends does not force any dogma upon an adherent, but it is generally expected that members of the Society will exhibit the Quaker "peace testimony": commitment to nonviolent resolution of problems as well as support the notion that decisions affecting the meeting be taken only after the "sense of the meeting" (something like concensus, but divinely guided) is obtained.

[Minimus]

19. I am a Quaker and very proud of it. Quakers have always

believed in equality of all people. My father was raised using "Thee" and "Thou" because it put everyone on the same level.

Quakers were at the fore front of women's issues, very involved in getting our right to vote, involved in the Underground Railroad, I have ancestors that "purchased" slaves in order to give them their freedom. My great great grandmother was a Quaker minister, although not a minister as most people relate too. She was basically the guidance of the Meeting House.

The Meeting House I attend was built on land given by my father's maternal side of the family, built with lumber from their land, and his paternal side of the family were the first congregation "elders". It is so rich in family history - I love that Meeting House. And one of coolest things about that Meeting House is their are no locks on the doors.

[imenja]

20. that's awesome

I have nothing but admiration for the Quaker faith, especially because of their historic opposition to slavery, the first denomination in the US to oppose the institution.