First Generation
In the mid-1600s, the world was in turmoil for the English. Fighting between Parliament and the Crown was intense. Religious factions were springing up around the country. A great deal could be said about what made Friends “unique”, but for the length of this post, let’s focus on two things - the “Inward Light” and egalitarianism.
In an era when Protestants were pushing back against religious authority, they were using biblical references to support their positions. This encouraged a stance of “sola scriptura”, where the Bible was viewed as the sole authority. Quakers valued the texts of Christianity, but they also believed in the “Inward Light” that gave continuing revelation. This was a stance that brought them a great deal of suffering at the hands of their contemporaries.
Also important was an egalitarianism that brought them many enemies at the time. Quakers believed that they only had to remove their hats for God, they believed that the personal form of “you” (thee and thou) were to be used for everyone, they refused to take oaths and they believed that women had as much right to speak as men. These beliefs and subsequent actions were not well received by wider English society.
All of this is to say that Quakers were unique. They pushed against the social fabric for their beliefs. They suffered tremendously and the movement grew as a result.
18th Century
After persecution ended, Quakers entered a “contemplative” era referred to as “Quietism”. Some more recent commentaries have referred to this as a stagnant or stale stage of Quakerism. This writer would disagree with that assessment. This was a stage of deep contemplation of what it meant to be Quaker. This was the century in which Quakers finally took a stand against one of the greatest injustices of their time - slavery.
19th Century
Many Quakers were swept up in the “Revivalism” of the 19th Century, especially in North America. Their focus began to shift to the theological focuses of their contemporaries. They became more like the groups around them. Some feel that they lost their way as Quakers.
Now
There are statistics that suggest that Quakerism will be “dead” in North America by the end of the 21st Century. Current membership is in the thousands. What is next?
A Unique People
If Quakers want to survive, they need to attract others by once again being unique. We need values that are consistent and firm, to attract others to our message, lives and fellowship. We cannot talk about peace, while we kill others. We cannot talk about equality, while we subjugate others. We cannot talk about simplicity, while our diets are the result of a complex and oppressive system. We are not living our values.
People can join any number of social progress organisations if they want to protest injustices. People can join any number of Protestant organisations if they want the same old tired theological arguments.
Quakers started as a vibrant and visionary people. We have lost our way and people have lost interest. If we want to be a city on the hill, helping to illuminate the world, we need to get ourselves sorted.
There is no way but peace - and peace is the way.
May all beings know peace!
Aroha nui,
Tūruapō ❣
25 Aug 2025 (GMT +13)