QUAKER TESTIMONIES

Quakers do not have a creed which has to be believed by members of the Religious Society of Friends but they do have testimonies. These are not written statements but principles by which they try to live. One phrase which is often used to express such a principle is “there is that of God in every one” Our testimonies have developed over time, arising from Quakers’ experiences and inspired by Jesus’ commandments to love God and to love our neighbours. They are an attempt to put faith into action. This is not easy. Individual Quakers may interpret them differently according to their own light and to the needs of the times we live in.

Truth and Integrity

Quakers try to live according to the deepest truth we know which we believe comes from God. This means speaking the truth to all. Integrity is a guiding principle not only in individual lives but also in public affairs. There is a long tradition of Quakers speaking truth to power by acting as watchdogs of the institutions of government and political life.

Equality

This testimony arises from the Quaker belief that all people are of equal spiritual worth. From the beginning women have always played a vital part in Quakerism. Quakers have no priests or hierarchy.  Today Quakers work for racial justice and with homeless people, refugees, prisoners and many others who are socially excluded and their record of involvement in reforming society is good. (slave trade, racism, prison, welfare of workers, treatment of the mentally ill )

Simplicity

Nowadays Quakers are concerned about the excesses and unfairness of our consumer society. They seek to avoid defining their place in society by acquiring possessions. They are concerned about fair trade and try to avoid goods produced through the exploitation of others. The testimony to simplicity has always been expressed in their Meeting houses and in their worship

Peace

This testimony is perhaps the best known. Like the other testimonies it arises out of our conviction that love is at the heart of existence. It is not written down but Quakers do quote the Declaration made to Charles the second “We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fighting with outward weapons for any end or under any pretence whatsoever” Quakers advocate the resolution of conflicts by non-violent means and try to work for reconciliation between people. They recognise that there will be difficulties on many occasions when Friends try to discern the way forward in such areas as peacekeeping. In the last few years Quakers have been active in peace work in many areas including Bosnia, Palestine and Rwanda.

The Nobel peace prize was awarded to the Religious Society of Friends in 1947 for, “consistent involvement in working for peace through the years and for practical work enabling people to regain confidence in themselves and to rebuild their lives after the two world wars in Europe”.

The environment.

This is developing as a new testimony. Quakers are concerned about the right use of the world’s resources. It cannot be right to sacrifice the future to the present or to leave the world poorer in species and beauty than we found it. The world is a wonderfully rich resource for all our needs and we should treasure and preserve it.