Beliefs
Quakers have beliefs, but not creeds or dogma. To Quakers (or Friends) the primary source of spiritual inspiration, and the central belief, is that each individual is endowed with a measure of the divine, called the 'Inner Light', or 'that of God'. Quakers hold that each person can experience the Inner Light in their daily lives without the need for formal creeds, theologies, or doctrines. Seeking this measure of the divine is at the heart of Quaker worship and life.
The concept of the Inner Light, or 'that of God', is central to Quaker beliefs. This measure of the divine is part of an individual's soul or inner being, and was inspired in part by the Biblical passage (John 1:9) referring to the "true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world". What individuals do with this Inner Light is in large part left to their free will and choice. Quakers recognize that there is the potential for good and evil in all of us, but believe that we can turn to this light, choosing to become 'children of God' or 'children of the Light'.
Believing in the possibility of a direct experience with the divine is not unique to Quakers, but Quakers are unique among Christian religions in the importance they place on the importance and availability of this experience. Quakers hold this direct experience as the primary source of religion, de-emphasizing other sources such as books, set prayers, and rituals, which are considered 'empty forms' of religion. Although Friends believe in the value of the Christian bible as a source of inspiration and a guide, they do not believe it should have the final say, or that it is infallible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
These are some of the questions people ask of us:
Q. Why are you called Quakers?
A. Early members of the Religious Society of Friends called themselves children of the light or friends of the truth. The nickname Quakers was given us by others, who said that Friends sometimes trembled or quaked with religious zeal. In fact, a good sign for whether or not friends are really moved to deliver a spoken message during meeting for worship is whether or not the suppressing of that message would cause minor physical trembling, i.e. quaking.
The formal name of the Quakers is now "The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)".
Q. How do you react to the suicide attacks of September 11 against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?
A. Midlothian Friends has drafted a public statement in response to the events of September 11.
Q. Aren't Quakers pacifists? Would Quakers defend themselves if attacked?
A. The word pacifist implies inaction and inactivity, which are not part of Quaker beliefs. We believe that we can be active in promoting truth, peace, and love to all peoples. We also believe that the Christian commandment that "thou shalt not kill" means just that, and that we should avoid, to the highest degree we can, killing or maiming our fellow human beings.
Q. What do Quakers believe in?
A. Quakers believe in many things, but the primary belief is that there is 'that of God in everyone'. This is an expression that means that Quakers believe that there is a measure of the divine in each human being, a spark or inner voice that we can attend to. Our mode of silent worship is based on listening for that inner voice to manifest itself, and thus lead and guide our lives.
Queries
Queries are what Quakers call the questions we ask ourselves about our faith and practice. They are simply a device for prompting reflection and self-examination. They are not used to harangue or harass, but rather to gently direct our attention to the harmony between what we believe and how we act.
Queries are broken into general categories for classification. Listed below are some of the categories and some sample queries from that category. (For more information, consult the Faith and Practice manual published by Baltimore Yearly Meeting)
Meetings for Worship
Are meetings for worship held in expectant waiting for Divine guidance?
Do you come to the meeting with heart and mind prepared?
Meetings for Business
Are meetings for business held in a spirit of worship, understanding, and forbearance?
Do we humbly set aside our own preconceived notions as to proper action, seeking instead Divine guidance as to the right course?
The Meeting Community
Are love and harmony within the Meeting community fostered by a spirit of open sharing?
Does the Meeting provide for the spiritual refreshment of all members and attenders?
Personal Way of Life
Do you live your life in accordance with your spiritual convictions?
Do you practice simplicity in speech, dress, and manner of living, avoiding wasteful consumption?
Do you strive to develop your physical, emotional, and mental capacities toward reaching your Divinely given potential?
Home and Family
Do you make your home a place of affection where God's presence is felt?
Do you grow together through sharing prosperity and adversity?
Can you keep a sense of humor and avoid taking yourself too seriously?
Membership
The meaning and role of membership varies between Quaker meetings. At Midlothian Friends Meeting becoming a member is a process by which a friend can make a formal and explicit commitment to the underlying principles of the Religious Society of Friends and the meeting community. Membership is not necessary to indicate one's commitment.
Midlothian Friends Meeting is resolved to not use membership as an indicator of spirituality or commitment to Quakerism and the meeting community. The meeting tries to be careful not to give the impression of elitism for members.
Applying for Membership
The procedures for applying for membership begin with a letter or email written by the prospective member and sent to the clerk of the Care and Counsel committee. For more details open the full document outlining the process.
Membership Process
The letter of application is considered by the Care and Counsel Committee and is used as an introduction for a 'Clearness committee', chosen by the applicant from meeting members and attenders.
That committee meets with the applicant in a worshipful manner to explore his or her clarity on becoming a member.
If the applicant arrives at a sense of clearness about becoming a member, the request for membership is then brought to the next Meeting for Business. If the process outlined above was followed by the Clearness committee and there are no unusual considerations, the membership is approved.
Once the application is approved, Midlothian Meeting minutes the person's acceptance into the Society of Friends.
Applicants who are minors are accepted as full members of the Society of Friends using the same process, perhaps slightly modified to fit the age of the minor.
Testimonies
Testimonies are the vehicle for Friends to bear witness to, and carry out, our beliefs. Some of the testimonies are vital to Friends; other testimonies, adapted for the culture of 17th century England, now seem quaint and archaic.
The Major Testimonies
The major testimonies are well-known. These include the:
Peace testimony, which abhors participation and support of war in any form.
Equality testimony, which holds that all person are equal before God, regardless of their sex, race, class, or other condition. This testimony began with the testimony of equality of men and women.
Simplicity testimony, which values simplicity and moderation in speech, living, and clothing. In modern times, this is visible by the informality with which we dress for Meeting for Worship.
Truth testimony, which inspires Quakers to speak the truth on all occasions, and to avoid oath-taking, which implies that when not under oath, a person might not be telling the truth. Instead of swearing (as in swearing in before a court), most jurisdictions today acknowledge a person's right to affirm.