Quakerism Field Study

During the late 1500s and 1600s there was a lot of religious dissent in England, especially in the Lake District, where there was a heavy Danish influence. George Fox(1624-1691) grew up there and was just one of the multitude who were unsatisfied. Due to his discontentment, he began to have discussions with other people and from them, formed some basic ideas about what religion should be. He founded the Religious society of Friends in the early 1660s, which emphasizes equality, responsibility, and community. The religion was based on a few key concepts: the individual’s relation to God, with no intermediary, pacifism, and the desire to follow an inner light. Soon people began to identify themselves as members and spread the message. Many people were unreceptive and hostile and many members were thrown into prison. The term “Quaker” was originally used as a form of abuse and literally means one who quakes with the word of God, but today it has become synonymous with the name given by Fox, the Religious Society of Friends. To escape persecution, Quakers fled to the United States, led by the aristocrat William Penn(1644-1718). As King George V was indebted to him, Penn was able to found Pennsylvania as a Quaker community and Philadelphia as “a city of brotherly love.” Here Quakerism flourished and its members became influential in politics, leading the prison reform movement and the abolitionist movement. Today, though their numbers remain quite small, with three hundred thousand members, they remain powerful and active in a number of issues.

Before our field study to the meeting house, my impression was that Quakerism was firmly rooted in the past, but they are actually very modern, involved in a wide variety of initiat...

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...etween Quakerism and my own experiences.

The early persecution of Quakers strongly influenced the development of their beliefs both in the United Kingdom and overseas. Though their population remains small, they are a powerful community and actively involved with politics. Historically, they have played a major role in the War Reform Act and the abolitionist movement. Today, they continue to take part in initiatives focussing on sustainable development and extending democratic values to many nations. Though their participation in different issues may not always be welcomed, they are dedicated to making our world better. Many aspects of their religion are open to interpretation, which is both a major strength and weakness. During our field study, I was able to make connections to my own experiences and gained a more comprehensive understanding of Quakerism.