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The Quakers: The History and Legacy of the Religious Society of Friends
*Includes pictures *Includes quotes from George Fox and other Quakers *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents “I was plain, and would have all things done plainly; for I did not seek any outward advantage to myself.” – George Fox Since its fruition, Christianity has faced an unremitting string of conflicts, critics, and challenges. As the number of Christian converts grew, the growth in clashes on ideologies and control was only natural. In the same vein, more and more of those who called themselves Christians seemed to be straying further and further away from God's light. Drunkenness, heresy, and immorality were on the rise. The Middle Ages was especially rife with rape, incest, adultery, and other obscene sexual behaviors, which were well-recorded by medieval chroniclers. The English scholar, Alcuin, lamented that civilization had become “absolutely submerged under flood of fornication, adultery, and incest, so that the very semblance of modesty is entirely absent.” Towards the 17th century, the Puritan-raised George Fox became increasingly discouraged by the worsening moral conditions of society. George was unable to fill the spiritual void inside of him, until one day, he discovered his inner “Light.” Next came the godly visions. George began to preach about the “true” Word of God, and soon, amassed a following – the Religious Society of Friends, later known as the “Quakers.” Few today know much about the Quakers. Whenever the subject of Quakerism slips into conversation, most picture a rosy-cheeked fellow in a simple black overcoat, and a wide brim hat atop his thick, cloud-white hair, inspired by the famous logo of the Quaker Oats company. In spite of the stereotype, Quakers today come in all colors, shapes, and sizes, with the more liberal folk sporting trendy haircuts, tattoos, and various piercings. They call themselves “Friends,” a starkly different but very devout following of God. They strive for a world empowered by peace and acceptance, an ambitious mission fueled by diversity, blind to race, gender, or creed. As amicably harmless as the Friends might appear, there was once a time when being a Quaker was at the very best an instant conviction, and at the very worst a death sentence. Their unorthodox ideals were considered poisonous and potentially dangerous by authorities, who would fight time and time again to stamp out the flames of their movement, but still, they weathered storm after storm. And while the peace-loving followers of Christ were famed for their views of harmony, by no means were they feeble opponents. Not only would they persevere in the face of persecution, theirs is a movement that is so powerful, it stands strong centuries later, with a following more rich and diverse than ever before. The The History and Legacy of the Religious Society of Friends profiles the life of George Fox, examines the origins of Quakerism, and looks at the Quaker utopia the community attempted to establish in Pennsylvania. This book also covers both the praise and criticism the unusually liberal Christian order has attracted over the centuries. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Quakers like never before.
81 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 15, 2020
I was looking for a brief survey of the history of the Religious Society of Friends--the Quakers--but unfortunately, with this booklet I got even less than I hoped for. The text appears to have been prepared for a Web site and then the Web pages simply photocopied to create a "book." I wouldn't have minded the production deficiencies, however, if the content hadn't been so disappointing.
As far as it goes, the narrative is not wildly inaccurate, but it is so shallow as to be misleading. It begins as you would imagine with the life of George Fox, the seventeenth-century British tradesman whose relentless questioning of Anglican Christianity's orthodoxies offended the Establishment and inspired many others, creating a movement. The text mentions a few of his core beliefs but gets sidetracked into the sort of irrelevancies that might creep into an elementary school student's report, such as "Some uncertainty still exists as to what George Fox was truly like, as his image is one only memorialized in centuries-old paintings. George was often depicted as a broad-faced man with wide, hawk-like eyes and a prominent, beak-like nose." And was he raised by eagles?
The slightness of the text sometimes leads to substantive, not just unintentionally comic, consequences. For instance, we are breezily informed that "By the late 17th century, the Quaker paranoia in England had subsided. King James II had been replaced by the co-monarchs King William and Queen Mary, who issued the Toleration Act of 1689. This decree provided religious freedom for Protestant dissenters." Sure--if by "religious freedom" you mean that Quakers still could not meet in private homes, only in meeting houses where they had to register; that they still had to swear an oath of allegiance and supremacy, which was against their religious principles; that they could not hold political office or attend university; and that their marriages were not considered legal till 1755.
After that, the text moves breezily on to cover the Quakers in America, a few famous Quakers from Susan B. Anthony to the Cadbury chocolatier, and a greatest-hits overview of Quaker hot issues in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, all over the course of a few pages dominated by white space.
Once I had fallen for this book on Amazon, I discovered a BBC Web site with bullet points about the Quaker sect that was more thoughtful and enlightening in a five minutes' perusal than this book. I don't relish giving one-star ratings, but this booklet really needs a warning label.
As far as it goes, the narrative is not wildly inaccurate, but it is so shallow as to be misleading. It begins as you would imagine with the life of George Fox, the seventeenth-century British tradesman whose relentless questioning of Anglican Christianity's orthodoxies offended the Establishment and inspired many others, creating a movement. The text mentions a few of his core beliefs but gets sidetracked into the sort of irrelevancies that might creep into an elementary school student's report, such as "Some uncertainty still exists as to what George Fox was truly like, as his image is one only memorialized in centuries-old paintings. George was often depicted as a broad-faced man with wide, hawk-like eyes and a prominent, beak-like nose." And was he raised by eagles?
The slightness of the text sometimes leads to substantive, not just unintentionally comic, consequences. For instance, we are breezily informed that "By the late 17th century, the Quaker paranoia in England had subsided. King James II had been replaced by the co-monarchs King William and Queen Mary, who issued the Toleration Act of 1689. This decree provided religious freedom for Protestant dissenters." Sure--if by "religious freedom" you mean that Quakers still could not meet in private homes, only in meeting houses where they had to register; that they still had to swear an oath of allegiance and supremacy, which was against their religious principles; that they could not hold political office or attend university; and that their marriages were not considered legal till 1755.
After that, the text moves breezily on to cover the Quakers in America, a few famous Quakers from Susan B. Anthony to the Cadbury chocolatier, and a greatest-hits overview of Quaker hot issues in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, all over the course of a few pages dominated by white space.
Once I had fallen for this book on Amazon, I discovered a BBC Web site with bullet points about the Quaker sect that was more thoughtful and enlightening in a five minutes' perusal than this book. I don't relish giving one-star ratings, but this booklet really needs a warning label.
July 11, 2020
Much less erudite than other offerings by CRE, and that's a good thing! This history of the enlightenment of the founders and the propagation of the beliefs by those who came in later centuries as well as the bigotry and persecution they endured is worth studying. But it's the public stance on religiosity, women's rights, and abolition that are the most outstanding. Well done!
Jim D. Johnston narrates clearly and in a manner consistent with factual material.
Jim D. Johnston narrates clearly and in a manner consistent with factual material.
April 29, 2021
If you are looking for a history of the Religious Society of Friends based on the facts gleaned off the back of a Quaker Oats Container then, this is the book for you. If you enjoy reading tales of valiant religious leaders who end up “in the slammer”, look no further. And, if you think William Penn’s failed debauched Pennsylvania is the height of the Quaker movement, well - this is the book for thee.
February 17, 2021
Because I used to live near Friendswood, TX, a city created by Quakers, I've always been interested in learning more about this sect of Christianity. Actually, there is also a large contingent of Friends in League City, TX (a nearby and larger city). The history offered in this publication talks about George Fox, who was raised a Puritan.
The Puritans never really left the Church of England. They were Separatists in the sense that they wanted to reform the Church of England and get rid of the Catholic Church rituals and statuary. Because they remained within the bounds of the Church of England, they did not have to give up their homes to move (to Holland, as the Pilgrims did) for religious freedom.
This book tells of George Fox's extensive trekking across England, telling his story about his revelations and study of the Bible. An interesting factoid is that the Quakers name comes from Fox's entreaty to his followers to "tremble at the word of the Lord." (location 293 of 873). The Friends believed in
* self-sustenance (providing for themselves, not begging for money),
* living a modest and uncomplicated life,
* wearing plain clothing (today they wear basic and watered-down versions of modern clothing),
* they practice simplicity of speech, using 'thee' and 'thou' instead of 'you',
* they promised never to turn down anyone who asks for their help,
* they did/do not believe in the sacraments,
* Quakers treated women as equals,
* Quakers were abolitionists; they believed in racial equality, working within the Underground Railroad.
* Quakers advocate for world peace,
* Quakers educated males and females equally,
* Quakers espoused religious tolerance in their communities,
* Quakers were some of the first people to tackle mental health issues, building one of the first institutions with doctors trained in the modern science of psychology,
* Quakers created charity foundations and built schools, learning centers, and low-cost housing for poor families.
Until reading this, I was unaware that Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott were Quakers. Because of their many works and accomplishments, I was surprised to hear there are only 210,000 Quakers worldwide.
The Puritans never really left the Church of England. They were Separatists in the sense that they wanted to reform the Church of England and get rid of the Catholic Church rituals and statuary. Because they remained within the bounds of the Church of England, they did not have to give up their homes to move (to Holland, as the Pilgrims did) for religious freedom.
This book tells of George Fox's extensive trekking across England, telling his story about his revelations and study of the Bible. An interesting factoid is that the Quakers name comes from Fox's entreaty to his followers to "tremble at the word of the Lord." (location 293 of 873). The Friends believed in
* self-sustenance (providing for themselves, not begging for money),
* living a modest and uncomplicated life,
* wearing plain clothing (today they wear basic and watered-down versions of modern clothing),
* they practice simplicity of speech, using 'thee' and 'thou' instead of 'you',
* they promised never to turn down anyone who asks for their help,
* they did/do not believe in the sacraments,
* Quakers treated women as equals,
* Quakers were abolitionists; they believed in racial equality, working within the Underground Railroad.
* Quakers advocate for world peace,
* Quakers educated males and females equally,
* Quakers espoused religious tolerance in their communities,
* Quakers were some of the first people to tackle mental health issues, building one of the first institutions with doctors trained in the modern science of psychology,
* Quakers created charity foundations and built schools, learning centers, and low-cost housing for poor families.
Until reading this, I was unaware that Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott were Quakers. Because of their many works and accomplishments, I was surprised to hear there are only 210,000 Quakers worldwide.
February 7, 2018
This is generally an interesting book but it is only the briefest of histories and most of the time the author only scratches the surface of the most important periods of Quaker history before swiftly moving on to the next topic. The style of the book is a little sloppy and this, coupled with the short length, gives the overall impression that the book was rushed.
For someone looking for a brief overview of Quaker history this book would be suitable but it should be avoided by those looking for a comprehensive account
For someone looking for a brief overview of Quaker history this book would be suitable but it should be avoided by those looking for a comprehensive account
December 10, 2019
Very informative book.
The author has done a great job giving readers the history of the Friends Society. The trials and tribulations this religious sect has had to endure is amazing.
The author has done a great job giving readers the history of the Friends Society. The trials and tribulations this religious sect has had to endure is amazing.
May 2, 2020
I've always been greatly impressed with the Quaker's life style, based on what I'd see along the highway while driving by. I had no idea of the organization's history. Thanks for "a peak inside" allowing me to understand not just their beliefs, but also their culture.
October 16, 2020
Good read
I never really knew much about the Quakers. This introduction seemed very informative. No mention of Richard Nixon though Humm.
I never really knew much about the Quakers. This introduction seemed very informative. No mention of Richard Nixon though Humm.
November 21, 2021
Interesting brief history of the beginnings of The Friends or Quakers, mostly about George Fox.
June 25, 2023
If this book were made I to it’s own PBS type special, it would only be 30mins max.
September 22, 2024
Pretty interesting introduction to Quakers.
October 20, 2024
Good Short Book Full of Information
This is a good short book on the history of the Quakers and the beginning of the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh.
This is a good short book on the history of the Quakers and the beginning of the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh.
August 8, 2017
More hagiography than history, this is a short and sweet study on the little religious group that almost everyone calls Friends.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews