Quaker Universalist Voice

Speaking truth in the global public square…

About Quakers

Beliefs of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Members of the Religious Society of Friends (called Friends or Quakers) historically have not subscribed to a creed or catechism. Basic features and aspects of Quakerism include:

  • Quakers actively seek the truth and believe that no one person or any group knows the whole truth.
  • Quakers believe in continuing revelation and that religious truth is constantly unfolding.
  • The Bible is a primary source for finding truths, as are the sacred books from all other religious traditions.
  • Other sources in which truths are sought are: science and nature, human history, meditation, and gathering together in worship in silence, spiritual and personal experience.
  • Each is asked to re-examine, reinterpret, and re-evaluate his/her insights continually over time.

Values and Testimonies

Friends have agreed to basic values, known as testimonies, known as the Quaker SPICES, including the following:

Simplicity
Use financial and natural resources carefully; value Spirit over material objects
Peace
Seek solutions to problems or disagreements; make decisions by consensus (secular) for ‘sense of the meeting’ (spirit-led); use conflict resolution skills
Integrity
Let your life speak: your outer life reflects your inner life; treat others with respect and honesty
Community
Build authentic community/interpersonal relationships; do no harm; teach respect; respect one another
Equality
Respect differences; each has a share of the Light
Stewardship
Protect and care for the earth; promote environmental, economic, and social sustainability; promote social justice and the need for equal access to resources.

[Thanks to Connecticut Friends School for wording.]

For more information regarding Friends testimonies, please see also: