Religious Society of Friends

The Religious Society of Friends, colloquially Quakers, is a non-creedal religious denomination founded by George Fox in the 1650s. There are approximately 300,000 Quakers today worldwide.

Because Quakerism is noncreedal, it is difficult to make authoritative statements about what Quakers do or do not believe. George Fox described himself as Christian and so do many, but not necessarily all Quakers.

Quakers believe in direct revelation, sometimes referred to as the inward light. Traditional Quaker meetings take place mostly in silence, with individual members standing up to speak when they believe they are moved to do so by God. Margaret Fell wrote that Fox had said

the Scriptures were the Prophet's words, and Christ's and the Apostle's words, and what, as they spoke, they enjoyed and possessed, and had it from the Lord and said, then what had any to do with the Scriptures, but as they came to the Spirit, which gave them forth. You will say, Christ says this, and the Apostles say this but what can thou say? Are thou a child of Light, and have walked in the Light, and that thou speaks, is it inwardly from God?

Quakers are traditionally pacifists, the Society of Friends being, along with the Mennonites and the Plymouth Brethren one of the historic peace churches.

Modern Quakers are not identifiable by dress or speech. The plain Quaker dress ("Quaker grey") and "plain speech" (particularly the use of "thee") prevalent at one time were preserved archaisms. Modern Quakers carry on the intent of these practices by not "dressing up" to attend meeting.

William Penn was a famous Quaker, who demonstrated Quaker principles in his dealings with the Indians.