Added new post on Quakerism

_posts/2024/2024-10-03-what-makes-a-quaker-a-quaker.md

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+---
+id: what-makes-a-quaker-a-quaker
+title: What Makes a Quaker a Quaker
+date: 2024-10-03
+author: k3jph
+layout: post
+permalink: /2024/10/03/what-makes-a-quaker-a-quaker
+featured_image: /assets/img/2024/what-makes-a-quaker-a-quaker.webp
+categories:
+- Blog 
+tags:
+- genealogy
+- religion
+- Quakerism
+- Buddhsim
+---
+
+Growing up, I always had a vague understanding of Quakers—mostly tied to
+their impact on political and social movements. Recently, though, I
+discovered that my mother's family has deep Quaker roots, with numerous
+ancestors belonging to this community. This led me to a deeper
+exploration: What exactly made them Quakers, beyond a mere mention in
+the pages of history? What did they believe, how did they live, and what
+has this heritage passed on to me?
+
+## Origins of the Quakers
+
+The Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, was born during the
+mid-17th century in England, a period of intense social and religious
+upheaval. [George
+Fox](https://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/12/George-Fox),
+often considered the founder, felt that the established churches had
+strayed from a true relationship with the divine. He emphasized a direct
+experience with God—an idea that did not require clergy, rituals, or any
+intermediaries. This radical notion led to the formation of a community
+that would come to be known as Quakers, a term originally coined in
+derision because they would "quake" during moments of spiritual ecstasy.
+Over time, however, this term came to be embraced by the Friends
+themselves.
+
+At the core of Quakerism is the concept of the ["Inner
+Light"](https://www.pym.org/faith-and-practice/experience-and-faith/the-light-within/),
+which holds that everyone has within them a divine presence—a spark of
+God that does not require a church or a priest to mediate. Instead, each
+person can access this Inner Light through personal contemplation,
+reflection, and connection. This belief alone was revolutionary in
+17th-century England, where the church hierarchy held immense power, and
+the idea that each individual could directly commune with God was
+considered almost heretical. For my Quaker ancestors, this emphasis on a
+direct, personal experience of the divine shaped their worldview, giving
+them an intense focus on equality and a deep respect for every human
+being.
+
+The practice of worship among Quakers reflects this belief. Traditional
+Quaker meetings are held in silence. The community gathers without a
+pastor, and anyone moved by the Spirit is free to speak. This form of
+worship emphasizes the importance of listening—to God, to oneself, and
+to each other. In the quietness of a Quaker meeting, there is a
+collective waiting, a spiritual openness that allows the divine presence
+to guide the community. This approach stands in stark contrast to the
+structured liturgies of other Christian denominations, and I imagine
+that the power of this silent, egalitarian space must have left a
+profound imprint on my ancestors' understanding of faith and community.
+
+## Quaker Beliefs: SPICES of Life
+
+Quaker beliefs are not only about worship but also about how one lives
+in the world. Their values are often described using the acronym SPICES:
+[Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and
+Stewardship](https://www.friendsjournal.org/s-p-i-c-e-s-quaker-testimonies/).
+These guiding principles are called "testimonies" because they represent
+how Quakers testify to their beliefs through their actions.
+
+Simplicity is perhaps one of the most recognizable aspects of Quaker
+life. Historically, this meant living plainly, avoiding excess, and
+focusing on what truly mattered. Quakers wore simple clothing, spoke
+plainly, and sought to live without unnecessary distractions. This focus
+on simplicity extended beyond material goods; it was also about
+simplicity of purpose, living a life that remained close to one's
+spiritual values. As I explored my family history, I began to see how
+this simplicity might have been a thread running through the lives of my
+ancestors, encouraging them to value community and spirituality over
+material success.
+
+Peace is another fundamental tenet. Quakers are known for their
+commitment to nonviolence and have historically been [conscientious
+objectors](https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/quakers_1.shtml),
+choosing imprisonment over military service during times of war. The
+Quaker Peace Testimony is not just about avoiding war; it is a
+commitment to resolving conflicts peacefully in all aspects of life. In
+examining the lives of my ancestors, I wonder how they managed to uphold
+this belief in times of conflict, especially when pacifism went against
+the prevailing attitudes of society.
+
+Integrity, for Quakers, means being true to oneself and being honest in
+all dealings. It means that words and actions align, and it involves a
+deep commitment to truth, regardless of the consequences. This
+insistence on integrity extended to every area of life, from business
+dealings to personal relationships. Quakers were known for their honesty
+and fairness, which contributed to their reputation as trustworthy
+merchants and bankers.
+
+The emphasis on community is evident in how Quakers organized their
+early settlements, particularly in America. Many Quakers came to the
+American colonies to escape persecution in England. [William
+Penn](https://www.pennsburymanor.org/history/william-penn-and-american-history/),
+a prominent Quaker, founded Pennsylvania as a place where Friends and
+others could live according to their beliefs without fear of harassment.
+Quakers worked together to create supportive communities that helped
+those in need, educated their children, and worked for social reforms
+that benefited everyone.
+
+The testimony of equality might be one of the most striking of all. From
+the beginning, Quakers believed that all people were equal in the eyes
+of God. This meant that they actively worked against the institution of
+slavery and were among the first to advocate for abolition in America.
+Their commitment to equality also meant that women were granted equal
+status within the community, and they could speak, lead, and hold
+authority in ways that were highly unusual for the time. This
+deep-rooted belief in equality resonates with me, especially when I
+think about my ancestors living in a society where such views were far
+from mainstream.
+
+Finally, stewardship, the care for God's creation, reflects the Quaker
+belief that the Earth is a sacred gift and that we are responsible for
+taking care of it. This sense of stewardship is reflected in how Quakers
+have often been at the forefront of environmental advocacy, seeking to
+protect natural resources and live sustainably.
+
+## Quakerism and Buddhism: A Comparative Reflection
+
+One of the fascinating aspects of exploring Quaker beliefs is comparing
+them to other spiritual traditions. Given my background in Buddhist
+studies, I cannot help but see interesting parallels between Quakerism
+and Buddhism and some striking contrasts. Both traditions emphasize a
+direct personal experience—Quakers through the Inner Light and Buddhists
+through meditation and insight into the nature of reality. In both,
+there is an emphasis on simplicity. Quakers practice simplicity to focus
+on the divine, while Buddhists value simplicity as a way to reduce
+suffering caused by desire and attachment.
+
+The focus on peace is another commonality. The Quaker Peace Testimony
+finds its counterpart in the Buddhist principle of
+[ahimsa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa), or nonviolence, which is
+central to many Buddhist teachings. Both traditions uphold the
+importance of not harming others, whether in thought, word, or deed.
+This commitment to nonviolence is deeply embedded in both faiths and has
+shaped their respective approaches to social justice.
+
+However, there are also important differences. Quakerism is
+fundamentally theistic; the belief in a personal God who communicates
+with individuals is core to their faith. Buddhism, on the other hand, is
+nontheistic. The goal in Buddhism is not to connect with a divine being
+but rather to achieve enlightenment, a deep understanding of the nature
+of suffering and the path to its cessation. Where Quakers might gather
+in silence to listen for God's voice, Buddhists meditate to quiet the
+mind and see reality more clearly.
+
+The communal aspect of Quaker worship also differs from Buddhist
+practice. Quaker meetings are collective and egalitarian, emphasizing
+the shared experience of waiting for divine guidance. While there are
+communal aspects to Buddhism, especially in monastic settings,
+meditation is often seen as a personal journey toward enlightenment,
+even when done in a group. The silence of a Quaker meeting is filled
+with the potential for spontaneous revelation, while the silence in
+Buddhist meditation is about deep introspection and mental discipline.
+
+Reflecting on these similarities and differences has deepened my
+understanding of both traditions. It makes me appreciate the unique
+synthesis of values that my Quaker ancestors held—values that also find
+echoes in the Buddhist teachings I have studied. Both traditions, in
+their own ways, are committed to peace, to the pursuit of truth, and to
+living in harmony with the world. They diverge in their cosmologies but
+converge in their insistence that each individual has the capacity for
+profound insight and transformation.
+
+## A Personal Connection and New Recognition
+
+Learning about my Quaker ancestry has given me a new perspective on the
+values that my family may have quietly passed down. The emphasis on
+simplicity, honesty, community, and equality feels familiar, like an
+inheritance that has shaped how I view the world, even if I was unaware
+of its source. In a world that often feels increasingly complicated,
+divided, and focused on material success, there is something incredibly
+grounding in revisiting these old beliefs. They remind me that, at its
+best, spirituality is not about dogma or ritual--it is about how we
+live, how we treat others, and how we connect to something greater than
+ourselves.
+
+Recently, I have had the honor of becoming a member of the [National
+Society Descendants of Early Quakers](/family/nsdeq). This recognition
+has given me an opportunity to formally connect with my Quaker heritage
+and reflect on how the values of these early Friends have echoed down
+through the generations. This lineage, filled with individuals committed
+to peace, equality, and community, has shaped not only who I am but also
+how I strive to live my life today.
+
+The journey of uncovering my family's Quaker roots has been more than
+just a historical exploration; it has been a personal reminder of the
+power of faith when lived authentically. It is a legacy of simplicity,
+of courage in the face of adversity, and of an enduring commitment to
+equality and peace. Understanding these connections has deepened my
+respect for my ancestors and inspired me to carry their values forward
+in a world that needs them now more than ever.