Quaker beliefs
Quakers share a way of life rather than a fixed set of beliefs. The Quaker way provides
people with guidance for their lives and the freedom to think with an open agenda rather
than a set of rules to follow.
Quakers encourage exploration of questions like 'Who am I?' 'Why do we exist?' 'Is there a
God?' 'What's the purpose of life?' 'What's it all about?'
Quaker worship
Quakers come together to worship in expectant silence and seek to receive inspiration and
communicate with God.
The stillness gives space and time to reflect and think. It is a chance to leave the busy
world behind.
People may feel moved to share their thoughts and reflections in worship. This is called
ministry. Anyone can do this as Quakers don't have priests or anyone leading the worship.
Quakers and God
Quakers believe that people experience God in different ways. Some Quakers use words
like 'spirit' or 'light' because that better expresses what they think and feel.
Quakers believe that everyone can have a relationship with God. They seek to experience
God within themselves, in their relationships with others and in the world around them.
An important Quaker belief is 'that of God in everyone', and this means that everyone is
special, unique, and that God exists in each of us. Some Quakers talk about this as being
an 'inner light' in each person.
Quakers Today
Known as the Religious Society of Friends, some 25,000 Quakers in the UK believe it
possible to have direct experience of God without priests or rituals.
Quaker Meetings are usually held for an hour on Sunday with people sitting in a circle in a
plain Meeting Room with no altar. Our meetings are based on silent waiting and
sometimes someone will stand and speak briefly of their experience or read from the
Bible.
We don't spend time on definitions and every Quaker will have their own interpretation of the word 'God'. We believe strongly in putting faith into practice – treating everyone with
respect, working to make a fairer and just world, and seeking peaceful solutions to conflict.
Quaker meetings are open to everyone and no pressure will be put on a visitor or enquirer
if they want to come and find out about us.
Silence and Quaker Worship
Silence in a Quaker Meeting is much more than the absence of sound. Silence is valued
by Quakers because in removing pressure and hurry it allows us time to be aware of the
inner deeper meaning of our lives. We can begin to accept ourselves as we really are and
be released from anxiety and selfishness.
An early Quaker said “I found the evil in me weakening and the good raised up”.
Worship (or celebration of worth) in a Quaker Meeting is a shared experience as we try to
be open to that of God within us.
What do Quakers say?
There is something sacred in all people.
All people are equal before God.
Religion is about the whole of life.
We meet in stillness to discover a deeper sense of God's presence.
True religion leads to respect for the earth and all life upon it.
Each person is unique, precious, a child of God.
Your first time in a Quaker Meeting
A Quaker meeting creates a space of gathered stillness, where we are together to listen to
the promptings of love and truth in our hearts. We are all trying to come nearer to each
other and to God.
Meeting for Worship starts as soon as the first person enters the room and sits down. You
may go in and sit where you like. You may find it easy to relax in the silence or you may
find it difficult. Try to be quiet in mind, body and spirit. Going to the still centre of your
being, you may feel the presence of God, Spirit or Light – use whatever image is helpful to
you.
If someone speaks, listen with an open mind. During the hour some people will gain a
deep sense of awe and wonder, others may feel a greater whole beyond themselves.
While some may thankfully accept God's love as shown in Jesus, others may be opened
towards people in a spirit of love and trust. People experience meeting in many different
ways.
After about an hour, two people will shake hands to mark the end of the worship. The
Clerk will give notices and usually invite everyone to have refreshments.
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