The Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, began in mid-17th-century Northern England as a Christian movement.

Quakers reject creeds, clergy, and abstract theology, prioritizing direct experience of the divine, termed the "Light," over formal beliefs or intermediaries.

Lacking a central authority, Quakers organize through regional weekly meetings and make decisions via communal discernment.

Their unprogrammed, silent meetings emphasize simplicity and spiritual depth, with spontaneous speech or readings from those inspired.

Numbering around 400,000 globally, mostly in English-speaking regions, Quakers vary widely in practice and belief.

Historically, despite their size, Friends have influenced social causes—abolition, women’s rights, religious tolerance, workers’ rights, poverty relief, prison reform, and peace—rooted in equality and compassion.

Quakerism today merges contemplation with active social engagement.

• Quaker History

• Religious Society of Friends (Wikipedia)

Quakerism began as a Christian movement, and while most Quakers today are Christians, not all are.

Resistant to formal theology, common Quaker Christian views include:

The divine is experienced, not defined, often seen as the life-giving source and ground of being by unprogrammed Quakers.

Jesus embodies divine wisdom and transformative love through his life and teachings, not a transactional human sacrifice to appease a wrathful God.

Quakers reject original sin and violent atonement, finding wholeness in communion with God and divine values.

They view the Bible as a human-written collection of wisdom and narratives, central to Christianity and Western culture but not inerrant or divinely authored.

Quakers focus on present needs over afterlife speculation.

Embracing science and learning, they view spirituality as a pursuit of meaning and wisdom.

Rooted in early Christian practice, Quaker spirituality retains a counter-cultural stance.

• Quaker Practice

• Quaker Christianity

• Liberal Quakerism

Quaker spirituality is centered on simplicity and silence, creating space to hear the divine voice woven into the fabric of the world.

Silent, unprogrammed or loosely structured contemplative worship, is at the heart of this practice.

This silence is not empty but a sacred arena where the divine speaks through those inspired to speak, and by the still, small voice within.

The Quaker testimonies—simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship—emerge organically from this spiritual root.

Leadings often inspire Friends to act on these testimonies, often with a sense of way opening a process of gradual, tested discernment rather than forced outcomes.

Quaker discernment is both personal and collective, a dynamic interplay of listening, reflection, and patience.

• 9 Core Quaker Beliefs

• Overview of Quaker Spirituality

Love - Our law is love and mercy and we are bound by what is right and good.

Simplicity - a striving for a simple lifestyle, both in personal life and in their approach to society, avoiding excess and focusing on what truly matters. Quakers are known for their plain and simple lifestyle, which are outward expressions of their inner values. 

Peace - Quakers are known for their strong commitment to peace and non-violence, both personally and in their engagement with the world. 

Equality - Quakers believe in the inherent worth and equality of all people, regardless of background, and actively work for social justice and equality. 

Integrity - Quakers value honesty and integrity, striving to live in accordance with their values. 

Community - Quakers value the importance of all forms of community and working together for the common good. 

Celtic Christianity significantly influences my Quaker spirituality.

As such, it diverges slightly from other forms of Quakerism, experimenting in the following ways:

• Reintegrating tSimple Rituals- experimenting with practices such as lighting candles to welcome the sabbath and breaking bread and sharing wine with intention to infuse gatherings and holidays with additional meaning without cluttering the soul.

• Embracing a Spirituality of the Seasons - engaging a contemplative rhythm that follows the seasons and the traditional Christian calendar, marking significant Christian holy days in simple ways.

• Engaging Quakerism Theologically - recognizing the importance of theological reflection informed by the Light, and that seeks to integrate the wisdom of the past with the insights of the present.

Overall, it’s a path that seeks to honor Quaker history and practice and follow Jesus in a authentic and simple manner rising to the challenges of the modern world.

The Way of Oran Mor
An Irish Quaker Spirituality