The Quaker Testimonies

[loveit4u]

Why has the 1st man got a statue of Buddha behind him!!! The early Quakers use to know the Holy Spirit; all the ones I meet today either don't or are deceived into spiritualism!!!

[GroupKB]

It seems being quaker is more of an attitude or state of mind than a religion.

[esp19691]

Where are they from? The accent looks like british...

[ElectricMayhem87]

If I had been a Christian, I would have likely been a Quaker.

[ImageMaxPR]

As an African American Business owner I constantly remind myself that I owe the Quakers everything. I am the beneficiary of the lobbying efforts of the Quakers, and the recipient of their faithfulness. From every African American in the United States and Canada – Thank You!

[misshayday]

Thank you so much for recording and uploading these videos. I am an RS teacher and these personal views are invaluable resources to educate students on often under-publicised Quaker thought.

[dw2626]

i fink it is bad wot people is bad innit. so be good

[vanessadd]

I am In Venezuela, and I got a laugh from the person who commented in spanish that he thought this was an oats commercial. When people here ask me what church I belong to, and they`ve never heard of Quakers, I just tell them they have always seen one on the Quaker oats label, and tell them the story of how the oats got that name... then they all want to come to Meeting- which we still need to set up here.

[captainplanetwins]

hopefully there will be a round or three of mousetrap

[warriorarcher]

I will be attending my first quaker meeting this sunday, I look forward to it as ive never looked upon a group and said "I agree" when reading every statement, until now. My ancestors were quakers and after discovering this i looked them up, I agree with the oath, if you need me to swear upon the bible then you must not take my word as truth, but if i always speak the truth that means you must think I always lie, if i stand witness then my truth is what i know as truth, what i saw is my truth.

[couziers]

I am a multi-multi generational Friend (Quaker). I hold all of the traditional Quaker views, the light, that of God in everyone. And for the person who doesn't get taking an oath: If one always speaks the Truth and never lies one need not take an oath.

We don't lie, we don't take oaths and we always try to see the light.

wat I like about being a Friend: spirituality is very personal and one isn't judged for a divergent view. No hell and damnation if you don't tow the theological line.

[BeanangelTreon]

I am a Quaker

[JustCallMeLovey]

I do not understand why it would be inappropriate to reinforce your word by making the promise/swear to be truthful. That seems prideful to my ears,Pride is not simple.

Unfortunately there are two different values on Earth. This is why we are asked to"promise"... it holds a person accountable for their action.One of the women said it well..." We shouldn't give undue respect for people just because they are a title or royal." I have no knowledge/testimony that your/quakers word is truth always

[yaexisto2008]

creenme que yo pensaba que este comercial era de avena quaker. por eso lo abri

[Laziss]

George Fox believed that the Light was from Christ,and was Christ.Many quakers today have gone out from the Truth into a form,and into notions that they can say you can be a Hindu,or a Buddhist and still be a Quaker,but you cannot,since these other faith teachings are contradicted by Christ's teachings.

Since the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ,how can anyone add to that.Can you add to that which is already full? Many Quakers say the light is reason but it is not;it is spiritual;Christ.

[bangura4uk]

Finding only contradictions between different faiths or between reason and faith can lead to confusion, cynicism or a hostile, fearful kind of 'certainty'. This is perhaps a limitation of literalist approaches to scripture and religion as well as of purely rational scientific understanding of our existence. Silence and 'taking heed to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts' may be a less defined path but in the direction of spiritual unity.

[Laziss]

Contradictions are inevitable and essential;truth and error are contradictory.The original revelation to Fox and the early Quakers led them into a literalist(fundamentalist)posi­tion regarding the Bible.This is entirely and essentially in line with the early church's position.Fox's emphasis on the Spirit never led him into a position where he was in any way at odds with the Scriptures,indeed they formed the basis of his contending for truth,as the Spirit led him.

[bangura4uk]

Yes Fox and the early Quakers contended for truth as the Spirit led them. In so doing they contradicted the error of other Christians who also invoked scriptural authority as justification for persecuting them! Quakerism was forged in a particular 17C English context. Fox did not have the opportunity to speak to or answer that of God in a Hindu or a Buddhist. Like him we have to find a spiritual path in our own times. The Spirit is eternal, not the words.

[Laziss]

It was the Eternal Spirit which led Fox to contend for Truth,the same Spirit which dwelt within and upon Christ when He declared He was the only way to the Father.He never limited that by time,and has not since contradicted it,(nor would He since what He said was eternally true.)Eternal life was before time and will be after it.Centuries past and our own times are temporal;the Life is the same.Also words from the Spirit are essentially one with Him,and are invested with eternal quality.

[bangura4uk]

Quakers reluctance to be theologically pinned down in this way can seem frustrating for other Christians. Robert Barclay as early as 1675 responded by describing 'the invisible church' as '..all those called and gathered by God to walk in his Light and Life...there may be members therefore of this catholick church both among heathens, Turks, Jews and all the several sorts of Christians, men and women of integrity and simpicity of heart..'

[Laziss]

"called and gathered by God to walk in his Light and Life..." is the key phrase.The Light leads out of all false faiths and practices to forsake sin and to be born again of His Spirit into His Life in which stands the true and only church as defined in the main body of early Quaker writings,quoting extensively from the New Testament.You cannot serve other gods as defined by their creeds because they contradict the Scriptures which were given forth from the Light.

[bangura4uk]

And 'walk' is surely a key word. Quakers have always done plenty of talking and writing with the walking and Barclay is probably the nearest thing to a Quaker theologian but what he is saying seems to be that whatever words and forms are used are less important than the way we live ("let our lives speak"). We use words to try to express and share faith and sometimes to set ourselves above or apart from others but even those of the NT, even the words we use for God, cannot alone define God.

[Laziss]

In the end you either believe the Bible or not.Fox and the early Quakers did.They based their whole life experience and knowledge of God upon it's truth.We need this external guide to test our experience of inward leadings.If the Bible is true then we can rely on it's teaching and instruction.If it is false then we cannot rely on or believe anything that Fox said,for his revelation came on the basis of John 1:9 "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

[bangura4uk]

Few in 17C England would have dared say they did not believe the bible. Its interpretation framed political as well as theological conflict. The "blasphemous" early Quakers dared to believe that the light of God was within every person. The radical consequence of this is that the words of men, even the ones who wrote, translated and interpreted the Bible in many times and languages are not the sole source of spiritual truth. External guides and inward leadings must be tested against each other.

[Laziss]

You have to decide whether you believe that the Bible is God-inspired or not;whether it is the special book and not just another "spiritual" book.Of course men frame their religious arguements claiming biblical authority for conflicting opinions;but the Bible understood in the Light,interpreted by it's author the Holy Spirit is How Fox received it.He declares as much over and over again.Fox's Light only ever led him along the line of Scriptural Truth-nothing to do with politics.

[Laziss]

That which comes forth from the Spirit is eternal,unchanging and serviceable in all ages.The Bible taken up by the Spirit speaks to all states and conditions of men past present and future.There is a difference between reading the Bible with the mind and intellect and humbly gently submissively reading it bowed low in the presence of it's Holy Author that He might take up it's words and apply them personally to the heart.God speaks most normally through the scriptures first and foremost.

[Laziss]

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

[Laziss]

How can we be valiant for truth upon the earth,if we don't know what truth is? If it's arbitrary?

[bangura4uk]

I can only point to the many people (including many Quakers) I consider to be valiant for truth on earth and in their everyday lives without claiming sole possession of absolute truth. Does this mean their understanding of truth is arbitrary? Some who do claim possession of absolute spiritual truth seem more preoccupied with proclaiming it and condemning errors of belief in others than with living their own faith.

[Laziss]

I am sorry I do not feel led to continue this dialog;we would just end up going around in circles.I don't know of anyone who claims to be in possession of absolute truth,but plenty who believe that the New Testament is absolutely true and there are still those who are convinced by the testimony of Fox.Jesus said He was the Truth;The Holy Spirit was the Spirit of Truth,and the Father was the only True God.You cannot worship and follow other gods and walk in the Light at the same time.God bless.

[bangura4uk]

I do believe that those who wrote the Bible were God inspired. They were also men so not free of the perspectives of mortality, humanity, gender, politics and constraints of their own languages. Jesus' life is a human expression of the 'pure' spirit. Quaker testimonies (where this thread started) seek to express this in ways to live on earth today. The political implications of our faith (actions as well as words, contemplation and prayer) are no less than in the time of Jesus or Fox.

[Laziss]

This is my last comment,since you have to believe that Jesus Christ was and is more than "a human expression of the 'pure' spirit."He is fully Divine.God the Son.God in the flesh.This was Fox's testimony for he wrote extensively of it.You say you believe the biblical-writers were God inspired.Hear John,:"And this is the record, that God hath given to US eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

[bangura4uk]

I'm sure you realise I'm not going that far Laziss. I'm interested in an inclusive faith for today, grown from its 17C roots but not cloned from them. Thanks for a learning conversation. I have a better understanding of conservative Quakers and my own position. In my opinion we dont have to sign up to identical scriptural precepts. "The letter killeth but the spirit giveth life" Peace.

[icartoon2]

Sounds like it's all about the Quakers rather than Christ. Of course if you believe Christ isn't divine, as the Quakers don't, I guess you can be lead into anything.

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

(Romans 1:21,28)

[31historygeek]

but "the Light" is the light of Christ...so traditionally they were.

[ceciliafae]

uh, I'm pretty sure original Quakers were trying to follow Jesus Christ as closely as possible... definitely Christian... I think it's just the universalist ones (more recent, different direction?) some consider themselves not Christian.

And even a Christian can be lead into anything... that's kinda what Christianity deals with... it's called sin.

[ceciliafae]

sorry, clarification.. follow what Jesus would do as closely as possible.. but I'm not Quaker, so I would not be the best one to interpret the information

[mayanchild]

good point-being like Jesus does mean being political...this honest & direct approach to change is what inspires me about the Quakers. In a perfect set of circumstances I would prefer to be a Shaker (shaking quaker)...until then, I guess we must do what is right & hope that these great organizations rise again.

[RastusJo]

Well....hmmmm. Is there such a thing as Quaker comedy? It's hard to imagine what a Quaker sense of humor would sound like.

[nothinglikeamuffin]

thanks

[963stuart]

Valuable contibution.

[abodenberg]

These are wonderful testimonies...if only more people had these as staple beliefs, the world would be a much better place, I think. Peace,