QUAKERS
or THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
The Religious Society of Friends was founded in England in the 17th century as a Christian group of people deeply dissatisfied with the existing denominations and sects of Christianity. It is believed that their main co-founder was George Fox (1624 – 1691). They have been called "Quakers" maybe an account of G. Fox’s directions to his followers to "tremble (= to quake) at the name of the Lord", or, according to another theory, an account of fits experienced by worshippers when moved by the Holy Ghost during their services. Since its very beginning Quakerism has spread from England to other countries. However there are places, such as Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, in particular) and other US states in which Quaker influence is strong still nowadays.
George Fox
In its early days Quakers faced the opposition and persecution of other Christians, particularly intolerant Puritans, as it especially happened in Northern American colonies in the 17th century. As soon as they settled in America, they faced strong opposition and many of them were banished or imprisoned and even tortured and killed; their books burnt and their properties confiscated. Pennsylvania became the place where they could live and practice their faith more freely. Throughout the centuries they have played an important role in US movements for the abolition of slavery, equality of women and for pacifism. Besides they have fought to promote education and human treatment of prisoners and mentally ill. One of their basic ideas is that they believe they have an "inner light" so that individual Quakers may develop individual religious beliefs directly from their own conscience. They believe that God is available to all people, without any type of mediation such as clergy or sacraments – even baptism - and they have been defined as "mystic" and they often spend their religious services in silence. They refuse the Protestant basic idea of the Bible as "sola scriptura" because they believe that only Christ is the Word and that Christ would never mislead them from the Bible.
(Isabella Marinaro)
