Quaker Theology

Ann K. Riggs

  • Editors’ Introduction, #10

    By Chuck Fager & Ann Riggs The theological history of American liberal Quakerism has not been examined in any comprehensive way; it has been terra incognita to those both within and without its fold. But in recent years several researchers, including your Editor, have been at work making forays into this unknown territory and bringing…

  • Editors’ Introduction #9

    By Chuck Fager & Ann Riggs We are pleased to offer here a wide-ranging selection of the thought and work active among Friends. The issue begins with Stephen Angell’s scholarly examination of George Fox’s efforts at basic religious education, and then jumps to a very personal “oral history” account by Richard Lee of his family’s…

  • The Church: Called, Gathered, and Faithful

    This article is a detailed response from Friends United Meeting to the World Council of Churches’ 1998 study on the nature and purpose of the Church, emphasizing Quaker theological perspectives. It discusses key differences Quakers have with traditional Christian practices such as water baptism, sacraments, and ordained ministry while affirming the central role of the…

  • Stillness: Surrounding, Sustaining, Strengthening

    The post reflects on the theme of stillness through three vivid images: a peaceful summer afternoon at a loved one’s deathbed, the deceptive silence in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, and the profound stillness of Jesus on the cross. It explores the spiritual dimensions and complexities of stillness in these contexts, emphasizing God’s sustaining presence…

  • A Report on the North American Launch of the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence

    This article reports on the North American launch of the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence held in Nashville in 2001. It outlines the WCC’s ecumenical commitment to peace and reconciliation, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of violence and the diverse approaches the Decade advocates to address and transform it. The piece highlights Friends’…

  • Editor’s Introduction #4

    By Anne K Riggs, Associate Editor In this issue of Quaker Theology we highlight concerns of peace and violence, ecclesiology and theological method, or ways of thinking and talking about theological subjects – about God, about ourselves in relation to God and to one another in a worshiping community, and as people who worship and who live…

  • The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) as a Religious Community

    The article explores the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) as a religious community characterized more as a religious order than a traditional church, emphasizing a distinctive way of life and prayer rather than doctrinal uniqueness. It discusses specific Quaker practices such as Advices and Queries, historical testimonies, and corporate discernment, and identifies key features of…