Quaker Theology

Issue # 5, Fall 2001

  • “Mim and the Klan: A Hoosier Quaker Farm Family’s Story,”* a Review

    This review discusses Cynthia Stanley Russell’s novel *Mim and the Klan*, which exposes the largely unacknowledged history of Quaker involvement in the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana during the 1920s. The story highlights the tension between Quaker values and the racist, nativist ideology of the Klan, raising urgent theological and historical questions for the Quaker…

  • Ham Sok Hon: “Voice of the People and Pioneer of Religious Pluralism in Twentieth Century Korea;” Biography of a Korean Quaker.*

    This article reviews the biography of Ham Sok Hon, a Korean Quaker and religious pluralist who resisted various oppressive regimes throughout twentieth-century Korea. Ham’s life was marked by repeated imprisonment due to his spiritual quest for inner freedom and his advocacy for Korean identity and democracy, leaving a lasting influence on Korean dissidents and society.…

  • “Catechism and Confession of Faith,”* by Robert Barclay, A Review

    This post reviews the modern English edition of Robert Barclay’s 1673 work, “A Catechism and Confession of Faith,” highlighting its role in providing systematic scriptural guidance relevant to early Friends and contemporary seekers alike. It discusses the structure of the catechism, its scriptural bases, and editorial choices about biblical translations while emphasizing the book’s value…

  • 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…

  • Crossroads of Western Quakerism in Africa

    The article explores the historical and theological journey of Western Quakerism’s introduction to East Africa, highlighting the complexities of missionary efforts led by Arthur Chilson and his colleagues. It contrasts African indigenous spirituality, rich with Trinitarian concepts, with Western missionary theology, noting the cultural and religious transformations imposed on African communities. The lasting impact of…

  • War in the Social Order: the Great War and the Liberalization of American Quakerism

    This article explores how the Great War catalyzed the liberalization and social activism of American Quakerism, particularly among Philadelphia Orthodox Friends. It highlights the role of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and progressive Quaker businessmen in reconnecting modern Quakers with their historic pacifist and reformist roots, leading to a broader engagement with social justice,…

  • Quaker Peace Witness After 9/11 – A Resource List

    This article provides a curated resource list to support Friends in reflecting on and sustaining their Peace Testimony in the aftermath of 9/11. It includes recommended books, essays, historical background, theological perspectives, and contemporary peace studies, emphasizing spiritual care and the complexity of Quaker pacifism in challenging times.

  • Editor’s Introduction #5

    By Chuck Fager In this issue of Quaker Theology, matters of peace and war are again in the forefront, due as much to the force of events as to our own inclinations. We begin with something which would not have occurred to us prior to Ninth Month 11, 2001: a resource list for Friends and meetings grappling…

  • About the Contributors

    Chuck Fager is Editor of Quaker Theology. He was also Co-Clerk of the 2001 Quaker Peace Roundtable, and serves as Clerk of the Religious Education Committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. He has just become Director of Quaker House in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Howell John Harris teaches History at the University of Durham, England. Thomas D. Paxson, Jr. is Professor and…