C. Scripture, Christ & Christian Doctrine

“Following Jesus: The Heart of Faith and Practice”* A Review

This review critiques Paul Anderson’s book *Following Jesus: The Heart of Faith and Practice* for its attempt to merge Evangelical Christianity with early Quakerism, ultimately arguing that it reduces spiritual experience to scriptural interpretation rather than immediate guidance by the Spirit. The review highlights Anderson’s reliance on textual authority and traditional criteria for discernment, contrasting…
The Fall of Man

Angelina Grimké challenges the traditional Christian doctrine of the “Fall of Man,” arguing that humans are not inherently sinful but are progressing through natural stages of moral and intellectual development. She sees evil and moral friction as necessary for growth and insists that God’s nature as love and benevolence is incompatible with the idea of…
Update & Preview Philip Gulley, Western Yearly Meeting, And An Excerpt from His Forthcoming Book

This post discusses the controversy surrounding Philip Gulley, a Quaker pastor whose universalist theology led to attempts to revoke his ministerial credentials within Western Yearly Meeting. Gulley critiques traditional Christian worship’s focus on Jesus’ divinity, arguing instead for seeing Jesus as a model for living whose teachings emphasize compassion and service rather than theological orthodoxy.
Opening the Scriptures, Then and Now

This article explores the historical and contemporary interpretations of the Bible within the Religious Society of Friends, highlighting tensions between mystical, inward readings and more literal, evangelical approaches. It traces key developments from George Fox’s seventeenth-century Spirit-led understandings through eighteenth- and nineteenth-century debates, including Joseph John Gurney’s evangelical influence, and reflects on current Quaker disputes…
“Putting the Bible into Perspective: Hicksites and the Theological Treatment of the Bible in Progressive Reform”

This article explores the Hicksite schism’s impact on Progressive Quaker women’s theological freedom, particularly regarding the interpretation of the Bible. It highlights how figures like Hannah Barnard, Elias Hicks, and Lucretia Mott challenged traditional views of biblical authority, emphasizing the primacy of the “inner light” over scripture, especially in social reform movements like abolition and…
Messiahs of Every Age: A Theological Basis of Nineteenth-Century Social Reform

This article explores Lucretia Mott’s theology as the foundation for her active participation in nineteenth-century social reform movements. It highlights her belief in the Inner Light as a source of truth, her eschatological vision of the kingdom of God as present and attainable through justice, and her distinctive christology emphasizing Jesus’ humanity and faith rather…
“If Grace Be True: Why God Will Save Every Person*” and “A Treatise on Atonement*” Reviewed

This post reviews the controversial universalist theology presented by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland, who argue that God will ultimately save every person, challenging traditional orthodox views of atonement and eternal punishment. It also discusses Hosea Ballou’s earlier similar universalist ideas, contrasts them with historic Christian doctrines of atonement, and reflects on the theological and…
The Case Against the Richmond Declaration

The article presents a detailed critique of the Richmond Declaration of Faith, emphasizing that it was created by a non-representative group and has been a source of division within Quakerism since its inception. It argues that the Declaration poorly represents Quaker faith, was often misused as a creed to exclude others, and remains largely irrelevant…