05. Social Witness – Quaker Theology

“A Peace of Africa, Reflections on Life In The Great Lakes Region”

This article reviews David Zarembka’s book *A Peace of Africa*, highlighting his journey from conventional international development work to grassroots Quaker peacebuilding in East Africa’s Great Lakes region. It explores the challenges of ethnic conflict, corruption, and NGO inefficacy in Africa, emphasizing Zarembka’s commitment to honest, community-rooted peacemaking and social entrepreneurship. The review also reflects…
“No Country for Jewish Liberals,” “The Half Life of a Free Radical”* Two Reviews

This article reviews two autobiographical memoirs that, despite different cultural backgrounds, resonate with themes relevant to Quaker concerns such as war, social justice, and exile. Both authors grapple with the personal and political impacts of the Vietnam War and Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting issues of militarism, occupation, and the struggle to maintain hope in polarized societies.
“The Dark Side” and “Never Surrender”* Reviewed

This article reviews two contrasting books about Fort Bragg’s role in post-9/11 U.S. military and intelligence operations. Jane Mayer’s “The Dark Side” exposes the use and spread of torture techniques in U.S. interrogations, while retired General William Boykin’s “Never Surrender” promotes an apocalyptic religious worldview justifying the war on terror. The review highlights the starkly…
Blessed Unrest: The Radical Act of Gathering

This article draws historical and legal parallels between early Quaker persecution for unlawful assemblies in 17th-century England and the modern Moral Monday protests in North Carolina. It details William Penn’s landmark trial defending the right to assemble and connects it to the experiences of contemporary Quaker activists, highlighting the ongoing struggle for civil liberties, community…
Editor’s Introduction: Divorce in Indiana – Quaker Style

The article examines the ongoing division within Indiana Yearly Meeting over issues related to LGBTQ+ inclusion, highlighting the conflict between liberal and orthodox factions. It explores historical precedents, scriptural justifications, and the potential outcomes, warning of a likely schism akin to a church “divorce.”
Editor’s Preface to “Engaging Homelessness behind the ‘Orange Curtain’” by Chuck Fager

This article examines the struggle of a small Quaker church in Orange County, California, that sought to minister to and advocate for homeless individuals in one of the nation’s wealthiest and most conservative counties. It contrasts the church’s inclusive, compassionate mission with the dominant evangelical Friends Church Southwest’s (EFCSW) centralizing, market-driven, and property-controlling leadership, highlighting…
Engaging Homelessness Behind the “Orange Curtain” By Joseph Pfeiffer

This article explores the increasing homelessness crisis in Orange County, California, through the lens of a small Quaker church’s compassionate response and the ensuing conflict with local authorities and the church denomination. It critically examines how suburban ideals, white normativity, and church growth models in Evangelical Friends Church Southwest have contributed to exclusionary practices and…
Excerpt from “To Change The World”*

The article discusses the challenges of effecting lasting cultural change through religious revival, social reform, or political victories alone. It highlights how deep cultural systems shape society’s values and how even well-intentioned movements may have unintended or limited outcomes. Drawing on historical examples, it underscores the complexity and resistance of culture to transformation.
Excerpts from: ALL SLAVE-KEEPERS That keep the Innocent in Bondage, APOSTATES

This article features excerpts from Benjamin Lay’s early Quaker abolitionist writings condemning slavekeeping among Quakers in 18th-century America. Lay passionately denounces the hypocrisy of slaveholding ministers and members of the Quaker community, pleading for a complete separation from the practice of keeping slaves as incompatible with Christian truth and Quaker principles. The text provides historical…
George Fox University and West Hills Friends:

This article examines the controversy at George Fox University concerning the housing of a transgender student, Jayce M., and the university’s policies grounded in evangelical Christian beliefs on sexual purity. It highlights the conflict between the university’s adherence to traditional gender and sexual norms and the calls from some Quaker leaders and groups within Northwest…
In Search of Religious Radicalism

The article traces Charley Earp’s personal journey from evangelical Pentecostalism through Christian communalism to a progressive, radical religious philosophy aligned with social activism. It explores the tensions between traditional Christian beliefs and radical social values, ultimately advocating for an integrated, experimental religious radicalism that embraces egalitarianism, inclusivity, and social justice, exemplified in Progressive Quakerism. The…
Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

The Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers, spanning 1817 to 1918, detail their extensive involvement in 19th-century social reform movements including abolitionism, women’s rights, and spiritualism. The Posts, Hicksite Quakers and active reformers, utilized their home as an Underground Railroad station and were key figures connecting notable activists such as Frederick Douglass and Susan B.…
Love and Peace in Cuba Today From the Perspective of a Quaker

This post is a deeply reflective essay by a Cuban Quaker poet, Julio Antonio Cuesta Martínez, translated by Stephen W. Angell. It explores the spiritual, social, and economic challenges faced by Cubans today, emphasizing the importance of inner peace and faith in Christ amidst external and internal hardships including economic blockade, societal stagnation, and personal…
Lucretia Mott & The Perils of Dissent – Excerpts from James & Lucretia Mott, Life & Letters.

This post recounts the challenges faced by Lucretia Mott and her husband James within the Quaker community due to their abolitionist and reformist stances, highlighting their experiences of exclusion, intolerance, and opposition at Quaker meetings in Ohio and Indiana. It emphasizes Mott’s unwavering commitment to justice and moral principle despite social ostracism and personal suffering.
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…
Nimrod and the Tower of Babel: Genesis 10-11 in Seventeenth-Century Quaker Writings

This article explores how Seventeenth-century Quakers interpreted the biblical narrative of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, emphasizing the theme of confusion and tyranny associated with Babel and Nimrod. It discusses how early Friends saw Babel as symbolic of spiritual and social confusion caused by human pride and disobedience, contrasting the original spiritual language of…
Quakers and “Transformation”

The post critiques the overuse and dilution of the term “transformation” in Quaker and broader religious contexts, highlighting how it has lost meaning and can be misused, including in justifications of war and militarism. The author calls for clearer, more precise language and warns against uncritical adoption of buzzwords that obscure real change.
Resisting Oppression: Friends and the Stuart Restoration, 1660-1689

The article explores the response of Quakers to the Stuart Restoration (1660-1689), detailing their persecution, internal organization, and evolving political engagement. It highlights key figures like George Fox, Margaret Fell, and William Penn, and traces Quakers’ efforts toward religious toleration culminating in the 1689 Act of Toleration.
Silence in Heaven: The Revelation to John Woolman

The post explores John Woolman’s mystical vision and its theological implications, emphasizing his insights into social injustice, the redemptive power of prayer, and the spiritual safety found in inward quietness amid worldly turmoil. It highlights his integration of biblical imagery from Revelation and other scriptures to call Friends to faithful witness and resistance against oppression.…
The Battle for Battle Creek: Sectarian Competition in the Yankee West

This article explores the history of liberal sectarianism in Battle Creek, Michigan, particularly focusing on the Hicksite Quakers and Progressive Friends in the 19th century. It highlights their influence on the city’s religious landscape, social reform movements, and the development of Seventh-Day Adventism and Battle Creek’s health and cereal industries. The article also discusses the…
The Exposition of Sentiments, 1853

The 1853 “Exposition of Sentiments” by the Pennsylvania Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends outlines a foundational vision for liberal Quakerism, emphasizing individual conscience over ecclesiastical authority, the rejection of rigid dogma, and active social reform. The document critiques traditional church structures and calls for a religious association grounded in practical goodness, inclusivity, and moral responsibility.
Three Reflections on Same Sex Marriage

The article presents three reflections supporting same-sex marriage from a Quaker perspective, emphasizing equality, love, and the importance of marriage as a societal and spiritual commitment. It critiques historical and ongoing injustices against marginalized groups, advocates for inclusivity within religious communities, and celebrates the normalcy and blessings of same-gender unions. The author also shares a…