Quaker Theology

1. Peace Testimony: History & Theology

Explores the historical development and theological foundations of the Quaker Peace Testimony, from early Friends to contemporary responses to war and violence. Examines biblical interpretation, spiritual experience, conscientious objection, and tensions between faith and national loyalty, showing how Friends have understood, debated, and practiced their commitment to peace across changing circumstances.

  • Excerpt from: “Holy Nation: The Transatlantic Quaker Ministry in an Age of Revolution”*

    This article explores how the Society of Friends (Quakers) positioned themselves as a “holy nation,” emphasizing a theological identity that transcended geopolitical boundaries and nation-states in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It highlights their refusal to participate in nationalist demands such as military service and loyalty oaths, their active peace witness, and their establishment of…

  • Joseph Southall & The Ghosts of the Slain:

    The post highlights Joseph Southall, a British Quaker artist and pacifist who used his art to protest World War One and militarism. It focuses on his 1917 allegorical pamphlet “The Ghosts of the Slain,” which condemned politicians, munitions makers, and churches supporting war, emphasizing the Quaker commitment to peace and draft resistance.

  • 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.

  • 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’…