Quaker Theology

17th-19th Centuries: Faith, Nation & Reconciliation

Explores Quaker peace witness from the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, including its early spiritual foundations, refusal to bear arms or swear loyalty oaths, and tensions with national authority during war and revolution. Examines Friends’ responses to danger and persecution, their sense of belonging to a community beyond national boundaries, and efforts to promote reconciliation among divided Quaker groups.

  • Divine Protection through Extraordinary Dangers

    This post recounts the remarkable story of Jacob and Elizabeth Goff and their family’s experiences during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, highlighting their steadfast Quaker pacifism and reliance on divine protection. It details the severe trials they endured, including threats, loss, and violence, while maintaining their testimonies of peace and faith. The narrative also describes…

  • 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…

  • “The Early Quakers and the Kingdom of God: Peace, Testimony and Revolution”*

    The post reviews Gerard Guiton’s book on early Quakers, critiquing his theological approach that prioritizes a static interpretation of Quaker beliefs over historical context and action. The reviewer emphasizes the need to consider evolving historical circumstances and actions in understanding Quaker pacifism and theology rather than purely theological assertions detached from historical realities.