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CourseworkHelp
:Quakers
The
Quakers (Society of Friends) was formed in the 17th Century.
It was thought that a man called George Fox helped form the group and
gave its
name
Quakers. The name Quakers started as an insult to Fox when the judge said
to him, “You quake at the presence of God.” He was standing in court after
being one of the leaders who started Quakers, which was against the law
to worship in any other way than the Roman Catholic way.
The
Friends Meeting House we visited in Liverpool is not classed as a church
but purely as a place of worship. As Quakers are non-Liturgical (Waiting
on the Spirit) they believe actions are not necessary and everything comes
from your heart. The room had six sides this had no spiritual meaning;
it was so each speaker could be heard in the room as they believe in equal
rights. There was a table in the centre of the room containing various
books, including the Bible, Quakers Faith & Practice, Structure of
Friends, and Advices & Queries. The table was not called an Altar.
The Meeting House didn’t have any icons, symbols or even a crucifix. This
was because Quakers believe in simplicity and are against wealth and corruption.
Which many churches in the 17th contained gold icons and were
beautiful places. The Meeting House had no ministers or priests as they
believe in equal rights. The Meeting House was a practical building and
was simply for the community and worship to a higher power or God.
The
service, which has no structure or hierarchy (warden), begins when the
first person enters the building and sits down. The service continues
as more people enter the room and everyone sits in silence gathering their
thoughts. When someone feels moved by the spirit they may speak, dance,
sing or read the Bible to express their worship. They believe you only
get out of the service what you put in. The service is very relaxed and
informal it is between God and yourself as they have no set rules and
their conscience decides. They have various groups like study, discussion,
and fun groups for children. They believe that God speaks directly to
each person in the room and he is discovered within you.
As Quakers are pacifists they don’t believe
in violence and they don’t fight for King and country. This because they
believe in equal opportunities and peace and tranquillity as reflected
in their silent services. They have no sacraments, as their main beliefs
are worship to God. If people want to get married in the Quaker community
there is no special service, the two people join together in front of
God in the Meeting House. If a baby is born there is no special baptistery
ceremony the baby is simply welcomed into the Quaker community at one
of their services. The Quakers believe in the Holy Spirit and they wait
to be moved, together with their conscience to show them how to worship
and guide them in moral decisions. A Friends Meeting takes quite literally
these words of Jesus: “Where two or three people come together in my name,
there I am in the midst.” This shows there is no need for a fancy building
as long as there are two or more people gathered in the name of God they
could worship the Holy Trinity. Quakers religion comes from the Pentecost
acts as shown in the Bible: “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” As shown
in the Quaker service when the Holy Spirit moves people they may take
a reading from the Bible or sing a song expressing their worship to God.
This is followed through in the Quakers service as when the feel moved
by the Spirit they express their worship and speak out. More of their
teachings come from the Spiritual gifts “and no one can say Jesus is Lord,
except by the Holy Spirit.” This is shown in their service, as they do
not refer to God but a higher power.
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