What Quakers Believe

Hello dear readers,

Quakerism is a faith without a creed, but when asked what they believe, many Friends will say they believe in “that of God in everyone,” in reference to the famous George Fox quote:

“Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone; whereby in them you may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you.”

We began this month reading theologians’ interpretations of this quote and of the Scripture from which it is thought to be derived. Along the way we learned more about what early Friends meant by the Inner Light and that, in searching for the Light in others, we should remember to see the Light in ourselves. We read that although it is often difficult to love our neighbors, we have something new to learn about God in every interaction.

If The Daily Quaker Message is valuable to you — whether it forms part of your daily practice, keeps you connected to Quaker thought and community, or gives you hope in trying times — I would like to invite you to become a supporter of this ministry. Right now just 3% of readers support the Daily Quaker Message, but we need more to join them in order to ensure the sustainability of this project. Your support allows the Daily Quaker to continue, bringing messages of wisdom and witness to seekers and Quakers around the world.

Tomorrow we will begin a month on the theme of Gratitude, in acknowledgment of the Thanksgiving season here in the US. In early Quaker texts, this sentiment is more often communicated as “awe,” and we will explore these roots as well as more modern practices that build spiritual resilience in good times and bad.

In friendship,

Maeve Sutherland
Editor of the Daily Quaker Message

Reader Responses

What are your challenges to seeing that of God in everyone?
What practices help you overcome these challenges?

If I have trouble seeing that of God in every one, I remind myself that the actual charge of the except is to “…be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them.” 

Answering that of God in every one (two words) is then the natural outcome: “Then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one…” 

And, for added incentive, there’s rest of the sentence: “…whereby in them ye may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you: then to the Lord God you shall be a sweet savour, and a blessing.” 

The question I struggle with in this: What does it mean to “be patterns, be examples?” The best I know is to live that question every day and, hopefully, to allow that of God in me, and perhaps even to allow it to stretch and grow. 

Ruth M., Charlotte, NC, USA
Seeing God in everyone is especially challenged when a person claims to be a Christian, yet cares not of the suffering of others. To overcome this I ask God to help me be kind and caring towards this person. I guess that person shows me what not to be.

Bridgett M., Lawrence, KS, USA

This Week’s Messages

Mon Oct 20

Questioning and Doubt Can Lead to Spiritual Growth

“Take time to learn about other people’s experiences of the Light. Remember the importance of the Bible, the writings of Friends and all writings which reveal the ways of God. As you learn from others, can you in turn give freely from what you have gained?” …
Tue Oct 21

Our Life Is Love

“Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations one against another; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand, if there has been any slip or fall.” …
Wed Oct 22

Where Quaker Testimonies Come From

“Based on the Quaker tenet that there is that of God in each person springs forth our guidelines for living, our testimonies, which are equality, peace, integrity, simplicity, and community. If there is that of God in each of us, we are all equal and we should treat each other that way. If there is that of God in each of us, why would we harm another person? We need to conduct our lives in peace and nonviolence. If there is that of God in each of us, we should live simply and not squander our extras. We should share them with those who don’t have and not waste our money or our resources on things we don’t need.” …
Thu Oct 23

That of Odd in Everyone

There’s that of odd in everyone / It goes with being God’s daughter or son / It’s there in saints, outliers, and outlaws / It’s in what’s perfect, it’s in what’s broken / Inarticulate or well spoken / It’s where your genius meets your tragic flaws …
Fri Oct 24

Love Cannot Be Stopped

“If we love God and give ourselves to Him, we must give ourselves to the whole world. Otherwise we would divide off our personal experience of God from His Greatness and Infinite Presence and turn what ought to be dedication into private enjoyment. One of the holy miracles of love is that once it is really started on its path, it cannot stop: it spreads and spreads in ever-widening circles till it embraces the whole world in God. We begin by loving those nearest to us, end by loving those who seem farthest. And as our love expands, so our whole personality will grow, slowly but truly. Every fresh soul we touch in love is going to teach us something fresh about God.” …
Sat Oct 25

The Purpose of Quaker Community

“I think we exist to discern and do the will of God, and that looks like a lot of different things. Historically, Friends have experienced God asking us to listen—asking us to preach—asking us to care for each other—asking us to bear witness in the world. Sometimes the purpose of the Quaker community is to join (or lead) the nonviolent protest, to stand face to face against injustice, to be arrested, to prevent harm or, at least, to shine a spotlight on that harm. And sometimes the purpose of the Quaker community is to make sure the parent who’s just had surgery doesn’t have to worry about dinner. Oftentimes, I think it’s both.” …

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Author

  • Maeve Sutherland

    Maeve Sutherland is a communications professional who never recovered from her wonderful childhood at a Quaker elementary school. She has spent her career helping nonprofits share their stories, from schools and universities, to museums, to radio stations. As a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, Maeve spent a year living in “Peaceable Kingdoms,” pacifist intentional communities around the world, where she learned that everyone has a role to play in shaping a better world. She worked as a freelance social media manager before joining Thee Quaker Project.

    After returning to Quakerism as a young adult, Maeve now attends Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting in Philadelphia.

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