What do Quakers believe?

There’s no set list of beliefs you have to sign up for to be a Quaker. Instead, Quakers are encouraged to explore their own experiences, ask questions and discover what feels true for themselves.

Quakerism has its roots in Christianity, and many Quakers today still find inspiration in the teachings of Jesus. But Quakers have a wide range of beliefs. Some believe in God, some describe themselves as atheist or agnostic, and others draw inspiration from different spiritual traditions.

Rather than following a fixed set of religious rules, Quakers place a lot of importance on personal experience. They believe that everyone can explore questions about life, meaning and spirituality for themselves. You don’t need someone else to tell you what to believe, and it’s OK if your understanding changes over time.

Although Quakers don’t all share the same beliefs, there are some important ideas that many Friends have in common. One is that every person has value. Quakers believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, beliefs or circumstances.

Quakers also try to put their values into practice in everyday life. They have a long history of working for peace, equality and social justice, and place great importance on honesty, integrity and simplicity. Caring for the natural world is another important part of Quaker life, with many Friends working to protect the planet for future generations.

For many Quakers, these values are closely connected to their experience of Meeting for Worship. Sitting together in silence gives Friends time to listen, reflect and consider how they want to live. Some experience this as listening to God or the Spirit, while others understand it in a different way.

You don’t have to agree with every Quaker idea or have all the answers before coming to a Meeting. You can arrive with strong beliefs, lots of questions or simply a curiosity about what Quakers do.

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