That Friendly Religion Trivia Quiz

Answer: George Fox

In 1652, George Fox founded The Society of Friends in England. In 1656, two of the first Quakers, women, landed in New England. Almost immediately, they were imprisoned, questioned, and searched for signs of witchcraft. Their Quaker writings were burned, and, within six weeks they were sent back to where they came from--Barbados.

The term "Quaker" first appeared around 1650, when George Fox came before a Justice Bennet on charges of blasphemy. Apparently, Bennet termed Fox and his friends "Quakers because we bid them tremble at the word of God". At first, this seemed a way to make light of the Quakers, but it finally became a nickname the Quakers accepted for themselves.

Answer: continuing revelation

For Quakers, learning and growing come from following constantly an inner light which enables a person to maintain contact with truth and divinity. This is not something exterior to a person; it is a direct speaking and knowing from within. This process is porous, constant, on-going.

George Fox, in his writings, urged people to be attuned first to that inner light as opposed to the external teachings of others. This belief is one that initially antagonized many people.

Overall, a central concept to most Friends is the "Inner Light" or "Light of Christ within."

Answer: action

In 1682, William Penn founded his "holy experiment" in Pennsylvania. From the beginning, the Quakers have a long history of defending the rights of people and of opposing war, as well as of being social activists.

Penn's "holy experiment" was founded on his opposition to an army, his defense of Native Americans as equals, and his hope that religious freedom could become a reality. For instance, when the French and Indian War erupted in 1754, many Quaker politicians decided to resign from government rather than support the war. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Quakers emphatically opposed the transatlantic trading in slaves.

Throughout their history, the Quakers have acted upon the conviction that their beliefs must be tied to their actions. They are not an ivory tower group at all.

Answer: Sola

"Sola scriptura" literally means "by scripture alone." Since the Quakers place such importance on Inner Light and introspection, sola scriptura was antipathetic to Quaker faith.
"Christo et Ecclesiae" means "For Christ and for the Church"
"Beati Possidentes" means "blessed are those who possess."
"Extra Ecclesiam nulla Salus" means "Outside the Church there is no salvation."

Hence, the famous Quaker Robert Barclay believed that scripture is "only a declaration of the fountain, and not the fountain itself."

Answer: simplicity

The Quakers have been known for their simplicity in faith, in speech and manner. They do call each other "friend" and mean it. A book on the Quakers by Robert Lawrence Smith is called "A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons In Simplicity, Service, and Common Sense."

The Quaker focus is not on sacrament but on strengthening the presence of "God as Present Teacher."

Answer: openings

Openings are revelations, paths to the Spirit, which will appear to those who are able to keep themselves open.
Quaker religious gatherings range from programmed to unprogrammed ceremonies.
There is an enormous sense of equality in these services. Quakers believe that "every day is the Lord's day."

Once, the young John Woolman came upon a robin's nest with hatchlings; Woolman innocently threw rocks at the mother to test his throw. He killed the mother, but immediately he felt so bad about this action that he quickly killed the hatchlings since he thought their lot would be horrible without her. This was a key learning experience for young John Woolman. It taught him to nurture in himself always a respect and caring for everything alive.

Answer: John Woolman

John Woolman (1720-1782) epitomized the Quaker commitment to simplicity and equality. He wore undyed clothing because he knew slaves worked to dye it. Similarly, he refused to be served with silver plates, cups, etc because slaves had to dig to get these metals for the wealthy. He was an itinerant traveler throughout the colonies advocating for freedom. In his final voyage to England, he stayed in steerage rather than be in fancier accommodations. In England, he died of smallpox. "The Journal of John Woolman", some say, is the book which has the longest publication history outside of the Bible. This book is a masterpiece of simplicity and profundity.

Rufus Jones, a Quaker historian, believes that "more than any other man, Woolman aided the English-speaking nations to throw off the disgrace of slavery."

Answer: James Dean

James Dean, who was raised as a Quaker, is buried in a Quaker cemetery.

Bonnie Raitt says, "I grew up... in a Quaker family, and for me being Quaker was a political calling rather than a religious one."
The Quaker faith is inclusive and looks to the entire world.

George Fox speaks directly to the reach of Quaker attention, "Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one."

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Richard Nixon's mother was a Quaker of the conservative type (he could not swear, drink or dance). Even though he got a scholarship to Harvard, he went to Whittier College, a Quaker College where he was very successful.

The famous Dolley Madison was expelled from the Quakers for marrying a non-Quaker, James Madison. As the invading British Army approached Washington, DC, Dolley Madison took the portrait of George Washington with her to protect it.

Ronald Reagan called himself a Presbyterian most of his life.

Answer: shared fluid statements of shared belief

Testimonies are attempts to summarize central, shared positions among Quakers. There are Testimonies on many topics, such as Testimony of Integrity, Testimony of Simplicity, Testimony of Peace, and others. In the United States, students are taught the acronym SPICES, which stands for for Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship.
Central to Quaker testimonies is a belief in the need to express, and to bear witness individually to shared beliefs in the world and in God.