The Quakers in North America

For this weeks blog task I have chosen to study the history and views of the Religious Society of Friends in North America, or as they are more commonly known, the Quakers.

This website gives us a history of Quakerism, and how they first came to settle in North America. After being persecuted throughout Europe, the first record of them coming to America is the arrival of Mary Fisher and Ann Austin at Boston in 1656. Unfortunately, they were still unwelcome, even here. It was not really until 1681 when William Penn (a Quaker himself) founded the state of Pennsylvania. It soon became a haven not just for Quakers, but for many other religious minorities too.

What is interesting about the Quakers is that even today, as when they first arrived in America, they are still shunned by many. This website tells us more about the Quakers today. For example, it tells us how they differ from many other religions in that they have "No single statement of religious doctrine [which] is accepted by all the overlapping regional bodies of Friends." In the past, Quakers have always been on the cutting edge of change, being the first Christian group in America to completely denounce slavery and for all it's members to free all their slaves. And today, while Quakerism may not be at the forefront of change in the world, it is interesting to me that they are still very liberal in regards to things like homosexuality, having some of the first Christian groups in the world to accept it.