Quakers practice a religion of experience – a contemporary, simple, and radical faith. Quakers are also called the Religious Society of Friends, or simply Friends. Quakers strive to live lives that are guided by a direct encounter with the Divine, more than by teachings about the Divine. Broadly speaking, we affirm that "there is that of God in everyone." Everyone is known by God and can know God in a direct relationship. We are called to attend to this relationship and to be guided by it.
The Quaker faith has deep Christian roots that form our understanding of God, our faith, and our practices. Many Quakers consider themselves Christian, and some do not. Many Quakers today draw spiritual nourishment from our Christian roots and strive to follow the example of Jesus. Many other Quakers draw spiritual sustenance from various religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and the nature religions. Quakers use many words to describe the Divine; some of them include: God, the Light Within, Christ, Spirit, Seed, and Inward Teacher.
Testimonies are ways that Quakers have found to express our experience of the Divine in our lives. These include simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. There are Quakers of all ages, religious backgrounds, races and ethnicities, education levels, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and classes. Everyone is welcome among Friends.
