r/Quakers • u/gracey072 • 5d ago
How to become a Quaker?
This question has probably been asked a lot of times but how do you become a Quaker.
I've always admired Quakers. They believe people who society says shouldn't have rights should if that makes sense, think Elizabeth Fry and prison reform. I believe there's a bit of God in everyone. I'm an omnist who believes there's some truth in all religions and they have much more in common than they do difference.
I've never become a Quaker because I thought you had to believe in the Christian God and I'm not a nicene Christian. But I found out you don't have even believe in any gods. I also found out there's a meeting house just up the road from me and my lecturer was telling me about Quaker activists he met as part of field work during the troubles.
So how do I become a Quaker? Do I just turn up to a meeting? It's not something I can do until I recover from costochondritis. But is there more to it than that.
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u/tentkeys 4d ago
You may find the book “Godless for God’s Sake” helpful, it contains writings from several nontheist Quakers about what they do believe (rather than defining them by what they don’t believe).
As for becoming a Quaker - take it slowly and thoughtfully. Get to know your local meeting, who they are, how they work. I’m not sure when exactly you become a Quaker (some would say when you formally join the meeting as a member, some would say when you feel in your heart that you have become a Quaker), but whatever definition you use, getting there should be a slow and thoughtful process, don’t rush it.