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Like our style of worship, Quaker theology also differs from other religions. Because creeds could never fully represent
all revelation and could limit or confine our perceptions of truth, Friends write no creeds. Instead, we write queries which
help us reflect on our beliefs and actions.
Without creeds, Friends have become diverse in our beliefs about God.
Nonetheless, Friends' common experience of God's presence within and among us has led us to realize that there is that of
God, or something of the Divine, in everyone. This realization is central to Quakerism. It is confirmed in the Bible. As Friends
have attempted to respond to that of God in everyone, some common values have arisen that unite us.
Friends try
to manifest our common values through the Quaker Testimonies of Integrity, Equality, Simplicity, Peace, and Community: life
is sacred; God's inward presence is experienced universally; revelation is continuous; simplicity, integrity, community and
diversity are essential in the search for truth; truth and unity are goals for worship and business; and way opens, making
the ideal attainable. These values follow from our realization that there is that of God in everyone.
Because there
is that of God in everyone, Friends try to avoid all violence. We try to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts and differences
and to help others through service, the promotion of social and economic justice, kindness in daily living, and the support
of each other's search for that of God within.
To be more receptive to revelation, Friends practice simplicity
and integrity. For Friends, simplicity is putting God first in one's life. Simplicity requires clear priorities and often
inspires plainness and lack of clutter.
Simplicity and integrity bring us closer to the truth, and truth is of
such importance to us that, originally, our name was "The Religious Society of the Friends of Truth". This search
for truth inspired George Fox, one of our founders, to refuse to swear in court to tell the truth, in part because of the
Biblical admonition against swearing, but also because swearing to tell the truth on one occasion implies that there are other
occasions when one would not tell the truth.
In our corporate search for truth, Friends use the worshipful Quaker
process of decision making, a process for finding unity in all decisions which affect our communities. For Friends, unity
is not usually unanimity, rather it is more often agreement with dissent, staying together despite differences and moving
forward with guidance from our common values.
Friends value actions which reflect our ideals. Not only do Friends
expect that we can live Divinely inspired lives, we expect that, with Divine power and guidance, we can attain social justice
and peace on earth.
(Paraphrased from a pamphlet by Marsha Holliday, member of Langley Hill
Friends Meeting.)
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