From: aeb@philabs.philips.com (Anne Barschall)
Subject: Re: Some questions about Quakerism
Organization: Philips Laboratories, Briarcliff Manor, NY.
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 16:46:55 GMT

In article <1993Jan11.192547.8033@ryn.mro4.dec.com> bloom@tarkin.enet.dec.com (ELBERT Bloom) writes:
>
>
>   I am  not  a  member  of  the Society of Friends.  However, I have been
>   following this news conference now for several weeks.  I have also been
>   reading articles written by Quakers, including George Fox, etc.
>
>   From my  understanding  most Quakers consider themselves Christian, but

This is a matter of some controversy in some Friends groups, you should
understand.

>   do  not  adhere  to any fixed creed.  I would like to hear from some of
>   you Quakers regarding what your beliefs do encompass such as:
>
>   1) Do you believe the Bible to be the invarient "Word of God"? Are
>      there any exceptions to the rule?

This is a very rare belief amongst Friends, if it ever occurs.

>
>   2) Do different Quakers have differing opinions on the meanings
>      of the Bible?

Yes.  As there is no creed, there are probably as many different beliefs as
there are Friends.

>
>      I.E. Trinity Doctrine vs Non-Trinity Doctrine

Probably some are Trinitarian, but the traditional "Father, son, holy spirit"
formulation so commonly recited in other denominations is seldom heard in
Friends circles.

>           Who goes to Heaven? Is there a Hell? Who goes there?

There are no general rules about beliefs in these subjects.  There is
certainly no generally held belief that you have to be Friend to go to heaven.

Not all Friends believe there is a heaven.

>           Is there any concept such as eternal life here on earth?

I have met Friends who believe in reincarnation.

>           Will non-Christians who live a proper life also reap a
>              Heavenly reward?

The Friends I have met who believe in heaven also believe that a
non-Christian can go to heaven.

>
>   3) Is it even important what one's view of the Bible is so long as

Many Friends believe that the Bible is only one of many sources to look for
Truth in.

>   4) What is the Quaker view on smoking? on drinking?

Traditionally drinking was forbidden amongst Friends.  Most Meetings are not
so strict about this now, though usually smoking and drinking (alchohol, that
is) are forbidden in Meetinghouses and at official gatherings.

>   5) Are all Quakers pacifists?

I think that is still true.

>   6) Can one be a Quaker, but not necessarily conform to all the tenets
>      of the faith?

As there is no creed, it is difficult to answer this question.  Some groups do
have some guidelines as to what you have to believe, though.  

You have to realize that there are three main groups of Friends in this
country:  Friends General Conference, which is the most politically and
theologically liberal; Friends United Meetings, which is more
traditionally protestant; and Friends Evangelical Alliance, which (as
you can guess from its title) is more evangelical and more
traditionally protestant.  There are also some other, smaller, groups.

However, as far as I can tell, none of these groups is run centrally.  There
is more of a feeling that the individual congregations (Meetings) run things
from the bottom up.

Some individual Meetings do rather diverse things which are not at all
approved of by other Meetings.  For instance, you have some Meetings
authorizing gay marriages and others saying that homosexuality is a
sin.  You have some Meetings allowing membership by people who consider
themselves to be Jewish or atheist, and others saying that you must be
Christian to join.  Some Meetings have allowed membership by CIA
employees, and others have said that employment in the CIA is
inconsistent with membership.  It is therefore rather difficult to make
generalizations.

Newsgroups: soc.religion.quaker