This was, in part, because Quakers identified themselves as Christians, but rejected the rituals of the church, the authority of the Bible as absolute and the professional clergy. It was also because Quakers refused to serve in the army, pay tithes to the established church and use honorific titles. Fox encouraged his followers to express their faith through deeds, a practice Quakers still embrace today. This has not always sat well with leaders of established churches or government. Their beliefs differ somewhat from place to place, but they share the convictions that all people contain something of the divine and that shared silence is the way to access the inner light.
Most Quakers are also committed to promoting social justice and international peace.
Peggy Truner serves as co-clerk of the Fort Worth Quaker meeting. As co-clerk, it is her responsibility to keep the business of the meeting flowing. She says that Quakers believe in the continuing revelation of God. They make no formal professions of faith, because they are continuously listening for divine inspiration. But she says that most Quakers would call themselves Christians.