The Spirit of the Quakers

An inspiring and enlightening introduction to Quakerism, the second title in the Yale University Press “The Spirit of . . .”series Who are the Quakers, what do they believe, and what do they practice?The Religious Society of Friends-also known as Quakers--believes that everyone can have a direct experience of God.Quakers express this in a unique form of worship that inspires them to work for change in themselves and in the world.In The Spirit of the Quakers, Geoffrey Durham, himself a Friend, explains Quakerism through quotations from writings that cover 350 years, from the beginnings of the movement to the present day. Peace and equality are major themes in the book, but readers will also find thought-provoking passages on the importance of action for social change, the primacy of truth, the value of simplicity, the need for a sense of community, and much more.The quoted texts convey a powerful religious impulse, courage in the face of persecution, the warmth of human relationships, a