Ask Me Anything-About the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) (gospel, tradition)

[Tigress]

The Religious Society of Friends is a religious sect that is often overlooked, or in some cases, completely unheard of, which is why I started this thread--'Ask Me Anything--About the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)'--inspired by the recent influx of 'Ask Me Anything' threads. I'm no scholar, but I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge, hopefully giving you a better idea of what we Quakers are all about.

(I do realize that Maize posted an overview, and that there is a link thread available, but maybe I can answer for you what they don't).

[dbakerman76]

I have always had a curiosity about the Friends.

As far as your own practice goes, do you celebrate any holidays?

Also, do you consider yourself a Christian? I have heard of some modern Friends who no longer consider themselves Christian.

Just curious.

[Halcyon]

(Sorry, this is an aside, are you Quaker Tigress, you're profile says Universalist?)

Do Quakers actually still quake, or has this been phased out?

What do Quakers think of extra-biblical Christian texts, like the Gospel of Thomas?

[Tigress]

Originally Posted by dbakerman76

As far as your own practice goes, do you celebrate any holidays?

Yes, I celebrate both Christmas and Easter with family, as well as Thanksgiving, all more out of family tradition, and just being able to be with family, than anything else. The Quaker tradition leaves matters of the holidays up to the individual Quaker. Sometimes I feel lead to observe other holidays, like Hanukkah, for instance, simply for the experience. It can be very enlightening.

Also, do you consider yourself a Christian? I have heard of some modern Friends who no longer consider themselves Christian.

I do not consider myself [exclusively] Christian. The reason for this is my universalist beliefs, something not completely foreign amoung todays' Friends.

Originally Posted by Halcyon

(Sorry, this is an aside, are you Quaker Tigress, you're profile says Universalist?)

Universalist Quaker.

Do Quakers actually still quake, or has this been phased out?

Uhm, some individual Quakers may still quake. lol For those curious about the origins of the term 'Quaker,' here's an excerpt from pendle.net:

The term "Quaker" refers to a member of the Religious
Society of Friends, which is the proper name of the sect.
There are two reputed origins of the term, the first
refers to people "quaking" or trembling when feeling
moved by the Holy Spirit to speak in Meetings for
Worship. The other according to Elfrida Vipont Brown, is:

George Fox was arrested in Derby in October 1650 and
charged with blasphemy. The magistrates who tried him
were Gervase Bennett and Colonel Nathaniel Barton.
George Fox was questioned intermittently over an eight
hour period, during which at one point George Fox told
the magistrates "Tremble at the word of the Lord". It
was Justice Bennett who coined the name "Quakers" for
the followers of George Fox.

What do Quakers think of extra-biblical Christian texts, like the Gospel of Thomas?

Because Quakers have no set creed or dogma, it's difficult, if not impossible, to answer these kinds of questions for all Quakers, however, I do know of quite a few Quakers who've read the Apocrypha, and have found much wisdom to be had in them.