What is a Quaker?

Today I was asked "what is a Quaker", which left me pondering for some time. As you know I am a Quaker, but for me to explain it is not so easy. I'm probably the worst example of a Quaker I can think of. But I do try. But how to explain .... hmmm... well here goes...
What are Quakers?
Quakers are members of the Religious Society of Friends, a faith that emerged as a new denomination in England during a period of religious turmoil in the mid-1600's, and is practiced today, in a variety of forms, around the world.To members of this religion, the words Quaker and Friend mean the same thing.
Quakers are: an active, involved, faith-based community living in the modern world. We are a diverse people consisting of several distinct branches. We continue our traditional testimonies of pacifism, social equality, integrity, and simplicity, which we interpret and express in a variety of ways. Today, many Friends include stewardship of our planet as one of our testimonies.
Quakers are not: Amish, Anabaptists, Shakers or Puritans--we come from a separate tradition than these other groups. We don't dress like the man on the box of oats anymore. If you're looking for definitive answers about Quakers, Ie will have to disappoint you -- there aren't ANY definitive answers..! All I can do is offer you personal viewpoints and so enable you to build your own picture of what Quakers are..
What must you believe to be a Quaker?
The way to membership of most religions is the acceptance of a statement of belief. Quakers have never required any particular statement of belief, no matter how simple or general.
Historically this dates from the times when Christians of one persuasion or another would demand that others assented to their creeds. Quakers suffered much because they would not accept any of the statements which others put forward, and they were firmly resolved that they themselves would never adopt any formulae which could be used against others.
Later they realised that creeds are always smaller than the truth which they try to express, and that they encourage a static point of view rather than a developing faith.
For this reason there is no statement anywhere of what a Friend must believe, or of the minimum that one must accept to be eligible for membership.
This is not to say that beliefs are unimportant; Quakers see belief as so important that nothing second-hand will do. The authority for what one accepts is known within, and is not accepted from anyone else, whatever their status.
The Quaker emphasis is on a shared search for truth, and a working out of faith within a challenging but supportive group. At its best, a Meeting may include people whose theological views are mutually incompatible at many points, but who nevertheless work and worship together without any disharmony.
Are Quakers Christians?
It is still a matter of controversy and there is no simple answer. It is a fact that many Quakers consider themselves as Christians, and it is a fact that many do not.
If we used a creed or other test of belief we would be able to draw a line, perhaps one that other churches would accept as a valid distinction, but it is not our way to exclude those who can work and worship with us.
If we could only ask an applicant one question about this matter, it would not concern what they believed about Jesus, but whether they sought to follow his way.
The first Quakers considered, somewhat naively, that they had returned to the ways of the early church.
Present-day Quakers often seek to recover the spirit of that church, and believe that it is easier to understand who Jesus was if one discards much of the traditional theology that grew up in the Christian church over the centuries.
Quakers are not exclusive. We expect to find 'that of God' in all peoples, cultures and religions. We do not believe that revelation ceased when the ink dried on the last word of the New Testament. This is sometimes a source of disagreement with other Christians.
All churches accept the authority of scripture, of tradition, and direct revelation, but the emphasis placed on each differs in different churches.
Quakers put the authority of the Inner Light first.
What must Quakers do?
People become Quakers when the desire to attend meeting turns into a commitment. All of us are likely to go through periods of dryness, of being angry, or tired, or spiritually cold. In accepting membership we take on an obligation to persist even through such difficulties.
At times there may be other priorities, and age, health, distance from a meeting, or other responsibilities may make attendance difficult. Under such circumstances Quakers will try to gather enough like-minded people together to hold a meeting, or will make a quiet space in their lives to tide them over until they can next attend a meeting with others. The practical commitments are much the same as for any other organisation. People are necessary to do the work to keep it functioning and money has to be found to keep it solvent.

To try to put it in a nutshell. Quakerism is something that must be experienced. I would never claim to be a GOOD person, I simply want to listen to the good that is within me, and give it room to grow. I'm not a religious preson but I am a spiritual person. I want to follow a path where I think more about my affect on others and the world around me. I could do it by any number of ways, I chose to follow this way. And so endeth the sermon for today.
Find out more about Quakers by speaking to people far brighter than me. If you find out what it's all about please let me know. Visit here or here or here