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Quakerism And The Religious Society Of Friends
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Introduction
In this episode of Community Chest, Dominik hosts a discussion with guest Alan Berry regarding the origins and practices of Quakerism. The conversation explores the roots of the Religious Society of Friends, the Quaker testimonies on equality and peace, and the role of meeting houses as neutral ground during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Berry also provides details on local outreach events in Norwich.
Dominik hosts a discussion with guest Alan Berry regarding the origins and practices of Quakerism. Berry explains that the Religious Society of Friends was originally based in Christianity and notes that the term 'Quaker' began as a nickname given by a judge during a trial. The conversation covers Quaker testimonies on equality, including their early prohibition of slave ownership in 1776, and the role of meeting houses as neutral ground during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Berry also provides details on local outreach events held every Monday at 7:00 PM at the meeting house in Upper Goat Lane, Norwich. Dominik adds a humorous note by mentioning Richard Nixon as a poor example of a famous Quaker.
Topics
- Quakerism and its relation to racial identity
- The origins and terminology of Quakerism
- Quaker testimonies on equality and anti-slavery
- Quakerism and local Quaker activities in Norwich
Participants
- Dominik
- Alan Berry
- Alan Barry
Names are taken from the archive as written and may include spelling variants.
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That anybody you asked, in fact, would probably have a slightly different answer. But as you say, Quakers were originally very much based in Christianity, and in fact still are. I mean, that's our culture; that's part of our society. Our Judeo-Christian background.
Speaking truth to power, so that the original George Foxes and others said, "Why should I raise my hat just because he's the king?" And even Cromwell was really quite impressed with him. He was a bit worried about them, but he said, "Well, you know, I think we could do business together."
Look, are you interested? Do you want to find out about something which just has a slightly different, well, perhaps completely different angle on—not completely different, but an angle on things which says, you know, you make a difference when you come, and that's absolutely true. I mean, anybody who comes has got their own truths and things straight away.
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