The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

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The Quakers are a fascinating religious group both in their origins and in the variety of reinterpretations of the faith since. Emerging from the social unrest of the English civil war, the Quakers have gone on to have an influence way beyond their numbers: be it their continued stance against war or their pioneering work against slavery. At the same time, Quakers maintain a distinctive worship method to achieve the direct encounter with God which has been at the heart of the movement since its beginning. This book charts the history of Quakerism and its present-day diversity, and outlines its approach to worship, belief, theology and language, and ecumenism.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Book Description

An engaging guide to the principles and practices of the Quakers around the world from their inception to the present day

About the Author

'Ben' Pink Dandelion is a Reader in Quaker Studies and directs the work of the Centre for Postgraduate Quaker Studies, Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre and the University of Birmingham. He is the author of numerous books on Quakerism including The Liturgies of Quakerism (Ashgate, 2005) and Introduction to Quakerism (CUP, 2007) and edits the journal Quaker Studies.

Review:

4.2 out of 5

83.08% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good and Informative

A.O. · 22 February 2019

I've been interested in Quakers for a while now since someone who I admire said that they're a Quaker and I wanted to know more about it. Since then, I've wondered if this is something that I want to be a part of, and this was a great place to start. It was really informative with everything I needed to know.

4.0 out of 5 stars Quaker Oats

M.L.J.A. · 5 April 2014

This is an excellent introduction to the Quakers, and makes the reader aware that the Quaker tradition is more complex than it might appear at first sight. The writer takes a global approach to the development of the tradition which emphasises the differences between British and American Quakerism, as well as the Quaker tradition in other parts of the world. British readers might find this a little frustrating particularly if they were expecting an introduction that focused on British Quakerism. Even so, this portrait of the diversity of contemporary Quakerism is useful. Those wanting to examine the social, religious, and political turmoil out of which the British Quaker tradition emerged and survived might find Christopher Hill's "The World Turned Upside Down: Radical Ideas During The English Revolution" helpful supplementary reading.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written intro - recommended

H. · 18 July 2017

Really well written and clear, as it says on the cover, introduction to The Quakers. It helped me understand a few things I didn't know and the original history is very well written! Recommended

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

S.W. · 2 April 2015

good

3.0 out of 5 stars Good product

A. · 29 January 2022

Good product

4.0 out of 5 stars It's short and introductory.

J.R. · 26 November 2010

As it says on the tin this book was short and introductory. It had some nice images too and provided a history of the Quaker movement. However it did leave me wanting to find out more information. However as an introduction it served its purpose and excelled too.

2.0 out of 5 stars I was a bit disappointed.

S.G. · 25 January 2015

The book is interesting but very technical. If you don't know the Bible by heart, you might not understand everything!!! Which is my case. I was hoping for a more historical "within the context" explanation. I was a bit disappointed.

3.0 out of 5 stars Quakers short...

C.A.S. · 19 July 2014

Bit confusing, dread to think what a long version would read like...

Great introduction to Quakerism

L. · 30 September 2024

This tiny book was very helpful for me trying to learn about the Quaker faith and history.

Leitura básica

R.B. · 10 November 2020

Interessante leitura introdutória a respeito dos quakers, principalmente devido a ausência de material a respeito em português. Autor honesto, oferece não apenas uma visão idealizada a respeito dos quakers.

très complet

y.c. · 19 December 2019

Concis et très fouillé. Excellente bibliographie. Mon exemplaire est malheureusement défectueux, une partie des pages est brochée à l'envers, tête en bas, et donc progression de lecture à l'envers du livre... Ca arrive!

Introducing the Quakers – their past, present and possible future

A. · 5 January 2015

This book covers the Quakers, including their historical origins in the 17th century, their modern developments, and also a little outlook on „The future of Quakerism“. The „Society of Friends“ is probably most visible as pacifists, and was awarded a Nobel Prize for Peace in 1947 for this commitment.The book points to four main characteristics uniting Quakers: direct encounter with the divine and revelation over scripture and teaching, corporate direct guidance and resulting vote-less decisioning, spiritual equality, and preference for peace and pacifism (p. 2/ 118). Particular attention is given to their interpretation of worship, belief, and „theology“. Quakers originally identified as the „true Church“ (p. 10), and the more recent differences in positions found within the Quakers are perplexing, as the group has differentiated into an evangelical, conservative, and liberal branch which have made specific positions their own (e. g. on priesthood, scripture, worship etc). The chapter on theology highlights the common importance of silence for Quakers and the recognised limitations of language as a vehicle for trancendental truth. Abstinence from a dogmatic theology grounds in this central insights.A summary table comparing the different stances of evangelical, conservative, and liberal Quakers makes it easier to keep up with the analysis of these groups through the main text. One interestingly ambiguous aspect is the interpretation of Quakers by themselves either as a form of protestantism, or as a third stream of Christianity apart from Catholicism and Protestantism. Yet within Liberal Quakerism, a theistic or Christian position is not even mandatory. As a result, it becomes pretty hard to pin down what „defines“ Quakers and Quakerism. The text lets citations from original text sources speak and also draws analytical summaries and statements, which are ultimately well balanced.I picked this volume up to get an overview on Quakers after noticing how little I knew about them at the time. It is easy to read and to follow the arguments, and the summary table and time table help to get an overview. As a result, I learned much more about Quakerism than I actually expected. It seems hard to find a better introduction within similar page limits.

Very informative

a. · 10 June 2018

I found it interesting. Lots of information packed into a short space. It is enough to wet the appetite for more if this subject interests you.

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The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Name: The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Brand: OUP Oxford
SKU: K0199206791
Price: 7.10 BHD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (13 reviews)

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