# In three-four words, what does "Quaker" mean to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559 "2018-02-25T18:27:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/1 "2018-02-25T18:27:33Z")
In as few words as possible, what do you think of when you hear “Quaker”? I’m curious how non-Quakers would answer this. Not looking for you to research a “correct” answer, but more a sample of the common knowledge. Bonus question: Do you think of Quakers as being Christian? ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/2 "2018-02-25T18:31:13Z")
Simple, practical religious life. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/3 "2018-02-25T18:31:30Z")
First question: 1600’s religious movement that still has a few practitioners (OK, that’s more than three or four words, but you get the idea). Second question: I _think_ the Quakers acknowledge the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth (or something), but aren’t _exactly_ Christians in the strictest sense. That’s based on memory and not on Googling. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/4 "2018-02-25T19:03:45Z")
Deeply religious, pacifists, profoundly sexually conservative, nearly extinct, inventors of oats and motor oil. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/5 "2018-02-25T19:06:19Z")
Christians who are into shutting up and listening, also pacifism. Also CHOCOLATE!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/6 "2018-02-25T19:18:44Z")
for the first millisecond: a flash in my mind of a silly image: 17th century folks dressed like the Amish do today, and calling each other “thee” and “Thou”. after 2 seconds of rational thought: nonviolent, conscientious objectors to military draft, stood bravely and effectively against slavery 150 years ago, but nowadays seem to have disappeared. > [@](#): > > Bonus question: Do you think of Quakers as being Christian? sort of like Unitarians. You know, the good-deed,don’t-get-too-specific kind of Christians 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/7 "2018-02-25T19:23:14Z")
First question: Kind, teetotal, generous, Cadbury’s. Second: of course. My Dogsitter is a Quaker, and I went to a (non Quaker) school founded by the Cadbury family, so I feel surrounded by them! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/8 "2018-02-25T19:25:51Z")
They’re a highly pacifist Christian sect. Which should also answer your second question. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/9 "2018-02-25T19:27:12Z")
Pacifists who make oatmeal. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/10 "2018-02-25T19:34:44Z")
peace-loving, strong principles, oatmeal Hard to believe it, but Nixon was one. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/11 "2018-02-25T19:36:12Z")
I was raised in the Friends church, and I’m constantly amazed by how many people have such inaccurate ideas about Quakers, like the ones already posted above. Go to a Friends service and you’ll find it quite similar to any other mainstream protestant denomination, with the exception of fewer physical symbols. You’ll even see the same sort of differences depending on location: A church in a small rural town may have a congregation that skews older and seems more old-fashioned while one in a city may have more younger members and a pastor who plays bass in a jazz combo. (Yes, I do know a Friends pastor who plays upright bass in jazz combo. He also sometimes plays it in church services.) I even know a Quaker who played bass in a bar band for a number of years. He’s here in the room I’m in, and I’m the only one here. If you want to look at some of the specifics, part one of [Faith & Practice](http://www.efcmaym.org/faith-and-practice/) is a good place to start. Each Yearly Meeting has its own Faith & Practice, but they are pretty similar: [Eastern Division](http://efcer.org/media/1/9/Faith-and-Practice-2013.pdf) [Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting](https://kaceycom.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/faith_and_practice.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/12 "2018-02-25T19:51:57Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > nearly extinct I think you’re confusing the Quakers with the Shakers, here…the Quakers aren’t exactly in danger of taking over the world, but they’re not in danger of dying out, either ([at least not in Africa or North America](http://files.ctctcdn.com/be27a135001/f9b92ea7-3eec-4f70-9d71-2fa3dc5f41e2.pdf)), whereas the Shakers are down to a few dozen, worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/13 "2018-02-25T19:55:52Z")
Friendly bunch of Christians, pray in silence, named “Quakers” since they “quake” before the Lord. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/14 "2018-02-25T19:56:56Z")
silent prayer, inner light. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/15 "2018-02-25T20:07:45Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I think you’re confusing the Quakers with the Shakers, here…the Quakers aren’t exactly in danger of taking over the world, but they’re not in danger of dying out, either ([at least not in Africa or North America](http://files.ctctcdn.com/be27a135001/f9b92ea7-3eec-4f70-9d71-2fa3dc5f41e2.pdf)), whereas the Shakers are down to a few dozen, worldwide. Yeah, that’s [who I was thinking of](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakers). Soon to pass into the pages of history alongside the Twitchers, the Tremblers, and the Jigglers. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/16 "2018-02-25T20:15:03Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > In as few words as possible, what do you think of when you hear “Quaker”? Oats. Sorry, but it’s honestly the first thing I think of. Obviously, I know that’s not what you meant. For religion, I tend to think “Christian” with a vague idea of pacifism and anti-slavery views, historically. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/17 "2018-02-25T20:36:36Z")
Pacifists, silent meeting, austerity. I guess they bring Jesus into it, which makes them Christians to me. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/18 "2018-02-25T20:43:22Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Hard to believe it, but Nixon was one. Why is it hard to believe? He didn’t hide his faith. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/19 "2018-02-25T20:53:38Z")
Oats. Followed by Pilgrims. For a year, I actually attended a Quaker congregation so I don’t feel too bad about my mental associations. I even took a weekly class that delved into the history. I learned a lot about the faith. The people were really nice and friendly. My local congregation is very crunchy granola liberal, which is fine with me. But also very very very white, and I felt kind of fake trying to blend in. I grew up in a Pentacostal church, the opposite extreme. While I don’t dig watching people fall out in the aisles shouting gibberish, sitting in silence of an hour was uncomfortable for me. While sitting there, I would always think to myself that I could be doing the same thing in the comfort of my bedroom, in my pajamas. Yes, sometimes people had interesting testimonies. But they did not occur frequently enough to take away the awkwardness My stint with Quakerism was my last ditch attempt to find a connection to Christianity. I didn’t really want to admit to myself that I no longer had any belief in Jesus. But when the Quaker stuff failed to stick with me, I knew I had to. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559/20 "2018-02-25T20:59:22Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > Oats. Sorry, but it’s honestly the first thing I think of. Obviously, I know that’s not what you meant. For religion, I tend to think “Christian” with a vague idea of pacifism and anti-slavery views, historically. Quakers were sober, illustrious people who became capitalists with a christian social conscience. Many large UK companies had quaker foundations, and worked hard to bring about social change. Cadburys built an entire suburb of Birmingham to house their workers, with the proviso that there were no public houses. Quakers built free schools and hospitals and pushed for rules against child labour, in addition to campaigning against slavery. We owe them a great deal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-three-four-words-what-does-quaker-mean-to-you/809559.md?page=2)