I think some of y’all are confusing Liberal Quaker with Amish or Menenite (how is that spelled?). I get that all the time (I’m married to one - Liberal Quaker, that is).
Go read the link for more info on LQ, but the quick form of Liberal Quaker is: “there is that of God in each of us”
God is met on a personal scale, individually, from within the self. Live simply, non-materially, and get your butt out there to help others. No ministers in the non-evangelical side of the Quaker path, so you sit in meeting waiting on Divine Inspiration to speak (anyone can be moved to speak). And let me tell you, I am moved to tears a heck of a lot more in Meeting than I ever was in church (UU churches, though, so there’s more arguing than crying).
Liberal Quakers are very ‘walk your talk’ folk, and have put their lives on the line for a long time trying to allow the Divine Light in everyone to shine. Very pacifist (no fighting in war, anti-capital-punishment), very much on the front lines of emacipation from slavery way back when, and also smuggled Jews out of Europe before and during WWII. Generally pro-choice, and individual pagan leanings are tolerated by many Meetings without a blink. Very socially liberal, and often politically liberal, though they can have some really seriously high expectations for their kids. Oh, and very pro-women’s equality from WAY back.
I loved the vows: “I promise with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife, so long as we both shall live.” PERIOD. The man’s are identical, with the exception of ‘husband’ instead of ‘wife’ (of course).
Anyway, go read the link…
(I end up neo-pagan, UU, M. Buddhist, LQ, and New-Age, pretty spot on)