How The Quakers Invented America

[bhkad]

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How The Quakers Invented America

BY DAVID YOUNT

Brief Description:
David Yount is mysteriously little known to most Friends, but his newspaper column "Amazing Grace" and weekly cable TV program are very widely seen and read. Here he looks at how the Quaker ideals helped shape America in its earliest days and have continued to do so till now. In doing so he also explains and illustrates those Quaker ideals, ideas and history. So this is both a thought provoking commentary on American history and an introduction to Quakerism.

How The Quakers Invented America (QuakerBooks)

The word, "Friends" is the word Quakers use when referring to each other, which comes from the formal name of their religion, "Religious Society of Friends".

Until the start of the eighteenth century, the only organized religion in North Carolina was the Religious Society of Friends…or, The Quakers. Their founding principles of peace, freedom and equality influenced not just the state’s earliest communities, but also our modern nation. Frank Stasio learns about the Quakers from David Yount, author of “How the Quakers Invented America” (Rowman & Littlefield/2007), Max Carter, director of the Guilford College Friends Center and Bill Leonard, dean and professor of church history at Wake Forest University Divinity School.

Listen to the NPR interview with author, David Yount, here.
http://www.wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot0904a.mp3/view

When we look closely at the founding of America we don't come away with the impression that secular ideals were at work in the hearts and minds of the founders, we are left with the unquestionable realization that it was Quaker ideals which laid the groundwork of everything great we would become as a fledgling and then a mighty nation.





How the Quakers Invented America - Google Book Search

This is not only a CHRISTIAN nation, but a Quaker invented nation!

 

[DarkWizard12]

But I thought our nation was invented by smart atheists and secularists that hate God and the bible! So, despite evidence, you are wrong!

 

[bhkad]

But I thought our nation was invented by smart atheists and secularists that hate God and the bible! So, despite evidence, you are wrong!

Good thing I'm not a knee-jerking liberal or I'd have snapped back at your well conceived sarcasm without thinking!

:mrgreen:

 

[winston53660]

Nixon was a Quaker.

 

[bhkad]

Nixon was a Quaker.

Great man. Great president. Too bad about his trying to be loyal to his subordinates. It cost him dearly.

 

[winston53660]

Great man. Great president. Too bad about his trying to be loyal to his subordinates. It cost him dearly.

I uasually give the benefit of the doubt to the Friends. In Nixon's case nuh uh no way, the guy was evil to the core and did everything against the Friends teachings.

 

[bhkad]

I uasually give the benefit of the doubt to the Friends. In Nixon's case nuh uh no way, the guy was evil to the core and did everything against the Friends teachings.

Nope. You are mistaken. But this thread is not about Nixon. It's about this being a CHRISTIAN, QUAKER INVENTED, NATION.

 

[new coup for you]

But I thought our nation was invented by smart atheists and secularists that hate God and the bible! So, despite evidence, you are wrong!

Do you know any Quakers? That's a not an unfitting description of them.

 

[bhkad]

Do you know any Quakers? That's a not an unfitting description of them.

Yes. And I hear that secular people and atheists are increasingly reading the Bible and speaking in tongues.

 

[new coup for you]

Dude Quakers get together and talk about how they hate Bush and feel guilty for being wealthy Eastcoast elite utterly distanced from The Working Man. And let their kids smoke pot.

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

You do understand that Quakers preach pacifism, egalitarianism, and community, decidedly liberal ideals. So, I suppose that means that you believe that America was founded on liberalism.

Further, with the egalitarian and community nature of Quakerism, this religious movement would is extremely accepting of other religions, and would never see the US as a Christian or Quaker nation. Inclusion and community are central to their beliefs, as is peace.

 

[bhkad]

You do understand that Quakers preach pacifism, egalitarianism, and community, decidedly liberal ideals. So, I suppose that means that you believe that America was founded on liberalism.

Further, with the egalitarian and community nature of Quakerism, this religious movement would is extremely accepting of other religions, and would never see the US as a Christian or Quaker nation. Inclusion and community are central to their beliefs, as is peace.

I'd accept whatever our Quaker masters prescribed if it meant riddding this country of the atheists and certain others so we could stop our downward slide.

 

[bhkad]

Dude Quakers get together and talk about how they hate Bush and feel guilty for being wealthy Eastcoast elite utterly distanced from The Working Man. And let their kids smoke pot.

I hear that Quakers also practice having sex with men.

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

I'd accept whatever our Quaker masters prescribed if it meant riddding this country of the atheists and certain others so we could stop our downward slide.

This would not be the Quaker way. Quakers are quite accepting of atheists; in fact, their are Quaker sects that are non-theist in nature. Remember, in Quakerism, equality is key. And your comment 'Quaker masters' is a complete non-sequitur when in comes to the denomination. Friends Meetings are leaderless.

 

[bhkad]

This would not be the Quaker way. Quakers are quite accepting of atheists; in fact, their are Quaker sects that are non-theist in nature. Remember, in Quakerism, equality is key. And your comment 'Quaker masters' is a complete non-sequitur when in comes to the denomination. Friends Meetings are leaderless.

I should have placed masters in italic. The idea of religious masters imposing their intolerant interpretation and practice is exactly what threatens the world.

The point is that I would endure what might seem to be an extreme or obscure practice of Christianity in order to help this country get back on the track intended by the 'inventors.'

You?

The other point is that Christianity has been squeezed from everyday life contrary to the Quakers' vision and our society has suffered as a result and the atheists think the secret to making things better in America is to squeeze God out even further.

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

I should have placed masters in italic. The idea of religious masters imposing their intolerant interpretation and practice is exactly what threatens the world.

The point is that I would endure what might seem to be an extreme or obscure practice of Christianity in order to help this country get back on the track intended by the 'inventors.'



You?

Quakerism is neither extreme nor obscure. And absolutely not. I would not endure an extreme practice of Christianity 'to get this country back on track' for three reasons. Firstly, I'm Jewish. Secondly, I agree with the first amendment, and thirdly, extreme anything is what is destroying this country. Haven't you been reading my posts?

'The other point is that Christianity has been squeezed from everyday life contrary to the Quakers' vision and our society has suffered as a result and the atheists think the secret to making things better in America is to squeeze God out even further.[/quote]

Christianity being part of everyday life was not part of the Quaker vision then, and it certainly would not be, now. I do not believe that religion has been squeezed out of American life, at all, though I agree that some extreme atheists would want to see that. I see this as somewhat of a problem, though I'm certain, not as much as you do. Publicly, a specific religion or religion in general has no place in government. The country was founded on religious tolerance...this is what the Quakers professed...for everyone. Privately, no one has any right to tell me what religion I can worship, as long as those beliefs break no US laws.

 

[bhkad]

Quakerism is neither extreme nor obscure. And absolutely not. I would not endure an extreme practice of Christianity 'to get this country back on track' for three reasons. Firstly, I'm Jewish. Secondly, I agree with the first amendment, and thirdly, extreme anything is what is destroying this country. Haven't you been reading my posts?

'The other point is that Christianity has been squeezed from everyday life contrary to the Quakers' vision and our society has suffered as a result and the atheists think the secret to making things better in America is to squeeze God out even further.

Christianity being part of everyday life was not part of the Quaker vision then, and it certainly would not be, now. I do not believe that religion has been squeezed out of American life, at all, though I agree that some extreme atheists would want to see that. I see this as somewhat of a problem, though I'm certain, not as much as you do. Publicly, a specific religion or religion in general has no place in government. The country was founded on religious tolerance...this is what the Quakers professed...for everyone. Privately, no one has any right to tell me what religion I can worship, as long as those beliefs break no US laws.

Obscure: hidden: difficult to find; "hidden valleys"; "a hidden cave"; "an obscure retreat"

United States: 2005 membership count = 87,022
Quaker World Statistics

Christianity just WAS a part of everyday life. A part that this society sorely misses and a part I would welcome being returned.

I believe in the Constitutional freedoms but I would like to put the toothpaste and the Genie back in their respective containers.

The vaunted American tradition of church-state separation exists to guarantee freedom of religion, not it's discouragement, and to mandate religious tolerance by all peoples.

From my first post.

 

[buttonpsi]

Religious freedom can also mean the freedom from religion.
Why bother being political with your religion if you believe that the people will respect religion and keep it in mind when they vote for a leader?

Why bother being religious AND political if people don't care who you worship.

It comes down to worship. Why worship anyone...? Aren't you a human being? Who cares who you worship?

and is it just me or does that sound like "war-ship"?

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

Christianity just WAS a part of everyday life. A part that this society sorely misses and a part I would welcome being returned.

This was private, by choice , and not government sponsored. People can have Christianity as part of their daily life as much as they want. However, I do not want it as part of my daily life, which is also my right. And as long as your rights and mine do not affect each other, all is fine.

I believe in the Constitutional freedoms but I would like to put the toothpaste and the Genie back in their respective containers.

And as long as that means that, as a Jew, I am not told that another religion is now part of my daily life, fine. When it is, the toothpaste and Genie remain where they are, right now.

The vaunted American tradition of church-state separation exists to guarantee freedom of religion, not it's discouragement, and to mandate religious tolerance by all peoples.

From my first post.

And that's fine. One can believe and practice any religion they choose. However, nowhere in the Constitution is anyone forced to practice a religion. This is NOT a Christian society. It is a religiously tolerant and free society.

 

[Edify_Always_In_All_Ways]

Christianity just WAS a part of everyday life. A part that this society sorely misses and a part I would welcome being returned.

I believe in the Constitutional freedoms but I would like to put the toothpaste and the Genie back in their respective containers.



From my first post.

Christianity is like bubblegum-flavored, flouride-free toothpaste for children. The people really in control know it doesn't really matter all that much, and let them practice brushing their teeth/selecting their values with it. However, when childhood ends and you need to start using Crest and Listerene, children naturally resist because they liked the flavor of their old toothpaste. Right now, we're seeing atheists try to persuade Christians that fluoride is good for their teeth.

Can you please share with us which Christian/Quaker values you'd like to see brought back into society, and which 'problems' that would solve? Atheism doesn't cause the decay of society- we have values like everyone else. What causes the decay of society is seperation of the population into groups that won't tolerate each other, and a decline in humanistic values (The Golden Rule, which both sides of Christianity/atheism agree on).

Personally, I'd rather blame rap music than atheism.:mrgreen:

 

[new coup for you]

Christianity just WAS a part of everyday life. A part that this society sorely misses and a part I would welcome being returned.

I believe in the Constitutional freedoms but I would like to put the toothpaste and the Genie back in their respective containers.



From my first post.

They also practiced slavery, patriarchy, wholesale destruction of the Native American people and rape of the enviroment.

The Way Things Used to Be was worse.

 

[mikhail]

The quakers are quite dispicable in alot of behavior throughout history when they havent fought against evil.

People shouldnt have respect for their non violent doctrine

 

[ReligiousLeft]

Hi! I'm a Quaker! Nice to see that Friends are being discussed on this forum. We Quakers reject all war for any reason. Yes we dislike ALL of President Bush's policies. We do believe in God however. See my username? Religious Left? Thats what Quakers are. While there are a small minority of Conservative Quakers. They are a Minority within a Minority. We Quakers are generally liberal. Most people who attend the meeting I go to attend Anti War protests. Also Quakers have been disowned by their meetings for joining the military. Some would say that its sensible to believe that all war is wrong and should never be supported. Others would say such views are stupid and or offensive. My beliefs are sensible. I am as liberal as one can be but I am a Quaker and Quakers are Christians and do believe in God.

 

[new coup for you]

I've had a fair degree of experience with large bodies Quakers and I'm not totally convinced it's a religion.

It's kind of like a very minor and inactive political party.

Not that I don't like Quakers. Some of my best friends are Quakers. Lovely people with very progressive beliefs.

 

[ReligiousLeft]

The quakers are quite dispicable in alot of behavior throughout history when they havent fought against evil.

People shouldnt have respect for their non violent doctrine

I love it when people insult my family and my beliefs. Its quite underhanded to make such remarks without ever meeting a Quaker. My faith has been persecuted for generations. Puritans burned us at the stake. However, I still question. How can one hate people who only love? Quakers are kind gentle people who wouldn't lift a hand against even if you were threatening violence? How can you hate such people? (I really am curious)