Friends' Testimonies
"A Friends Testimony is an outward expression of an inward leading of the spirit--or an outward sign of what Friends believe to be an inward revelation of truth."
Wilmer Cooper
Integrity
A first name that Friends chose for themselves was Friends of the Truth. Maintaining honesty in all issues is a sacrosanct to Quakerism.
"Let your yea be yea and your nay, nay"
(Matthew 5:34-37)
Integrity includes living in a way consistent with the values one professes.
"Let your life speak," we say.
Peace
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has since its foundation (1652/1654) held a testimony that war and the preparation for war are inconsistent with the spirit of Christ.
Quakers believe that, in the words of the founder George Fox, they are called to "live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars."
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretense whatever: this is our testimony to the whole world."
1660, part of the Declaration to Charles II
When newly convinced Friends accepted the dignity and worth of the individual, "that of God in everyone," it becomes impossible to take another's life.
"Furthermore, weapons destroy more than two individuals - the soul of the perpetrator as well as the victim." (Little Quaker Sociology Book)
The "Peace Testimony is not just a negative objection to participation in war; it is a positive attempt to establish the conditions of peace." (John Punshon)
In addition to Friends' appeal for world peace, Friends emphasize the right rearing of children and using love and guidance rather than corporal punishment.
Equality
Equality was the earliest Friends' testimony as is evidenced in George Fox's first convert, Elizabeth Hooton, a woman.
Early Quakers emphasized the Divine capacity in all peoples, choosing to use the familiar first person English pronoun reference for all (Thee and Thy) rather than the second person (You) popular at the time for royalty and government officials.
Friends continue to be concerned about civil rights, affirmative action, Native American affairs, freedom of religious choice, rights of migrant workers, and with victims of war.
Simplicity
The Quaker testimony of simplicity relates to integrity. The desire for simplicity of life style originated in early Quakers' concern about the extravagant and ostentatious lives of the well-to-do.
This life style contrasted dramatically with the life style available to lower classes.
The testimony of simplicity continues to encourage avoidance of excessive materialism, to avoid excesses in personal habits, and to consider the right use of world resources. Many Quakers are keenly aware of how our life style choices affect others in the world.
As a Quaker bumper sticker says,
"Live simply so that others may simply live."
Community
"Participation in the activities of a group is the oldest and most effective form of education" (Howard Brinton).
Quaker concern for community includes family, church, the wider local, state, national, and international communities with an awareness for the interrelatedness of all, including the environment we create and need to protect for the good of all.