Summary: In George Fox's Journal and Letters, he gives a first-hand account of the persecution he faced and the details of the development of his Quaker theology. George Fox believed God was instructing him to lead people to him purely by the Spirit, rather than scripture or tradition. Furthermore, he felt instructed to love every person, rich or poor, men or women. Although Fox was continually imprisoned, he would leave jail and immediately begin preaching God's word again. It seems that he was frequently beaten and physically punished for using the power of the the Spirit. According to Fox, Quakers denounced violence, including all war, because they believed that God would never actively instruct his followers to be violent in any way.(pg 5) Essentially Fox continually traveled, despite persecution, in order to spread what he believed was the truth about God and the Spirit.
Analysis: In his writings, Fox seems to staunchly protest any sort of violence, and chastises those who participate in violence, saying that it is "not an honour to manhood" to attack defenseless people(Epistle 401/402). However, in the secondary reading (Gonzalez) about Fox, it seems that many of Fox's followers were arrested for violent-sounding offenses, like inciting to riot. Riots are certainly not peaceful, so this seems to contradict Fox's beliefs and teachings. So although Fox originally intended his followers, or "Friends" to follow him in certain ways, they did not necessarily do that.
The most interesting thing to me about the Quakers is their reception by others, and why they were treated so poorly. If they did what these readings claimed they did, they don't seem controversial enough to warrant extended jail time or accusations of government conspiracy. What kind of power did Fox really have? Their meetings involved a group of them sitting around until they felt led by the spirit, and they would ignore making certain decisions if they could not come to a unanimous decision based on the Spirit's moving in them. Although their beliefs were interesting, if they were considered fanatics, it's strange that they would also be considered a serious threat. If their beliefs were so outside the box and so ridiculously controversial, it is interesting that they were heavily persecuted rather than just ignored or used to make jokes out of.
Darby Smith
Analysis: In his writings, Fox seems to staunchly protest any sort of violence, and chastises those who participate in violence, saying that it is "not an honour to manhood" to attack defenseless people(Epistle 401/402). However, in the secondary reading (Gonzalez) about Fox, it seems that many of Fox's followers were arrested for violent-sounding offenses, like inciting to riot. Riots are certainly not peaceful, so this seems to contradict Fox's beliefs and teachings. So although Fox originally intended his followers, or "Friends" to follow him in certain ways, they did not necessarily do that.
The most interesting thing to me about the Quakers is their reception by others, and why they were treated so poorly. If they did what these readings claimed they did, they don't seem controversial enough to warrant extended jail time or accusations of government conspiracy. What kind of power did Fox really have? Their meetings involved a group of them sitting around until they felt led by the spirit, and they would ignore making certain decisions if they could not come to a unanimous decision based on the Spirit's moving in them. Although their beliefs were interesting, if they were considered fanatics, it's strange that they would also be considered a serious threat. If their beliefs were so outside the box and so ridiculously controversial, it is interesting that they were heavily persecuted rather than just ignored or used to make jokes out of.
Darby Smith