The Oxford Handbook of Quaker Studies

Quakerism began in England in the 1650s. George Fox, credited as leading the movement, had an experience of 1647 in which he felt he could hear Christ directly and inwardly without the mediation of text or minister. Convinced of the authenticity of this experience and its universal application, Fox preached a spirituality in which potentially all were ministers, all part of a priesthood of believers, a church levelled before the leadership of God. Quakers are a fascinating religious group both in their original 'peculiarity' and in the variety of reinterpretations of the faith since. The way they have interacted with wider society is a basic but often unknown part of British and American history. This handbook charts their history and the history of their expression as a religious community. This volume provides an indispensable reference work for the study of Quakerism. It is global in its perspectives and interdisciplinary in its approach whilst offering the reader a clear narrative through the academic debates. In addition to an in-depth survey of historical readings of Quakerism, the handbook provides a treatment of the group's key theological premises and its links with wider Christian thinking. Quakerism's distinctive ecclesiastical forms and practices are analysed, and its social, economic, political, and ethical outcomes examined. Each of the 37 chapters considers broader religious, social, and cultural contexts and provides suggestions for further reading and the volume concludes with an extensive bibliography to aid further research.

1 - Seventeenth Century Context and Quaker Beginnings, 1646-1666
2 - Restoration Quakerism, 1666-1691
3 - Quietist Quakerism, 1692-ca. 1805
4 - Hicksite, Orthodox and Evangelical Quakerism, ca. 1805 1887
5 - Modernist and Liberal Quakers, 1887-2010
6 - Five Years Meeting and Friends United Meeting, 1887 2010
7 - Evangelical Quakers, 1887-2010
8 - Conservative Quakers, 1845-2010
9 - Quakers in Theological Context
10 - God, Christ, and the Light
11 - Sin, Convincement, Purity, and Perfection
12 - Quakers and Scripture
13 - Quakers, Eschatology and Time
14 - The Kingdom of God, Quakers and the Politics of Compassion
15 - Quaker Women s Lives and Spiritualities
16 - Leadings and Discernment
17 - Worship and Sacraments
18 - Ministry and Preaching
19 - Travelling Ministry
20 - Mission
21 - Quakers, other churches and other faith
22 - Plainness and Simplicity
23 - Quakers, Antislavery and Race
24 - Quakers, War, and Peacemaking
25 - Quakers and Penal reform
26 - Quakers and Asylum Reform
27 - Quakers and Education
28 - Quakers, Business and Philanthropy
29 - Quakers and the Family
30 - Quakers and Sexuality
31 - Quakers, Youth, and Young Adults
32 - Quakers. Print Culture, and Literature
33 - Quakers and Visual Culture
34 - Quakers, Philosophy and Truth
35 - Quakers and Science
36 - Quakers and Ethics
37 - Global Quakerism and the Future of Friends.