Previous comments and questions
(Rapid answers are from the Web
Admin Team unless otherwise stated)
Question
(arising from Quaker Quest): Are all
Quakers middle class?
Rapid answer: A
very British question! Most Quakers in the world today are
not British and many would
not
understand the question. But it's probably correct that in Britain
today many or most Quakers work in or used to work in or trained for
non-manual occupations (the same applies to most churches - and
non-religious organisations - and some other faith groups, but not
those like Islam which involve whole communities).
However Quakers in Britain and world-wide all endeavour to live their
lives based on attitudes to money and power and possessions which are
different from those commonly considered "middle class" (see our Quaker
"
testimonies").
Question
(by email 22 March): I am led to believe that you do not like
music and so you would not have radios, TVs, etc. in home or cars. Is
this correct and - if so - why or on what grounds?
Rapid answer:
The Quakers began in the time of the Puritans in England when many
serious-minded Christians thought they should avoid so-called 'wordly'
pleasures and distractions including music and the theatre - and also
sports. But quite soon after that beginning time it became
acceptable for some families to use music in their own homes, and spend
time practising.
Because many Quaker meetings for worship - almost all of the meetings
in the UK - are based on silence, it has never become the custom here
to include music in those meetings although individuals do sometimes
offer their 'spoken ministry' by singing.
Some Quaker meetings in the
USA and
other countries have meetings for
worship which are more like traditional church services and include
singing together and other music.
One of the Quaker 'testimonies' or traditions is simplicity. Some
Quakers choose voluntarily to avoid what they think is unnecessary
expense and pressure on the environment, and may not own TVs or cars.
See also the answer to the common question about music in Quaker
Meetings.
