An Introduction to Quakerism (review)

Abstract

Over the course of the nineteenth century, the general trend, with some notable exceptions, was for the smaller Hicksite body to see itself as embodying liberal Christianity, while Orthodox Friends moved closer to the dominant evangelical religious culture of the United States and Great Britain. There are un affiliated, deeply evangelical Friends; Evangelical Friends International, affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals; Friends United Meeting, which includes both pastoral and nonpastoral Friends and is the most diverse Quaker body; the theologically and socially liberal unprogrammed American Friends of Friends General Conference (FGC); other liberal, unprogrammed Friends not affiliated with FGC; and small bodies of Conservative Friends, heirs to the Orthodox tradition who did not embrace radical change in the late nineteenth century.