Josh wrote:There are conservative Quakers (including one meeting near me). Their theology is different enough from evangelicals and from Anabaptists that most of us wouldn't be comfortable there.
yes. from the start, the focus was on the "Light within," they wanted no pastors or formal leadership of any station or description. they (as others in that period) were breaking away from state religions, monarchies, this was radical.Josh wrote:Quakers never recognised the principle of headship at all.
this translated into an interesting account of one Quaker who, early on, visited with some Native Americans, he described sensing the Light within these folks. (i'm not sure where i read this, if i recall, i'll add it.)
i was astonished to read, some of the earliest Quakers had slaves. in time, tho, they fully denounced this practice and would disown any in disagreement. they used the word, "disown" (from membership.)