10.17.2008

Ten Reasons the World Would be a Better Place if Everyone Was a Quaker: IIX


Reason 8

No empty, meaningless rituals.

Quakers originally rejected rituals and symbols as a reaction against the 17th century Church of England, which had become full of ritual and empty of real meaning. Therefore Quakers abandoned water baptism and communion, saying that only real baptism in God's spirit and actual, ongoing communion in God mattered. Of course for many Christians these rituals are very meaningful, representing the inward changes which Quakers believe in. So the rejection of rituals wouldn't be a positive change for everyone.

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