From an 'unruly sect' to a society of 'strict unity' : the development of Quakerism in England c.1650-1689
By 1689 Quakers had changed sufficiently from their 'radical' beginnings to be included in the Toleration Act of that year. This thesis examines key areas of Quaker thought and practice from c. 1650-1689 in an attempt to explain why Quakers became more acceptable. Although 1660 was an obvious turning point in Quakerism, many changes did not occur until some years later. Of utmost importance was the development of the highly efficient network of both central and local business meetings during the later 1660s and into the 1670s which provided a framework for further change in the sense that organization helped to bring about some degree of control in the movement. Coupled with this were changes in patterns of leadership and authority. Quakerism developed from a movement relying on charismatic leadership to one based much more on the authority of the central bodies in London. Crucial too were the many shifts in religious thought which can be seen clearly in Quaker catechisms over the period. There was a gradual move towards more orthodox doctrinal standpoints during the 1660s and l670s in areas where Quakers had been deemed heretical, for example in their notion of the 'inner light' and its relation to the incarnate
Leachman, Caroline L.
History
From an 'unruly sect' to a society of 'strict unity' : the development of Quakerism in England c.1650-1689. By 1689 Quakers had changed sufficiently from their 'radical' beginnings to be included in the Toleration Act of that year. This thesis examines key areas of Quaker thought and practice from c. 1650-1689 in an attempt to explain why Quakers became more acceptable. Although 1660 was an obvious turning point in Quakerism, many changes did not occur until some years later. Of utmost importance was the development of the highly efficient network of both central and local business meetings during the later 1660s and into the 1670s which provided a framework for further change in the sense that organization helped to bring about some degree of control in the movement. Coupled with this were changes in patterns of leadership and authority. Quakerism developed from a movement relying on charismatic leadership to one based much more on the authority of the central bodies in London. Crucial too were the many shifts in religious thought which can be seen clearly in Quaker catechisms over the period. There was a gradual move towards more orthodox doctrinal standpoints during the 1660s and l670s in areas where Quakers had been deemed heretical, for example in their notion of the 'inner light' and its relation to the incarnate
sect society strict unity development quakerism england quakers change sufficiently radical beginning include examines key_area quaker think practice attempt_explain quakers become acceptable although obvious turn_point quakerism many change_occur importance development highly efficient network central local business meeting provided framework change sense organization help bring degree control movement coupled change pattern leadership authority quakerism develop movement rely charismatic leadership base much authority central body london crucial many shift religious think_see clearly quaker period gradual move_towards orthodox doctrinal standpoint area quakers deem heretical example notion inner light relation incarnate