Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
What do Christians believe?
Position‹6 of 7›
Quaker Christians
Argument‹4 of 7›

Quakers Holy books

Unlike other denominations, Quakers do not believe any one book is the 'Word of God'.

The argument

Quakers do not regard any book as being the actual 'word of God'. Conscience gives a guide to conduct. Although they see the Bible as an inspirational book, they don't see it as the only one, and read other books that can guide their lives.

Premises

[P1]Quakers hold that no single book is the literal word of God, treating conscience as the primary guide to conduct. [P2] While the Bible is regarded as inspirational, Quakers also draw guidance from other books. [C] Therefore, Quaker Christians believe that holy guidance comes through conscience and multiple inspirational texts rather than from the Bible alone.

Counter-arguments

This describes liberal, unprogrammed Quakerism rather than Quakers as a whole. A large share of Friends worldwide — particularly evangelical and programmed Quakers in Africa and the Americas — are strongly Bible-centred and would not accept that no book is the word of God. Presenting the liberal view of scripture as the Quaker position generalises one branch to a movement that spans a wide theological range.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Many Quakers, especially evangelical Friends, do treat the Bible as authoritative, so the claim that Quakers regard no book as the word of God does not hold across the movement.