Inward Light is an online library designed to help Friends and those interested in learning about Friends around the world understand the core faith and practices of Quakerism.

This library is based on the principle that Quakerism is a faith community guided directly by God (Spirit, Christ) in every aspect of the communal life we share and of the lives of those of us committed to being part of this faith community. This guidance is experienced or mediated through how God is present and works in the hearts of individual Friends, but ultimately this guidance is rooted in listening and following God’s lead as a community rather than as individuals. Those who commit themselves to this journey with others are willing to be accountable to shared discernment with others and to being assisted in discovering how God is leading us in our individual lives, not only in our decisions as a community.

We believe that God guides our community in:

  • Worship — hearts knit together in expectant waiting, Spirit-guided vocal ministry, prayer, and song
  • Corporate decisions — during our Meetings for Business, committee meetings, and working groups
  • Corporate practices that assist individual Friends in discerning their personal gifts, leadings, and life decisions and their capacity to carry out these gifts and leadings faithfully
  • Ways of living in harmony with God’s vision of creation
  • Witness (or “Testimony”) working towards transforming the world towards God’s vision of truth, peace, and justice — in contrast to many of the values and systemic practices of the world around us, and
  • Personal spiritual practices that draw us closer to God and to faithful living.

This vision of Quakerism does not attempt to speak for the experience, theology, and practice of all Friends today. This library is not intended to question or undermine any such beliefs or practices of many Friends today, but rather to offer writings that may be of help in understanding God-guided Quakerism as those of us building this resource understand and practice it.

We hope, however, that these resources will be of use to many Friends — and those of other faith traditions interested in Quakerism!