It’s all about porridge
We’ve all seen the Quaker Oats logo: the so-called Quaker Man in plain late 17th century dress. He wears a broad black hat on his white hair and has a benevolent direct gaze. He seems to embody honesty, wholesomeness, simplicity, and strength… but he’s central to the Quaker Oats food conglomerate, now owned by Pepsi. Absolutely nothing to do with Quakers.
…or chocolate
Fry’s, Cadbury’s and Rowntree’s are all brands that have their origins in businesses set up by Quakers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Quakers in those days couldn’t hold office, or go to university, they turned to business and many proved to be very good at it. They were industrious, honest and conscientiousness and considered work to be a vocation. None of these businesses are run by Quakers now, but their products remain associated with them.
We’re mostly silent
Quaker meeting for worship is often largely and sometimes completely silent. The silence – or perhaps stillness is a better word – gives people the space to find “that of God” in themselves. And sometimes participants are moved to give voice to their thoughts.
Once the meeting is over though, Quakers are as talkative and sociable as anyone else.
Quakers are all pacifists
The Quaker peace testimony – one of five testimonies that underpin Quakerism – gives Quakers a very strong drive to oppose war. However that doesn’t mean that anyone joining a Quaker meeting will be expected to be lying down in front of tanks the following week. Many Friends hold different views on war and often focus on mitigating the effects of war as well as pressing for peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Quakers are teetotal
Early Quakers, like their contemporaries, drank beer because the water supply was often unsafe, but they believed in moderation. It was only in the 19th century that Quakers, in common with some Protestant churches, adopted teetotalism in reaction to the harmful social impact of spirits like whisky and gin. Nowadays, some Quakers drink and some don’t, but they all counsel moderation.