Why do Quakers object to serving in the armed forces?
Ever since George Fox and other Friends declared in 1661 to King Charles II of England that “the spirit of Christ…will never move us to fight any war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world,” Friends have on a corporate basis opposed all wars and have promoted nonviolent, non-coercive strategies for resolving conflicts between nations. Opposition has included supporting individuals who conscientiously object to war by refusing to register for conscription, refusing to serve when conscripted, or refusing to pay taxes for war. Nevertheless, because Friends emphasize the individual nature of spiritual revelation rather than attempting to enforce a creed on all members, it is true that some Friends have chosen to serve in the armed forces, usually as non-combatants. See http://www.gwyneddfriends.org/co.htm for more information. • Are there different branches of Quakers? Yes, there are three different umbrella organizatio
