Testimonies

Our spiritual journey guides outward living.

Quakers' experience of the Spirit affects what we do in our personal lives, our spiritual selves, and the changes we work for in the wider world.

"Testimonies" are what Quakers call the ways we have found to live and act in the world based on our beliefs. As a group, we find that listening to and following God--and seeking that of God in others--leads to:

• Simplicity: focusing on what is truly important and letting other things fall away
• Peace: seeking justice and healing for all people; taking away the causes of war in the ways we live
• Integrity: living as whole people who act on what we believe, tell the truth, and do what we say we will do
• Community: supporting one another in our faith journeys and in times of joy and sorrow; sharing with and caring for each other
• Equality: treating everyone everywhere as equally precious to God; recognizing that everyone has gifts to share
• Stewardship (Care for the Earth): valuing and respecting all of God's creation; using only our fair share of the Earth's resources; working to protect the planet

As a memory device, sometimes the Testimonies are collectively called SPICES.

We do not always hear and follow Divine guidance, but being in community with other Quakers helps us to be faithful.

[Adapted from Friends General Conference.]