From the earliest days Quakers were known for speaking truth as they experienced it inwardly in their meetings for worship. They didn't make a distinction between belief and action. Truth was almost more of a verb than a noun; it was something which you 'did' as you experienced it. As they responded to a vibrant inner reality and obeyed the promptings of the Divine Light within, then action and speech became a natural reflection of that experience. And in acting in this way they came to discern more of its nature, and were led further into expressing it outwardly. So a testimony to truth developed which, in particular, led Quakers to be known for their honesty, straightforwardness, and integrity.
from Engaging with the Quaker testimonies: a Toolkit (published 2007), available from Quaker Books, Friends House
'Truth' is a complex concept; sometimes the word is used for God, sometimes for the conviction that arises from worship, sometimes for the way of life.
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