May 14, 2009 This was my first post on the blog.

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.