Quakerism preached the importance of an “inner light” that came from Jesus and lay at the core if every individual. Whereas the Church of England stressed social hierarchy and tradition and Puritans regarded salvation as a fate reserved by divine grace for a predestined minority, the Society of Friends attracted followers with a different, encouraging message: Salvation was available to all and required no deference to learned authorities. Quakers also challenged the government by refusing to pay church taxes or swear in court and by advancing ideas of human equality that threatened established divisions based on wealth, social rank, and gender.
- Every individual had an “inner light” that came from Jesus.
- All people were equal in the eyes of God, regardless of wealth, social rank, and gender.