What was particularly revolutionary in the original Quaker doctrine is the commitment to nonviolence. This found expression as early as 1660 in a declaration signed by Fox and eleven other Quakers which has become known as ‘The Peace Testimony’. Around 1700 two prominent Quakers, William Penn and John Bellers, put forward two designs for ridding the continent of the great scourge of war. This article gives an account, together with an analysis, of the main elements of the two peace plans. It als…
Read moreWhat was particularly revolutionary in the original Quaker doctrine is the commitment to nonviolence. This found expression as early as 1660 in a declaration signed by Fox and eleven other Quakers which has become known as ‘The Peace Testimony’. Around 1700 two prominent Quakers, William Penn and John Bellers, put forward two designs for ridding the continent of the great scourge of war. This article gives an account, together with an analysis, of the main elements of the two peace plans. It also explores the influence of Penn’s plan in the work of Saint-Pierre and, through it, in the Age of the Enlightenment.