The Quaker Faith: Friends of Love and Truth

Reviewed by Paul Buckley

June 1, 2026

By Stuart K. Masters. T&T Clark, 2025. 208 pages. $75/hardcover; $22.95/paperback; $20.65/eBook.

Have you ever wondered, “How can ‘those’ people call themselves Quakers?” Don’t worry; they are wondering that about you, too.

One problem that I frequently encounter among Friends is that they assume (often without realizing it) that the earliest Friends were just like them. In other words, Friends may assume (1) that primitive Quakers were homogeneous in their beliefs and practices; (2) that significant differences arose only after the first generation had passed from the scene; and, most importantly, (3) what my kind of Quakers do and believe now is the most faithful to those original beliefs. Those of us with a bit more humility admit that things have changed, yet still trust that we are closest to the original faith and practice of George Fox, Margaret Fell, James Nayler, etc. This leads us to innocently wonder, “How can ‘those’ people call themselves Quakers?”

If you catch a glimpse of yourself in all this (I did), you need to read Stuart Masters’s The Quaker Faith: Friends of Love and Truth. This is one of a very short list of books on Quakerism that I can recommend without hesitation.

Masters writes in the introduction:

This book takes a detailed yet accessible look at this fascinating faith tradition and considers how and why Quakers have claimed to be Friends of love and truth; reviews Quaker history; examines how Friends have changed over time; and undertakes a careful study of Quaker spirituality as a pathway that involves being attentive, being guided, being discerning, being adventurous, and being faithful. It helps explain the significant impact that Friends have made on the modern world, as champions of freedom of conscience, peace, and social justice.

The following chapters satisfy each of those promises. In particular, Masters demonstrates how each of our contemporary expressions—Conservative, Evangelical, Pluralist, Liberal—has a legitimate claim to be heirs of the primitive Friends. Hence, “those” people are authentically Friends. And so am I.

In a short epilogue, Masters provides simple but comprehensive answers to three questions: Who are the Quakers? What do Quakers have to offer? And, do Quakers have a future?

Over the years, I have collected a small number of books to use in Introduction to Quakerism classes: some for newcomers and others for more experienced Friends. Whether for neophytes seeking an introduction or seasoned Friends looking for more depth, The Quaker Faith earns a place on top of both piles.

Paul Buckley has written numerous articles and books on Quaker history, faith, and practice, urging spiritual renewal among Friends of various stripes. He worships with Clear Creek Meeting in Richmond, Ind. His most recent publication is the Pendle Hill pamphlet, Teach Us to Pray. Contact: [email protected].