One of the best definitions of Quakers is people with no creed, but a very strong theology. The most recent edition of the "Faith and Practice" manual of the Pacific Yearly Meeting opens with a quote from the 1995 Britain Yearly Meeting's "Faith and Practice." The quote reads,

"We, like every generation, must find the Light and Life again for ourselves. Only what we have valued and truly made our own, not by assertion, but by lives of faithful commitment, can we hand on to the future. Even then, we must humbly acknowledge that our vision of the truth will, again and again, be amended."

There are several statements here that warrant closer reflection.

First is the widely accepted definition that Quakers are people who "come to know God experimentally" as George Fox put it. What's unique in the statement above is the notion that we do this not just as individuals, but as generations as well. Each generation of Friends is called upon to wrestle with the social and moral issues of their day, and to carefully discern their responses.

Second, it is worth repeating that the insights we have into the human condition, our living faith, are useless and cannot be passed on, unless we apply them in our own lives. We can only lead by example if our truths are based on mystical experiences.

Lastly, and I believe unique among the world's religions, is the notion that we must remain open for our most deeply held beliefs to be amended, to be amended again and again. If one accepts the notion of the continuing revelation, one also has to accept that it will indeed continue.