Quakers: The Inner Light, Silence, and Doctrinal Drift. The Religious Society of Friends—better known as Quakers—emerged in 17th-century England as a radical challenge to established churches. Rejecting clergy, sacraments, and outward rituals, they emphasized the “Inner Light,” a direct experience of God available to every believer. Their legacy includes social activism, pacifism, and simplicity of life. Yet while their sincerity is notable, their theology often drifts far fr