| | by admin | | posted on 14th January 2026 in Seeking Faith & Practice | | views 27 | |
Seeking the divine in everyone is the Quaker way of recognising that The Spirit makes every individual person unique and special in their own way.
In Quuakerism Friends are open to experience the inward life of each person and, in doing so, recognise there is something sacred at work within them.
For many Friends, this understanding is not simply a belief but a way of living. It shapes how people listen, how they speak, and how they respond to others — especially when differences arise. To seek the divine in everyone is to approach each encounter with respect and openness, trusting that no person is without depth or meaning.
This does not mean assuming agreement or ignoring harm. Quakers are realistic about conflict, failure, and human limitation. Yet they are also invited to hold open the possibility that a person is more than their actions or opinions. Seeking the divine becomes an act of careful attention — meeting others without reducing them to labels, roles, or positions.
In meeting for worship, this way of seeing is practised through silence. Friends listen inwardly, trusting that The Spirit at work within them is also at work within others. When someone speaks, the task is not to judge quickly or respond immediately, but to listen for what may be given through them. Over time, this practice often begins to shape how Friends meet the world beyond the meeting house.
Quakers have long expressed this understanding through the phrase “that of God in everyone”. The words are most closely associated with George Fox and the early Quaker movement of the 17th century. For Fox, this was a deeply Christian conviction: that Christ, the Light, was present and active within people, offering guidance, challenge, and transformation.
“I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death; but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness.”
This image has remained important for many Friends. It speaks of a world where suffering and harm are real, yet not final. For Christian Quakers today, it continues to express faith in the living presence of Christ — a Light and Love that is active, abundant, and not limited by human failing.
At the same time, Quakerism has grown into a diverse community. Friends today may understand the phrase “that of God in everyone” in different ways, using Christian, universalist, or non-theist language. Yet across these differences, the practice remains recognisably Quaker: a commitment to deep listening, respect for human dignity, and the belief that every person is worthy of attention.
Seeking the divine in everyone is not always easy. It may ask for patience where impatience feels natural, or for openness where defensiveness seems safer. It can involve listening longer than is comfortable, or staying present when it would be easier to turn away.
Yet many Friends find that this practice brings lightness as well as challenge. It encourages curiosity, softens encounters, and makes room for learning from unexpected places. It can transform everyday interactions into moments of quiet faithfulness.
For those exploring Quakerism, this way of seeing can feel both grounding and hopeful. You are not asked to define exactly what you believe about God. You are invited to notice how you meet others, and whether you are willing to recognise what is life-giving and true in them. Over time, this practice may begin to speak for itself — shaping faith not through argument, but through attention, care, and relationship.
