‘Tis the season to answer one of the Internet’s most burning questions…Do Quakers celebrate Christmas? We called up Friends from around the globe to find the answer(s), and you might be surprised at what they say.

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Zachary Moon was raised in a Quaker Meeting full of anti-war protesters. Then he felt God calling him to join the military as a chaplain. In the following months and years he had to wrestle with that leading and the response of his family and community.

On this week’s episode, we ask, what happens when your calling seems to be in opposition to the thing that unites your faith community? And can you be a Quaker pacifist while wearing a military uniform?

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It’s been a little over two years since we embarked on this journey to give Quakers a platform in the digital age. We believe Quakers have something to offer in the 21st century, and by telling our stories and exploring our practices, we can both deepen and broaden the modern Quaker movement.

This project—Thee Quaker Podcast—is part of our ecosystem of online Quaker media, along with The Daily Quaker Message and Quaker Videos, all published by Thee Quaker Project.

Now with thousands of readers, listeners, and viewers around the world, Thee Quaker Project is bringing daily inspiration and courage to seekers and Quakers and supporting them to take the next steps on their spiritual journeys.

Please consider supporting Thee Quaker Project with a gift of any size. It is only because of listeners like you that any of these projects exist at all.

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Unlike many Christian traditions, Quakers have no creed. So one of the most commonly asked questions about us—What do Quakers believe?—is sometimes a difficult one to answer. We posed the question to long-time Quakers, new Quakers, Quaker scholars, and more. Join us as we explore this nuanced and rich discussion of Quaker beliefs.

This episode was originally released on July 10, 2024. Check out our full archives for more stories of spiritual courage.

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The School of the Spirit is now accepting applications for year two of its in-depth program "God’s Promise Fulfilled: Encountering and Embodying Grace in the Shadow of Empire." This second year focuses on moving from discernment into action. Participants explore their unique calls to action and learn how to live out their faith in the world, supported by a community of fellow seekers. The program is hybrid, offering four residencies (in-person or virtual) with online meetings in between. If you are seeking spiritual depth and a path for compassionate change, this is for you. Year two begins in May, and registration is open now. Learn more at schoolofthespirit.org/gpf.

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Quaker author and activist Eileen Flanagan joins us to explore the wisdom that she has learned from her decades of experience in organizing around the climate crisis, and how that very crisis is exposing the “illusion of separation” in our times. Eileen helps us move beyond individual conviction to creating effective and diverse coalitions for positive social change.

"Common Ground: How the Crisis of the Earth is Saving Us from Our Illusion of Separation" by Eileen Flanagan

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Westtown School is a Quaker, college preparatory day and boarding school for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. Guided by the essential Quaker calling to seek out and honor that of God in each of us, Westtown School challenges its students to realize their individual gifts while learning and living together in a diverse community. Their campus sits on 600 acres of land that includes a 14 acre lake, an arboretum and natural forest, and an instructional organic farm. Learn more and schedule a visit at www.westtown.edu.

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It’s one of the most asked questions about the faith: “Do Quakers read the Bible?”. The answer is complicated, as this single book has been used as both a brutal weapon and a profound source of liberation. This episode dives into that paradox, examining a faith that places a living Spirit above the written word. This distinction gives people permission to wrestle with the text, to question its authority, and even to find faith in walking away.

Sarah Ruden: https://sarahruden.com/

Ashley Wilcox: https://www.womenslectionary.com/

Peterson Toscano: https://www.petersontoscano.com/about-peterson

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Monteverde, Costa Rica -- January 15-20, 2026

A Quaker-Led, Interfaith Spiritual Retreat

Amid the mist and quiet beauty of a mountaintop cloud forest, Earth & Ember invites spiritual seekers and contemplatives to explore how our lives can be rooted in compassion and peace--while still engaging with a world marked by injustice, greed, and cruelty. Each day offers centering practices, meaningful participation in our rainforest community, rich spiritual conversation, and the wisdom of local scientists, artists, and peacemakers.

Learn more at www.earthnember.com

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What does it mean to “conspire for goodness” in a fractured world? We visit the historic Valley Mills Friends Meeting to talk with pastor Rachel Doll O’Mahoney about the power of a community built on deep, authentic care. Then, we hear her surprising sermon that reclaims the word “conspiracy” as a radical invitation to breathe together for a more hopeful purpose.

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The Quaker experiment at Eastern State Penitentiary was meant to be a sanctuary for the soul, a place to reform criminals through silence and reflection. Instead, it accidentally engineered a form of psychological torture: solitary confinement. This episode uncovers the complicated history of this "Great Experiment" and then journeys to the offices of AFSC Prison Watch, where a new generation of Quaker activists are confronting this legacy by listening to the raw, firsthand accounts of people who have survived the modern system.

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Westtown School, a leading Quaker day school for Pre-K to 12th grade is hosting Open Houses this Fall.

Upper School, Saturday, October 25th, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Middle School, Thursday, October 30th, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Lower School, Wednesday, November 5th, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Learn more at www.westtown.edu/fall.

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