An economist sees Quakerism as an evolutionary mutation from the mainline of Christian development. He suggests that the next stage of its development is intellectual.

1964 Backhouse Lecture (Australia Yearly Meeting)

This pamphlet is about the potential in Quakerism to contribute significantly to the evolution of a global society and culture built on caring for each other. He asserts that the first-hand religious experience insisted on in Quakerism, the ethics of universal love and peace, and the type of culture derived from Quaker experience are essential to the future. He charges Friends to participate creatively in the development of peaceful global community and to present how to produce the kind of love we need. It is interesting to consider decades later how the Society of Friends is meeting this challenge, and how the task is evolving. Many of the PHPs since 1964 indeed show how Friends have been laboring creatively at this work.
This text was first presented as the 1964 James Backhouse Lecture to Australia Yearly Meeting. ( )

PHP #136