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Movie Review |
Movie Review: George Fox and the Quakers |
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Not Currently Available Color / 45 Min. Documentary _____________ Produced by Sleeping Giant Productions in association with Lightworks Producing Group. ©Vision Video. This program is protected by copyright. No duplication or unauthorized use permitted. All rights reserved. _____________ Have you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Find out how to do so on our page: Plan of Salvation ______________ Tell others about Jesus like George Fox did: Though not all Christians are called to the ministry of Evangelist, we are all called by God to share our faith (witness) with those who are not Christians. Some Bible verses that you will find helpful for doing this, and that you may want to commit to memory are found on other pages on our web site (see: Memory Verses; 2nd Set: Salvation!, Plan of Salvation, and Statement of Faith). _________________
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"They made us look at the world in a new way." "One of the most unusual and influential leaders and movements in all Christian History" ___________________ William Armstrong brilliantly portrays George Fox Here is the life and legacy of George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends, or "Quakers," shot on location in England, America, and Canada. The program interweaves dramatizations, interviews, and period paintings. William Armstrong brilliantly portrays George Fox in dramatic recreations edited from his journal. The viewer hears Fox's own words and learns of his fears, frustrations and dreams from his early wandering days to his death. Fox's desperate search for spiritual truth as a young man in war-torn 17th-century England Leading Quaker historians guide the viewer from Fox's desperate search for spiritual truth as a young man in war-torn 17th-century England, to his "convincement" at Pendle Hill. The program shows how the Quakers were formed and details the imprisonments, torture and persecution of a people who believed in a religion with no church hierarchy or establishment, that upheld pacifism and equality of all humankind. We also meet Margaret Fell, the woman fondly called the "Mother of Quakerism." In addition to rare visual material from Quaker archives, current day believers show how George Fox's legacy has shaped their lives and continues to influence the lives of many committed to peace and the fair treatment of humanity. (-From the Video's Back Cover) ______________________________ Above All George Fox Excelled In Prayer "But above all he excelled in prayer. The inwardness and weight of his spirit, the reverence and solemnity of his address and behavior, and the fewness and fullness of his words have often struck even strangers with admiration as they used to reach others with consolation. The most awful, living, reverend frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say, was his prayer. And truly it was a testimony. He knew and lived nearer to the Lord than other men, for they that know him most will see most reason to approach him with reverence and fear." -William Penn, of George Fox ______________________________ Our Comments: Good History; Some Bad Interviews The "Religious Society of Friends" (Quakers), along with the Anabaptists, Mennonites, Amish, and a few other groups, belong to what are called the historic "peace churches." They are "non-violent" and "non-resisters" and are therefore opposed to serving in the military, and of the committing of any violence against other human beings. Although most Evangelicals do not hold this particular view, one must admire the fact that none of these churches ever were guilty historically of executing Christians who believed differently from themselves, a fact of shame in the history of some of the other Churches. Women Street-Preachers, Freedom of Religion, Opposing Slavery The Quakers were also unique in that women went out as street-preachers and missionaries to other countries, something that just didn't happen in other Christian groups at that time. In Pennsylvania they allowed freedom of religion, a new idea for the time...and invited the persecuted Amish (and _____________________________ George Fox and the Quakers __________________________________ |
others) to emigrate to their new Colony. This Documentary gives an excellent overview of George Fox and the Quakers. This is a highly interesting portion of Church History. In the same time period, English Puritans fought a Civil War and replaced the English Monarchy with the Protectorate of George Cromwell, and William Penn founded Pennsylvania as a haven for religious freedom in America. Quakers also actively opposed slavery about 100 years before most other American groups. Over 100 years ago, the Quakers split in half, into "Meeting" Friends, and "Church" Friends. Where this Documentary makes it mistake is in its poor and one-sided selection of modern Quakers for its interviews. Over 100 years ago, the Quakers split in half, into "Meeting" Quakers, and "Church" Quakers. The issue was simple: one group consisted of born-again Christians, the other group consisted of those who felt they were saved by "works" and "legalism." The "Church" Quakers were born-again Christians, and correctly realized that they were saved by grace. They also happened to chose to reject traditional Quaker "Meeting-house" and "Silence" type worship and became the "Friends Church." Unfortunately, the Documentary didn't interview any of these wonderful Christian brothers and sisters. The second group of "Meeting-house Friends" later rejected legalism and adopted ultra-liberalism, but still maintained the traditional form of Quaker "silent meetings." These are the people who are interviewed. They make statements twice that Quakers aren't interested in the Bible, that it's not important compared to following "the inner light." Of course this is teaching error---Scripture is always our final authority in faith and practice. Some of the interviews detract... One gets the impression that this is what George Fox taught, but then, interestingly and ironically enough, both times there follows a mention of George Fox's great love for and constant study of the scriptures. One "Meeting-house" Friend being interviewed says that "...you can become a Quaker just by saying that you are one...you could even be a Buddhist and that would be okay!" (in other words, you don't have to believe anything--except to reject serving in the military in a combat position). What a shame that the Documentary's makers didn't instead interview the modern born-again Bible-believing Evangelical members of the modern "Friends Churches." Some of the interviews detract from an otherwise excellent explanatory rendering of the history of the Quaker "Friends". -The Prayer Foundation ™ _____________________________ Related Pages:
Copyright © 2007 S.G.P. All rights reserved.
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Jacket design by Gallison
Design. Manufactured in the U.S.A. ______________________________
