The Quakers were not god fearing people, they were god loving people. Their beliefs were fundamentally at odds with those of their puritan neighbors. The puritans were persecuted in England and believed that they would find freedom in America. However, the puritans were not willing to be contradicted in their beliefs and were therefore violent and hostile towards the “backwards” beliefs of the Circle of Friends. The Quakers believed in inward light and that god had faith in each of them and their abilities to do good things. Quakers were also known for equal rights for women and for eliminating the importance of the puritan “chosen few” aka the clergy. Thus the Quakers were seen as quacks and persecuted for their way of life. (upper right, a quaker being released from puritan prison)