George Fox was born in 1624 in England, just a few years after the Mayflower set sail. He spent most of his life in England, though he periodically traveled to spread his message. Fox died in 1691 at the age of 67. The period in which Fox lived was a fairly chaotic time of social unrest and new ideas. In Fox's late teenage years, he began to question the authority around him, especially the religious authority. As society was asking, what work God was calling them to, Fox decided to look on his own even though his ideas upset many. Later on in his life, he founded the Society of Friends, more commonly called the Quakers.
The oddest part of Fox's journal to me was his trip to Lichfield. After being released from prison, Fox was wondering around and met some shepherds in the fields to whom he was compelled to give his shoes. After giving his shoes to strangers, he kept walking into town where he was again called by the Lord to yell "Woe unto the bloody city of Lichfield" though at the time, he had no idea why other than that God had told him to so do. After spending some time crying and yelling throughout the market, he decided it was time to go. As he passed by the shepherds again, he paid them for his shoes and left. Apparently 1300 years ago, thousands of Christians were killed there, and that, he presumed, was God's reason for calling him to Lichfield that day. I just found it very odd that for reasons unknown to him, Fox just decided to give away his shows, yell around an unfamiliar town like a crazy man and then buy his shoes back.
Obviously many changes have been made in religious freedoms since Fox's time. I think it would be very interesting to know how Fox feels about the amount of freedom in the U.S. today. Fox was fairly open for his time, but I think it would be very interesting to hear his views on contemporary and non-denominational churches today, as well as current restrictions on religion, such as church v. state.
The oddest part of Fox's journal to me was his trip to Lichfield. After being released from prison, Fox was wondering around and met some shepherds in the fields to whom he was compelled to give his shoes. After giving his shoes to strangers, he kept walking into town where he was again called by the Lord to yell "Woe unto the bloody city of Lichfield" though at the time, he had no idea why other than that God had told him to so do. After spending some time crying and yelling throughout the market, he decided it was time to go. As he passed by the shepherds again, he paid them for his shoes and left. Apparently 1300 years ago, thousands of Christians were killed there, and that, he presumed, was God's reason for calling him to Lichfield that day. I just found it very odd that for reasons unknown to him, Fox just decided to give away his shows, yell around an unfamiliar town like a crazy man and then buy his shoes back.
Obviously many changes have been made in religious freedoms since Fox's time. I think it would be very interesting to know how Fox feels about the amount of freedom in the U.S. today. Fox was fairly open for his time, but I think it would be very interesting to hear his views on contemporary and non-denominational churches today, as well as current restrictions on religion, such as church v. state.
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