Description

Book Synopsis
"As the Oracles of God" examines how Quakers in colonial America sought to control both the written and spoken word in their religious communities. It looks at the ways in which American Friends set up committees to censor texts deemed heterodox, as well as the ways Quakers sought to moderate the words of believers through encouraging self-censorship as a way to access personal revelation, while also paying particular attention to the experiences of those who ran afoul of Friends' rules in these regards, either by publishing works without the consent of their meetings or speaking in un-Quakerly fashion. Debates over freedom of speech, the work asserts, defined early modern religious communities just as much as it did more formal legal institutions.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements Abstract Keywords  Introduction  1 Policing Quaker Speech  2 Policing Quaker Print Ways  3 Disputing the Word  Conclusion  References

As the Oracles of God : Policing the Word in Colonial Quakerism

    Product form

    £63.84

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £67.20 – you save £3.36 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 24 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by S. Spencer Wells

    Out of stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of As the Oracles of God : Policing the Word in Colonial Quakerism by S. Spencer Wells

      Publisher: Brill
      Publication Date: 25/01/2024
      ISBN13: 9789004693975, 978-9004693975
      ISBN10:

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      "As the Oracles of God" examines how Quakers in colonial America sought to control both the written and spoken word in their religious communities. It looks at the ways in which American Friends set up committees to censor texts deemed heterodox, as well as the ways Quakers sought to moderate the words of believers through encouraging self-censorship as a way to access personal revelation, while also paying particular attention to the experiences of those who ran afoul of Friends' rules in these regards, either by publishing works without the consent of their meetings or speaking in un-Quakerly fashion. Debates over freedom of speech, the work asserts, defined early modern religious communities just as much as it did more formal legal institutions.

      Table of Contents
      Acknowledgements Abstract Keywords  Introduction  1 Policing Quaker Speech  2 Policing Quaker Print Ways  3 Disputing the Word  Conclusion  References

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account