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The Religious Society of Friends (better known as Quakers) began as a radical redefinition of Christian Truth in England in the 17th century. At the very centre of the Quaker faith lies the experience of the Inward Light: in every human being there is implanted an element of God's own Spirit and divine energy. Known to Friends as "that of God in everyone", this element forms the basis the Quaker way of life of which non-violence is an essential expression.

We totally oppose all wars, all preparation for war, all use of weapons and coercion by force, and all military alliances. No end could ever justify such means.

We equally and actively oppose all that leads to violence among people and nations, and violence to other species and to our planet.

Refusal to fight with weapons is not surrender. We are not passive when threatened by the greedy, the cruel, the tyrant, the unjust.

We must start with our own hearts and minds. Wars will stop only when each of us is convinced that war is never the way.

Together, let us reject the clamour of fear and listen to the whisperings of hope.

-- Aotearoa/New Zealand Yearly Meeting, 1987