Testimony of integrity

Part of a series on
Quakerism
George Fox, founder of the Quakers
Notable individuals William Edmundson Susan B. Anthony Robert Barclay Hannah Jenkins Barnard Anthony Benezet Kenneth E. Boulding Howard Brinton John Cadbury Levi Coffin Anne Conway James Dean Judi Dench Margaret Fell George Fox Elizabeth Fry Edward Hicks Elias Hicks Henry Hodgkin Herbert Hoover Rufus Jones Thomas R. Kelly Benjamin Lay Lucretia Mott James Nayler Richard Nixon Parker Palmer Alice Paul William Penn Robert Pleasants Bayard Rustin Jessamyn West John Greenleaf Whittier John Woolman
Meetings and other groups Yearly Meeting Monthly Meeting American Friends Service Committee A Quaker Action Group Britain Yearly Meeting Central Yearly Meeting of Friends Conservative Friends Evangelical Friends Church International Friends Committee on National Legislation Friends General Conference Friends United Meeting Friends World Committee for Consultation Quaker Council for European Affairs Quaker Peace and Social Witness Quaker United Nations Office Szechwan Yearly Meeting World Gathering of Young Friends
Testimonies Peace Equality Integrity ("Truth") Simplicity
By region North America Latin America Europe Africa
Other themes Faith and Practice or Book of Discipline Richmond Declaration of Faith Clerk Decision Making Businesses and charities History Inward light Meeting houses First Day of the Week New Birth Perfectionism Query Schools Science Tapestry Wedding Homosexuality Women
Christianity portal
v t e

Testimony to integrity and truth refers to the way many members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) testify or bear witness to their belief that one should live a life that is true to God, true to oneself, and true to others. To Friends, the concept of integrity includes personal wholeness and consistency as well as honesty and fair dealings. From personal and inward integrity flow the outward signs of integrity, which include honesty and fairness. It is not only about telling the truth but also about applying ultimate truth to each situation. For example, Friends (Quakers) believe that integrity requires avoiding statements that are technically true but misleading.

The word testimony is used to refer to the ways in which Friends testify or bear witness to their faith in their everyday lives. In this context, the word testimony refers not to Friends' underlying beliefs about truth and integrity but their committed action to promote and act in truthful and integral ways, which arises out of their beliefs.

Also known as the Testimony of Truth, or Truth Testimony, the essence of the Testimony of Integrity is placing God at the center of one's life. To Friends, integrity is in choosing to follow the leading of the Spirit despite the challenges and urges to do otherwise.

That testimony has led to Friends having a reputation for being honest and fair in their dealings with others.^[1] It has led them to give proper credit to others for their contributions and to accept responsibility for their own actions. In those legal systems, if it is allowed, rather than swearing oaths in a court of law, Friends prefer to affirm. In England, that has been the case since 1695.^[2]

Among some early Friends, the testimony led them to refuse to participate in drama, and they stated that to pretend they were someone else was to deny their integrity.