poliphilo

George Fox was a visionary. He heard voices, was able to access higher dimensions of existence and had experiences there that can't be put into words- though he did his best using the Biblical/17th century devotional language that was available to him.

He was also a healer. His followers kept a record of his miracles which no longer exists- more's the pity.

He believed human beings to be sons and daughters of God- divine beings who have fallen into duality but are capable of returning to their true Nature. The Spirit of God is with us. We are all Christs in potentia. Scripture is of value only insofar as it conforms to the truths revealed by the Inner Light.

The 1640s were an exciting, revolutionary time. The power structure had been shaken and its capstone removed- and all sorts of people who had been keeping their opinions to themselves were let loose to debate, write pamphlets and beat one another up in an attempt to gain the upper hand in politics and religion. Fox was an argumentative man in an argumentative age- all too ready to get into argy-bargy with a priest, a magistrate or a mayor- stunts that frequently got him battered and imprisoned. He wouldn't keep his head down, never doubted himself or his vocation and was usually right to do so. He was for justice, sexual equality and the classless society. It's a pity he deplored music and theatre but there you go.

He was a saint. Saints can be difficult. He was charismatic, charming when he chose to be, straight-talking, fearless. Cromwell liked and admired him in spite of his having told Cromwell exactly where he was going wrong...