William Penn a dylematy małżeństwa kwakrów w Anglii, w XVII wieku: wiara, procedury i doświadczenia życiowe
Streszczenie
William Penn (1644-1718) as one of reformers of Christianity and one of Quaker
leaders refered to a dilemma of Quaker marriages in his religious activities and
his private life. The dilemma concerned the theological interpretation of marriage
and the procedures of wedding. These issues made part of a larger process of
the transformation of marriage institution in modem England. especially in the
XVII-th century.
The Quaker theology of marriage included in some pali the puritan thought of
wedding and the spiritual and the apocalyptic faith announced the revival of Christianity.
Penn shared the convictions but thanks to his religious knowledge he put
forward in his Right Marriage. etc. the need of spiritual love and the suitable selection
of partners as a source of later "Visible Harmony" of spouses. At the same time
Pen n took part in some central Quaker meetins where he worked out with other
leaders of "Society of Friends" the procedures of marriage ceremony to his coreligionists.
The activity of the meetings was indispensable to make legal and allowed
by the state the Quaker weddings but on the other hand it caused many quarrels in
the Quaker community in the second half of the XVII-th century.
Penn also presented his attitude towards the Quaker marriage ceremony in his
experiences. He got married twice. Penn in his choice of bride passed from the ideal
of "Visible Harmony" to controversial decision to his co-religionists but he made his
vows according to the Quaker marriage procedures.