The Society of Friends, known as Quakers, express their beliefs in the form of "testimonies," a word that means "witnesses."  Because our understanding of truth is always unfolding, we cannot etch our beliefs in stone.  Instead, we strive to make our actions "witness" to our values. 

Quaker testimonies are often summarized under five wide headings:  Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, and Equality. 

When trying to make a decision, we look to these testimonies and ask, would our actions contribute to peace?  Are we acknowledging our spiritual equality with one another?  Are we thinking of the community, and not just of ourselves?  Does our action have true integrity?  Does it reflect our goal of living simply?  When we decide what to eat, how to spend our time and our money, and how to treat one another, we reflect upon the Testimonies of Friends.