INTRODUCTION
“We fight, we get beat, we rise, and we fight again.”
This research project will explore the evolution of Nathanael Greene, as a paradigm, from being a prominent Quaker pacifist to becoming one of the most active members as General of George Washington’s military unit during the American Revolution in order to understand how Quakerism could potentially be faithfully compatible with pacifism and the struggles of a “just” war. As an activist for the same principles of the American Revolution during the years of the war, Greene attempted to reconcile his Quaker religion with his active military duty, and spent the remaining years of his life with an internal struggle most evident in his own personal writings. He would become the only General aside from George Washington to serve the entire eight (8) years in the Revolutionary war. It must be noted that broad generalizations of the Society of Friends should be avoided in describing how the religious groups responded to the revolutionary war. As it will be observed, a general consensus towards a position does not …show more content…
He describes his upbringing as a leaning towards Quakerism, but even at a young age, thought it illogical in practicality. Upon writing the Age of Reason, he was not concerned about holding back his criticism of the Society. While Paine expressed appreciation for the Quakers “care of the poor of their society and the education of their children," he critiqued their ideology and apparent “gloom”:
"I cannot help smiling at the conceit, that if the taste of a Quaker could have been consulted at creation, what a silent and drab coloured creation it would have been! Not a flower would have blossomed its gaieties, nor a bird been permitted to
“We fight, we get beat, we rise, and we fight again.”
This research project will explore the evolution of Nathanael Greene, as a paradigm, from being a prominent Quaker pacifist to becoming one of the most active members as General of George Washington’s military unit during the American Revolution in order to understand how Quakerism could potentially be faithfully compatible with pacifism and the struggles of a “just” war. As an activist for the same principles of the American Revolution during the years of the war, Greene attempted to reconcile his Quaker religion with his active military duty, and spent the remaining years of his life with an internal struggle most evident in his own personal writings. He would become the only General aside from George Washington to serve the entire eight (8) years in the Revolutionary war. It must be noted that broad generalizations of the Society of Friends should be avoided in describing how the religious groups responded to the revolutionary war. As it will be observed, a general consensus towards a position does not …show more content…
He describes his upbringing as a leaning towards Quakerism, but even at a young age, thought it illogical in practicality. Upon writing the Age of Reason, he was not concerned about holding back his criticism of the Society. While Paine expressed appreciation for the Quakers “care of the poor of their society and the education of their children," he critiqued their ideology and apparent “gloom”:
"I cannot help smiling at the conceit, that if the taste of a Quaker could have been consulted at creation, what a silent and drab coloured creation it would have been! Not a flower would have blossomed its gaieties, nor a bird been permitted to