Quakers (AKA The Society of Friends), who some misguidedly think are either Amish or dead, are in fact alive and assimilated – actively engaged in worshipful activities all over the world. Friends’ testimonies (statements of values) form the acronym ’spices’: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship.
Quaker Oats Company logo (black-hatted, white-haired 19th Century man) just perpetuates confusion. The reality is, Quakers are very modern, just not self-promotional.
Quaker Oats, which was neither started by a quaker nor affiliated, as far as I know, with the religion in any way, has, however, become holistic in the last couple of years, glomming onto the values of Quakerism into its branding. Like quakers, they want to inspire you to live the simple life.
The newest Quaker Oats product, Simple Harvest is a good example. If you go to their site, they – as many, maybe most – manufacturers, are now on the band wagon of sustainability.
Very Quakerly and, you know what? That’s ok with me. Hey, what are Friends for?