All of our beliefs, organisation and actions flow from the central belief that each of us can make direct contact with God. We therefore feel no need for intermediaries such as priests or ministers, and have no paid clergy. We openly acknowledge that the nature of God is impossible to fully comprehend, and Friends use various words to refer to the ineffable: God, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, the Light, the Divine.

Friends have always believed in seeking guidance directly from the Spirit in corporate as well as private prayer and worship. Because we believe that fresh insights are always being revealed, Friends have never had a written creed or a printed prayer book. The spiritual experience of Friends down through the years has been recorded in a great variety of writings, and is an immensely valuable source of inspiration.

The Quaker movement arose in 17^th century England in a culture that was almost exclusively Christian. It is thus natural that the early Quaker movement was very centred on the figure of Jesus Christ. 

A diversity of views of Jesus can be found among Irish Friends today.  Some see Jesus as the unique son of God and the central figure in their religious lives, and associate him with their own salvation. Others view Jesus as a supremely enlightened figure from whom we can learn. Friends would agree that Jesus’ teachings continue to be relevant today. Some Friends have also found ways to enrich their spirituality with insights from other faiths and spiritual approaches.