William Penn et le dilemme des quakers mariages en Angleterre en XVIIe siécle : la foi, les procédures et les expériences

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