It ought to be recognised that at the present time, at least in this country, the real danger is not from a too narrow, cramping and militantly dogmatic theology, but rather from an inveterate haziness of mind, a half-heartedness and general belittlement of the importance of true thinking in religion. And the final outcome of this is the assumption … that Christianity may indeed reasonably claim to be ‘good’, that is, to put forward an elevated ethical standard and an edifying moral idealism, but makes and can make no claim to be ‘true’. I do not think it likely that terms like ‘theology’, ‘dogma’ and ‘creed’ will ever evoke enthusiasm among members of the Society of Friends. But it ought to be possible to allay what almost amounts to a phobia with regard to them.

John W Harvey, 1947