"And so about many other things of the same nature, we are trying to make people believe these things, and we make creeds of them; and thus we continue to do our own will, which is the ground of all sin"

Elias Hicks, a prominent Quaker preacher from the 18th and 19th centuries, is understood for his progressive views on spirituality and religious beliefs. In the quote, Hicks critiques the human tendency to create rigid belief systems or creeds and impose them on others. He recommends that doing so can lead to a distortion of real spiritual practice and understanding.

The expression "about lots of other things of the very same nature" suggests that Hicks sees this pattern of behavior recurring across various aspects of life and belief systems. By stating "we are attempting to make people believe these things", he highlights a coercive aspect of religious or ideological zeal. Hicks indicates that there is an intrinsic threat in trying to implement specific doctrines or dogmas onto others, as it often originates from a place of human self-will rather than divine inspiration or reality.

When Hicks utilizes the term "make creeds of them", he is critiquing the institutionalization of belief. Creeds often include rigid structures and needs for conformity, which can suppress specific spiritual experiences and understanding. Hicks's Quaker background supports the concept that spirituality ought to be a personal, direct experience of the divine, rather than moderated by institutional structures or intricate doctrines.

The most vital part of the quote is "we continue to do our own will, which is the ground of all sin". Hicks identifies the root of the issue as human willfulness, suggesting that individual ego and desire for control result in the distortion of spiritual facts. By prioritizing our agendas over the authentic pursuit of truth, we wander off from genuine spirituality. For Hicks, sin originates from the pursuit of self-interest rather than a positioning with divine will.

In essence, Hicks advocates for a go back to a more individual and experiential spirituality that enables individual expedition and understanding. His message encourages humbleness, openness to the divine, and a rejection of stiff, human-made structures that do more to manage than to enlighten.