Harmony Society

One of the most successful utopian experiments in history

1805 - 1905

Opera House from the colony in New Harmony, IN

In the late 18th century, George Rapp became influenced by esotericism and gathered a following of over 10,000. After being denounced by the established Lutheran church, he took some of his followers to the United States to live in a utopian society, where they encouraged celibacy and prepared for the apocalypse. Despite their eccentric beliefs and practices, these communities were very successful, with members earning ten times more money than the average American. Today, they are popular tourist attractions.

Religion: Christianity

Denomination: Lutheran (separatist)

Founder: Johann George Rapp ("Father Rapp")

Founded: 1805

Ended: 1905

Size: 700 (1814)

Location: United States: Ambridge and Harmony, Pennsylvania; New Harmony, Indiana

Also called: Rappites; Harmonists; Harmonites

Anti-Marriage

Marriage was not forbidden but was rare, likely due to their promotion of celibacy (source)
Their belief that an unmarried life was preferable to a married one was based on their idea that Adam was initially created with both male and female sexual organs and that separating into different genders resulted in disharmony (source)
Married couples were expected to live as brother and sister (source)

Doomsday

Believed that the second coming would happen on September 15, 1829 (source p. 36)
Believed that Napoleon was the Antichrist (source p. 111)

George Rapp (founder)

Leader-Prophet

In 1781 (before the society was founded), founder George Rapp declared, "I am a prophet, and I am called to be one" (source)

Renunciation of Private Property

All property was held in common (source)
If a member chose to leave, they would receive all their possessions back, or, if they had not contributed anything, they would receive money (source)

Unique Sexual Practices

Celibacy: although celibacy was not required, it was encouraged and was adopted by most of the members (source)
Spiritual Eroticism: Celebrated an erotic union with "heavenly Sophia" (source)
Believed that Adam would have been able to reproduce asexually if not for sin (source)

Other info:

Their textiles, woolens, wines, and whisky were widely recognized for their excellence (source)
Very successful, with a per capita income that was ten times the national average (source)
By 1830, they were the most economically successful communal group in American History (source)
Practiced alchemy (source)

Other tags:

Communal

Persecuted

Secretive

Tour of Old Economy Village, one of the original locations of the Harmonists

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