Shakers

The Shakers were one of the most famous utopias in American history. They believed that the second coming of Christ was already happening through them and banded together to form communities throughout the northwestern United States. In accordance with this apocalyptic vision, they saw themselves as the Kingdom of God on earth, embracing celibacy, perfectionism, pacifism, and communal ownership of property.

After the industrial revolution, the Shakers struggled to keep up with modern technology. For this reason and their commitment to celibacy, membership started to decline, and the organization officially closed its doors in 1965. Today, just a few Shakers still exist in a small community in Maine, and defunct villages are popular tourist attractions that remind visitors of simpler times.

Other info:

• Members gave up their slaves and paid for the freedom of slaves owned by nonmembers (source)

• Highly efficient and invented hundreds of devices to reduce their workload, including the clothespin and circular saw (source)

• Although the organization officially stopped accepting members in 1965, one community is still open to receiving additional members (source, source). At least one member has denied that these new converts should be considered Shakers (source)

• Since their celibate lifestyle prevented them from having children, Shakers adopted several orphans. If the orphans chose to get married, they would leave the community with a blessing, a sack of flour, a horse, and $100 (about $3,000 adjusted for inflation, as of 2020) (source)

• Believes that God is both male and female (source)

• Shaker worship services were very lively and included elaborate organized dances, almost like a party (source)

Other tags: