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Religious Utopias 

GOALS: Religious utopian leaders believed that they should practice true faith so they can eventually reach a point where everyone is doing so. “Utopia” is a term coined by Thomas More from which these religions are based upon—utopia is the idea of a perfect society that can only be imagined and what should, could be the ideal society but does not actually exist. Even though utopia could not be achieved, it is an idea that is meant for real societies to aspire to be. So the goal of groups such as the Oneida community, Shakers, and Mormons was to try to be like utopia, however the founder imagined it to be. (Miskelly/Noce) 

IDEALS: Different utopian religions had different ideals--which is why they were groups and not one big utopian-based community. Because the idea of a perfect society greatly differed depending on the leader. Leader of the Shakers believed that in a perfect society every part of life should be separated to decrease the amount of sexual activity. She also condemned marriage and by separating genders, it encouraged equality (Miskelly/Noce). Noyes, leader of the first Oneida community,  also strongly believed in equality and based this community off of the ideals of a Perfectionist. This included "complex" marriage and economic communism-- the goals of their practices was to reach sinlessness (Weiser-Alexander). The Mormons followed the Book of Mormon published by founder, Joseph Smith; this book is two stories (of ancient American civilizations) and claimed to be written by a prophet. Smith used the civilizaitns in this book as a model for how they should live; mormons tried to make peaceful communities. Some of their practices included polygamy and they believed there were new prophets, scriptures, and there was a divine authority (Brinkley).

 

 

Shakers

Oneida Community

Mormons

FOUNDER           Ann Lee                                John Humphrey Noyes                         Joseph Smith              

(Brinkley, 293-94)

ARGUMENTS

DEFENDING

RELIGION

SUCCESSES        

  • "marriage is not an institution of Heaven, and must give place to communism"

  • "death is to be abolished and there must be a restoration of true relations between the two sexes"

  • "sexual function is to be redeemed and true relations between the sexes restored"

(Adler, 403-9)

  • James Whittaker was the leader after Lee and his organized caused the Shakers to prosper (Miskelly/ Noce)

  • Hancock Shaker community; this community was recognized by the National Register of Historic Places for the way they live--their social values and communal lifestyles

(Alexander-Weiser)

  • Oneida Community Mansion; this is marked as a National Landmark and was made in the peak of the religion's popularity 

(Alexander-Weiser)

  • human perfectibility was possible

  • because God was once a human, humans can always try to get closer to God

(Brinkley, 296)

 

  • multiple settlements were established that lasted for a long time-- in Utah

(Brinkley, 296)

  • all activities are separated by building and by gender so it is easier to keep celibate

FAILURES

  • 1879: ministers met in New York "to condemn" the community which led the members to flee to Canada, ending "complex marriage" (marriage to the group instead of an individual)

  • 1881: the Oneida community was stated as a joint stock corporation

(Alexander-Weiser)

  • The town of Nauvoo-- I see this town as a success and a failure. 

  • Success: it grew quickly and was economically strong; it also created an army of 4,000 men

  • Failure: it led to the arrest and death of the founder of Mormonism which caused Mormons to abandon the town

(Brinkley, 295-6) 

  • Due to the misunderstanding of this group by the public, many were imprisoned

  • The founder, Ann Lee, was dragged on the street and abused by citizens when she was on a preaching mission with a couple other disciples-- she was imprisoned then released but died due to never recovering

(Miskelly, Noce) 

SUCCESSFUL: Overall, I would characterize the movement as successful. Each group impacted the world in some way which is a success to me even if that was not their goal. Also, members of these communities still exist; mormonism is still a legitamite religion and is practiced by a substantial amount of people (modern mormonism). 

Citations:

 

  • "Utopianism." Political Theories for Students. Ed. Matthew Miskelly and Jaime Noce. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2002. 387-405. World History in Context. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.

URL

http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/whic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=WHIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=WHIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CCX3424700027&source=Bookmark&u=va_p_covenant_s&jsid=f60c7aeb78423d2bde422a50a04888f6

     6th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2004. Print. 

  • Adler, Mortimer, J., ed. 1841- 1849 Manifest Destiny. Chicago: Encyclopaedia 
         Britannica, 1968. Print. Vol. 7 of Annals of America. 22 vols. 

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