Shae Turner

3/25/10

Shaker Communities: Origin and Lifestyle of a Shaker Community

          Utopias are intriguing to me because they were formed on the basis of trying to reform or escape from the norms of human society, as well as they are looked at as an ideal or perfect world. This thought of trying to create a perfect society seems unrealistic, but there are in fact Utopian communities that existed in the past and some are still present today. One community that I found very interesting was the Shaker Community for the reason that they practiced celibacy because they believed that they were the last generation as well as their concept of how sin came to be. Because of this spark of interest in the topic, I would like to come to understand the history of the Shaker communities, what their religious beliefs and values of life were, as well as uncover some other aspects that were part of their lifestyle.

          One of my first discoveries that I found on the Shaker communities when doing my research was from the website http://www.patheos.com/Library/Shakers.html, where I found quality information on the origin and history of the Shakers. According to this website, the Shakers link back their origins to what is known as England’s “Shaking Quakers”, in which these worshipers were known for being clamorous and energetic during the time of devotion. Ann Lee, who was formerly a Quaker, was the person whom solemnly founded the Shaker community after she suffered persecution and then moved to the United States in 1774, where she and eight other followers established the first Shaker community in New York. These communities continued to grow and only five years later their numbers went from less than ten to nearly several thousand members! Even after Lee’s death the communities were still thriving as well as spreading to different states. But, unfortunately, by the 1900s the number of Shakers began to decrease and they were only left with a population that was fewer than a thousand.

          Even though I found it quite useful to know the background and history of these communities, what really intrigued me when doing this research was learning about the Shaker’s religious beliefs as well as their ideas that formed the basis of their society.  According to the website, http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Shakers.html , Shaker’s religious beliefs were primarily Christianity, even though some of these individuals had secular beliefs than those of the primary faith. They also rejected the idea of Trinity and believed that God was not only male but made up of parts from both sexes. One real “eyebrow raiser” for myself was how the Shaker’s believed that sin came from Adam and Eve’s sexual behaviors in the Garden of Eden, whereas we have been taught by Genesis that the “fall of mankind” was when Eve ate the apple from the tree, which then produced sin on earth. But because of their concept of how sin came about, the Shakers made celibacy a primary requirement in their community. As much as celibacy was a fundamental requirement in the life of Shaker, they also built their community on other ideals and values such as the simplicity of life, equality of the sexes, hard work, and communal living.

                    Another component about the Shakers that I found fascinating was the aspect of their music and how much influence it had in their society and beliefs. When researching Shakers on Wikipedia I learned that music was a vast part of their life, in which they used the music as well as dances to help lift them during their worships. Interestingly enough, this is a very popular aspect about worships with many other different faiths as well, as we can easily notice how music has become a way for individuals to express their respect and loyalty to the one they are worshiping. As for the Shakers though, this site explained that many of their lyrics were composed from syllables and words that were of an “unknown tongue”, as well as many of their songs mimicked those songs of early African American slaves and Native Americans. Therefore even though music that is sung and learned for religious purposes might commonly share the aspect of using it as a way of expression, the early Shaker music can easily be seen as unique in the way it is composed from religious music that we hear today.

          Before diving into the Shakers and trying to unveil aspects about their lives, one thing that I have heard in regards to these individuals previously was about their furniture.  It seems that their simplicity and style made a lasting impression since the images can be found from an instant click of a button. In an article called, Shakers in Early American History, the author Michael Streich describes the furniture “-as simple yet carried a line of elegance in line with the Shaker’s view of doing everything to the glory of God.” (Paragraph 5). In alliance to the furniture he also briefly gave credit to other innovations that were produced from the Shakers such as the clothes pin, flat broom, and circular straw. With this he also noted how they made clothes that were water resistance, and in which when taking all these innovations into effect, it is easy to see how they helped in the attribute of complying to the “simplicity” required lifestyle for their community.

          The Shaker Community is a very compelling one, and in fact I found their simple lifestyle to be what makes this at large one of my favorite groups of people that I have so far encountered in my studies throughout the years. Through my research I was able to find out who they were, where they came from, as well as how they lived. One thing I really liked throughout my findings was the noticeable strength of religion even from the beginning with their history of originating from a religious background to their secular one with different beliefs. The reason they had dance and music as well as how Michael Streich gave credit to their furniture of resembling their faith, is also a good quality in showing how religion was dominant within this community. Along with their faith, their values of simplicity, equality, and hard work is an essential way of us looking at this community of one that can be called a “Utopian Society”.

Works Cited

"Every Culture." Shakers. Web. 25 Mar 2010.

<http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Shakers.html>.

"Shakers." Patheos. Web. 25 Mar 2010.

          <http://www.patheos.com/Library/Shakers.html>.

"Shakers." Wikipedia. 25 March 2010. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakers>.

Streich, Micheal. “Shakers in Early American History: A Utopian Movement Practicing

           Authentic Christianity." (2009): n. pag. Web. 25 Mar 2010.

<http://americanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/shakers_in_early_american_history>.