I spent time with the Maine Shakers, and remember with fondness, Sisters Mildred, Frances, Minnie, Elsie, and Bessie, and Brothers Ted, David, and Stephen. Some people, including a commenter here, say that celibacy (blamed for the Shaker demise) is "non-Christian". This is untrue. It's uncommon, but it does go back to the early church and the example of Jesus himself. St. Paul even recommended it for those who could bear it. The Shakers lived apart from the world - but gave so much to it.
Check out the collection by Vicky Cimprich, "Pretty Mothers Home". You will not find a better description of the time and the place through the eyes of a young girl who chooses a life among the people. Vicky lives in N Kentucky and did her research at Pleasant Hill. Her work is amazing and no one who reads it will ever forget it.
One of the reasons why they are not that popular is they don't believe in sexual relations-even if you are married to the person! God created sex and in the Bible it says be fruitful multiply and replenish the earth. So (in my opinion) they are wrong about that.
@healthnbeauty1 Actually, people flocked to the Shakers for over 150 years, knowing that they were celibate. This happened especially during/after the Great Awakening, when Americans were caught up in religious revivals of all kinds. Times and attitudes changed - celibacy isn't the sole reason for their demise. Re: celibacy, Jesus was celibate, and St. Paul endorsed celibacy. It's hardly non-Christian, going back to the early church, only embraced by those with the "gift" for it.
I am sorry to bust your story because there is a town of shakers. pop unknown today bUtt : I know where it is. It's close to where I know of a lady that people from other countries come too meet with her. They share the town with some snake handlers. Is that old time religion or what Homer? Strange about ideas & echinoderms [deep water sea cucumbers, (Working that in where i could by request)] some a dismembered if by their own writing not in contact with one another so my guess your not gov huh
Don't get me wrong, nothing against the Shakers... but i am sure glad they didn't become as popular the mainstream religions - otherwise humanity would have become extinct O_o
@Supenmanu While I agree that the whole celibacy thing was a big part of their downfall, short of that I would actually love to have seen them become more popular. Having done some research on their theological views I can't say that I agree with all of them, but it does seem like a great community to have lived in during its peak. I respect the fact that, unlike much of the Amish, the Shakers embraced technology instead of railing against it.
@LockportIrish Actually, the Amish don't rail against modern technology. They avoid it for one reason only: it puts (for them) emphasis on "personal independence" not on "community" and a need for others. Home telephones for example, replace the experience of, or need for, face to face contact, yet the Amish DO have "community telephones", shared by all, so the USE of modern technology is permitted, but not always private ownership of the same.
@ninyae They should have encouraged more people to become uncovenanted Shakers. It's like being an oblate or a lay member. You are married but take part in the religious services. They just don't have a way to funnel in members like Catholics, Orthodox, Episcopalians or Buddhists do. If you're raised in that tradition it may become an option because you're familiar with its traditions and ceremonies. As they are, they just kind of stand apart and nobody quite knows who they are.
Just watched Ken Burns documentary from '84 on The Shakers last week...all religions don't deserve to become extinct, and this is a wonderful, life affirming community of people who, in a perfect world, would be around forever.
The "shaking Quakers". That's where the term Shakers came about. It referred to their unconventional dancing during services.
cockyhemi 1 week ago
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I spent time with the Maine Shakers, and remember with fondness, Sisters Mildred, Frances, Minnie, Elsie, and Bessie, and Brothers Ted, David, and Stephen. Some people, including a commenter here, say that celibacy (blamed for the Shaker demise) is "non-Christian". This is untrue. It's uncommon, but it does go back to the early church and the example of Jesus himself. St. Paul even recommended it for those who could bear it. The Shakers lived apart from the world - but gave so much to it.
lichtbroeder 2 weeks ago
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lichtbroeder 2 weeks ago
UGHHH I HATEE THIS!! STUPIDD SHAKERSS >:(
HAZELIUXHELLOKITTY 4 months ago
Check out the collection by Vicky Cimprich, "Pretty Mothers Home". You will not find a better description of the time and the place through the eyes of a young girl who chooses a life among the people. Vicky lives in N Kentucky and did her research at Pleasant Hill. Her work is amazing and no one who reads it will ever forget it.
gcpropertymanagement 6 months ago
One of the reasons why they are not that popular is they don't believe in sexual relations-even if you are married to the person! God created sex and in the Bible it says be fruitful multiply and replenish the earth. So (in my opinion) they are wrong about that.
healthnbeauty1 6 months ago
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lichtbroeder 2 weeks ago
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lichtbroeder 2 weeks ago
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lichtbroeder 2 weeks ago
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@healthnbeauty1 Actually, people flocked to the Shakers for over 150 years, knowing that they were celibate. This happened especially during/after the Great Awakening, when Americans were caught up in religious revivals of all kinds. Times and attitudes changed - celibacy isn't the sole reason for their demise. Re: celibacy, Jesus was celibate, and St. Paul endorsed celibacy. It's hardly non-Christian, going back to the early church, only embraced by those with the "gift" for it.
lichtbroeder 2 weeks ago
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ninyae 8 months ago
the shakers were master craftsmen, in fact a female shaker invented the circular saw!
bphutchins 9 months ago 2
I am sorry to bust your story because there is a town of shakers. pop unknown today bUtt : I know where it is. It's close to where I know of a lady that people from other countries come too meet with her. They share the town with some snake handlers. Is that old time religion or what Homer? Strange about ideas & echinoderms [deep water sea cucumbers, (Working that in where i could by request)] some a dismembered if by their own writing not in contact with one another so my guess your not gov huh
Keither9 1 year ago
Don't get me wrong, nothing against the Shakers... but i am sure glad they didn't become as popular the mainstream religions - otherwise humanity would have become extinct O_o
Supenmanu 1 year ago
@Supenmanu While I agree that the whole celibacy thing was a big part of their downfall, short of that I would actually love to have seen them become more popular. Having done some research on their theological views I can't say that I agree with all of them, but it does seem like a great community to have lived in during its peak. I respect the fact that, unlike much of the Amish, the Shakers embraced technology instead of railing against it.
LockportIrish 10 months ago
@LockportIrish Actually, the Amish don't rail against modern technology. They avoid it for one reason only: it puts (for them) emphasis on "personal independence" not on "community" and a need for others. Home telephones for example, replace the experience of, or need for, face to face contact, yet the Amish DO have "community telephones", shared by all, so the USE of modern technology is permitted, but not always private ownership of the same.
lichtbroeder 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
ninyae 8 months ago
@ninyae They should have encouraged more people to become uncovenanted Shakers. It's like being an oblate or a lay member. You are married but take part in the religious services. They just don't have a way to funnel in members like Catholics, Orthodox, Episcopalians or Buddhists do. If you're raised in that tradition it may become an option because you're familiar with its traditions and ceremonies. As they are, they just kind of stand apart and nobody quite knows who they are.
Aishiya1 4 months ago
Just watched Ken Burns documentary from '84 on The Shakers last week...all religions don't deserve to become extinct, and this is a wonderful, life affirming community of people who, in a perfect world, would be around forever.
PhyllisLeChat1 1 year ago
"...and still counting" 1..2...3........
bob1sded 1 year ago