The Oneida vs. The Shakers

The Shaker and the Oneida communities were both extremists and did not possess a realistic view of living. The Garden of Eden serves as a foundation of modern utopias. The Shakers and Oneida community believed that a New Jerusalem can be found. The shakers were striving to bring in the new millennial kingdom that is the second coming of Christ, while the Oneida community already believed the second coming already occurred. They were preaching Christian perfectionism. They believed that the human race was able to approach perfection. Both communities were in search for a living style that would bring them closer to the new Promised Land.
The Shakers and Oneida community were on opposite poles whey it came to the belief of sexual intercourse. Ann Lee, the founder of the shakers believed in absolute celibacy. Sexual intercourse was believed to be the forbidden fruit at the Garden of Eden, therefore if they were to practice absolute celibacy; God would bring in the new world. The shakers honored that way of living by having separate entrances for both men and women in their shared property. This way, celibacy would be reinforced. The Oneida community had a different perspective when it came to sexual intercourse. John Noyes, was the founder and he believed that sex was a form of worship and monogamous relationships would never allow someone to truly glorify God. They believed in “complex marriage” where free sex is practiced. Complex marriage meant that every man would be married to every women and any one can have sexual intercourse with each other as long as there was consent. While Noyes required complex sexual relationships, there were still rules to be followed when picking sexual partners. Noyes established a connection between age and spiritual knowledge. Followers were encouraged to select partners based on this relationship, because a spiritually superior person was able to share their wisdom through the act of sexual intercourse.
The Shakers and Oneida