In 1799, there was a Presbyterian revival in western Kentucky. People involved in this revival received gifts of the Spirit and began to spread the doctrine of inner light. News about this revival reached the Shakers in New York. In 1805, they sent a delegation from the New Lebanon community to Kentucky to encourage the revival and establish a Shaker community. The second convert to Shakerism in Kentucky was a slave by the name of Anna Middleton -- which set Shakers apart from many religious at the time, who supported slavery. This and other "odd" behaviours led to antagonism toward the Shakers. They would eventually establish four Shaker communities in Kentucky: Union Village, North Union, South Union, and Pleasant Hill. In addition, a delegation from Union Village later established a community in Ohio.
This information is also from Phillippi's Shakerism, or the Romance of a Religion.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Shaker Overview
Here's a brief overview of Shakerism, from the information found in JM Phillippi's book Shakerism, or the Romance of a Religion (Dayton, Ohio: Otterbein Press, 1912).
The “Shakers,” or United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, believe that Ann Lee was the second bodily appearance of Christ (the first being Jesus). Ann Lee, a Quaker, was born in England in 1736. She moved to America following religious persecution, and died in New York in 1784. She received revelations from God. Among these were the fact that she was God’s second incarnation – this spoke to the duality (male/female) of God’s character. She also learned through revelation that the highest spiritual state could only be attained through the complete separation of the sexes and strict sexual abstinence.
Ann Lee’s theology led to the distinct character of the two sexes in Shakerism. Every Shaker community was guided by four elders – two male and two female. Two sects of Shakerism arose, with different perceptions of familial relations. The Adamic order permitted family groups to live together, and allowed married couples to engage in sexual activity for the sole purpose of creating offspring. The Spiritual order, meanwhile, strictly forbade marriage. Married couples who entered this order separated and became known as brother and sister. The Spiritual order made perfectly clear that everyone was to love everyone else the same, with no hint of favouritism.
The other distinct aspect of Shakerism was its use of communal property. Upon entering the Shakers, new members turned over all their property to the common treasury. Even if the new members decided to leave the community at a later point, their property remained in the common treasury. All property was to be used for the benefit of all.
Shakers generally worshipped in an oblong sanctuary, the men at one end and the women at the other. The preacher stood in the middle. Worship services lasted as long as necessary, with everyone permitted to speak if they felt led. Services often involved set dances, accompanied by singing. (This dancing often drew outside observers, sometimes from neighbouring universities, to the services to observe.) Shaker communities held a special outdoor service once a year, in the summer, to receive special blessings and gifts from the Spirit. They also held yearly confessions: men confessed all their sins to other men, and women to women.
The “Shakers,” or United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, believe that Ann Lee was the second bodily appearance of Christ (the first being Jesus). Ann Lee, a Quaker, was born in England in 1736. She moved to America following religious persecution, and died in New York in 1784. She received revelations from God. Among these were the fact that she was God’s second incarnation – this spoke to the duality (male/female) of God’s character. She also learned through revelation that the highest spiritual state could only be attained through the complete separation of the sexes and strict sexual abstinence.
Ann Lee’s theology led to the distinct character of the two sexes in Shakerism. Every Shaker community was guided by four elders – two male and two female. Two sects of Shakerism arose, with different perceptions of familial relations. The Adamic order permitted family groups to live together, and allowed married couples to engage in sexual activity for the sole purpose of creating offspring. The Spiritual order, meanwhile, strictly forbade marriage. Married couples who entered this order separated and became known as brother and sister. The Spiritual order made perfectly clear that everyone was to love everyone else the same, with no hint of favouritism.
The other distinct aspect of Shakerism was its use of communal property. Upon entering the Shakers, new members turned over all their property to the common treasury. Even if the new members decided to leave the community at a later point, their property remained in the common treasury. All property was to be used for the benefit of all.
Shakers generally worshipped in an oblong sanctuary, the men at one end and the women at the other. The preacher stood in the middle. Worship services lasted as long as necessary, with everyone permitted to speak if they felt led. Services often involved set dances, accompanied by singing. (This dancing often drew outside observers, sometimes from neighbouring universities, to the services to observe.) Shaker communities held a special outdoor service once a year, in the summer, to receive special blessings and gifts from the Spirit. They also held yearly confessions: men confessed all their sins to other men, and women to women.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community
Sabbathday Lake is the only Shaker community still existing in the United States. (They're in Maine.) Here is the link to the information page on their website, which has brief overviews of Shaker history, theology, and community life.
http://www.shaker.lib.me.us/about.html
http://www.shaker.lib.me.us/about.html
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Welcome!
This is the blog for GFU theatre's spring production of As It Is In Heaven. As dramaturg, I will be posting information on history, context, theology . . . basically whatever you need to know. So if you run into a question in your rehearsal process, and don't want to research the answer to your question, that's what I'm here for. You can ask me questions one of several ways. Number one, you can leave a comment on the blog. Number two, you can leave a message on ProjectPath. Number three, you can email me. Number four, find me and ask me. Number five . . . well, get creative.
Enjoy!
Megan
your friendly local dramaturg-in-residence
Enjoy!
Megan
your friendly local dramaturg-in-residence
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