Utopian movements played a significant role in the settling of America. Such movements, typically religious in nature, stem from the desire to live a holy and secluded life free from the dictates of society. In order to achieve this "ideal society", believers usually spent their days in self-sufficient communities in secluded areas in order to maximize their separation from "the world".
One famous Utopian movement that has survived is the Mormons. Joseph Smith received his visions for this "religion" in New York, but was persecuted greatly. His tribe moved to the Midwest, where Smith was killed for his beliefs. Brigham Young took the reins and led his people into Utah. It was here he established the community known as Deseret, which was later incorporated into America after the Mexican War. Obviously, the Mormon movement has thrived worldwide and they are still a very viable community. In fact, the presumptive Republican nominee for this fall's General Election is a practicing Mormon.
Most Utopian movements fail because their beliefs are, well, weird. The Mormons survived in spite of their polygamy (multiple wives) policy. Other groups have folded because their leader, under the guise of "spiritual leadership", really just wanted to control people. In most cases, as people began to speak out against the leader they would be ostracized or physically punished. This treatment usually proved the rebel's point rather than quieted the uproar.
Another famous American Utopian movement was the Shakers. These people were an offshoot of the Quaker movement and got their name for the dances they performed during their church services. Read this article to discover a personal account of one man's stay with the Shakers. In the comments section, discuss your thoughts on Utopian movements. Are people to be commended for abandoning society in order to follow their strict religious beliefs? Do you see it more of a "hiding game" where people can't deal with society so they run away under the banner of "freedom of religion"?
I don’t think the Mormons or the Shakers should be commended for abandoning society and following, like you said, their weird beliefs! Then again, I don’t think they should be looked down upon because of their choice of religion. If they don’t want to follow our awesome God, and read the Bible, then that’s their loss. I bet if they just sat down and read some of it and actually thought about it, it would make more sense then their ‘bibles’. When you think about it, some people could use their religion to hide from society and their problems. Take the Shakers for example. From what the person wrote about how solemn they were all the time, and how they had little contact with the opposite gender; I cannot see how they were happy! I even dislike when I have to be serious and solemn for hours on end, I highly doubt I go for days! I guess it all has to do with their backgrounds. If they had a hard life, lots of drama, death in their family, or just problems in particular, then yeah, they might be hiding under the ‘banner of religion’. On the other hand, they might be looking for meaning in life and the Shakers (or Mormons for that matter,) might have ‘found’ something that actually made little sense to them! I don’t know why anyone would want to go to a strict religious society where you couldn’t talk to the opposite gender or you got beat for speaking out against the leader, even if it’s just your opinion. There are many different ways you could look at this subject.
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I think Utopian movements are okay because they want a quiet, secluded place to concentrate on their religion. It is just like needing a quiet place to read a book or do homework. I don’t think people should be commended for leaving society and following their beliefs. You did say that their beliefs were strict. Yes I kind of see it as a hiding game because society is so different from their religion so they just want to get away from it and be in a nice, quiet secluded place. Obviously the Shakers are much different from society. They are very organized and disciplined and society is the total opposite of that. I don’t think that as soon as they see one difference between their religion and society that they should run away but instead they should try to live with society. But, it is up to them if they want to stay or go somewhere else. (157)
ReplyDeleteI think the utopian movements are okay, but it would be better if they would have gone because of a real religion not made up one. I do think people sometimes need a quiet secluded place to focus on God and the bible. Like Ebony said "it is like when people need a quiet place to read a book or do their homework. I also think they should NOT be commended for leaving society. I do not think it is a " hiding game" I mean in a lot of cases it is, but I think it depends on the person who joins the society. We will never know what the people who joined those societies were thinking, but when people do that kind of thing today it is normally seen as a way to get away from society. (122)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kimberly that the Mormons and Shakers should not be commended for abandoning society in order to follow their religious beliefs. However, I also do not think they should be ridiculed even if their ways seem weird and different to us. I do not think the people who live in these communities are living a "hiding game" but wonder about how easily persuaded they are to follow these practices. To me, living under a leader and having that person control your life would be horrible. The only positive I see is that they are a self-sufficient community and they take care of each other. They normally live quietly and do not cause trouble for people who are not followers. It is sad that they choose to follow man's word instead of God's word. (136)
ReplyDeleteWell a ‘Utopia’ is a ‘perfect world’ or it means to achieve ‘perfection.’ Now we know that that is impossible so why even try. If a religion is based on becoming ‘perfect’ then… it is weird. There is no point in trying to gain something that you can’t… common sense. If the act of leaving society causes you to break the law because you don’t want to have anything to do with the ‘impurities of the world’, then you should be commended. If you are still a law abiding citizen but somehow managed to escape society then you shouldn’t be commended. I think some people use their religion to justify themselves leaving the society, but their real reason is because they are playing what Mr. Haston called the ‘hiding game.’ I believe that Mormonism is a cult that puts you under control of a human…. But that’s just me :) [151]
ReplyDeleteOkay... that was just about the weirdest thing I have ever heard. I don't think utopias are possible because it means it's perfect so I don't see the point in trying. I guess people just don't want to live in society with other people so they decide God gave them a vision to start this religion. I definitely don't believe this is true at all. God doesn't want people to start something new he wants them to be saved. I think other people follow it because it sounds neat and it is different. But I guess if it doesn’t hurt anyone or anything then it's their choice. What really bothers me is when they change the Bible or say we are wrong. It seems to me they were going to start a new religion they'd make their own Bible or book or whatever. But that’s just my opinion. I don’t like utopias. (152)
ReplyDeleteI understand the idea of utopias. Everybody wants a perfect society instead of the dirty, crime-filled one that we live in. However, as Christians, we know there is a problem with having a utopia. We are fallen and sinful, and it's impossible for us to create a perfect society here on earth. For some reason, no matter how many failed attempts at creating utopias happen in history, there are people out there who still try. But as hopeless as a utopia is here and as strange as people like Mormons and Shakers are, I don't think we should commend them for what they do. How they live is their decision. We should still introduce them to God's word (the Christian Bible) when we get the chance, but we should not try to force our religion on them or criticize them for what they believe. I do think that groups like the Mormons and Shakers are playing a sort of “hiding game” to escape society and do their own thing. It seems funny to say that the Shakers wanted to hide under the freedom of religion when they really hardly had any freedom or choice at all, but I guess that's still what they were trying to do. (208)
ReplyDeleteTo me, people should not be commended for leaving the world to follow their beliefs. It’s fine if you want to create your religion, (well, it’s not, but if you want religious freedom, you have to let others have other religions) but to isolate yourself because you are fearful of what people might think or do to you, then to me, that’s cowardly, not commendable. I do agree that is is a hiding game. They don’t want to deal with either A. persecution or B. the problems of society. The leaders are definitely want to control people and lead them to believe that they can live in a perfect world outside of society. (113)
ReplyDeleteThere's only been one Utopia, and it was destroyed a LONG time ago, when man fell. Ever since then, it has been impossible, and honestly it would be really stupid for anyone to even try. I don't know why Mormonism is still around. Maybe because the men get to have sex with more than one woman and get away with it? I don't know, but eventually it will fall. I don't think it's a hiding game. I think it's stupid men who want to control the world, so they begin my starting fresh in a new place. They want to gain power, just by controlling a colony or something, and then eventually spreading it. I'm not sure that the Mormons these days really want power. I think they've just been trapped in a lie. It's honestly sad. I understand wanting a Utopia. No one wants to live in this world of pain, lying, stealing, poverty, etc. But it's something that we kinda can't help. That's why we have God. He makes our lives as perfect as they're ever gonna get while we're on Earth. (184)
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to a have a utopia. I mean you can try to make your life perfect but you will always do something wrong. We have a sinful nature. I do not see why they even try but I guess like Ebony said,they need a place to study there religion. If it is the only thing they know of I guess it ok, but that why it is our job to tell people about it. I can see why people would want a utopia, there would be no pain, but that’s impossible. God is the only thing that can make this place better. (105)
ReplyDeleteI dont think they should be commended for creating, or more like trying, to create their own religion. This religion happens to be based on trying to create a utopia, which is impossible, without God's help, that is. I dont see it as a hiding game, but more of an attempt to become a powerful society by your rules, where the men can have a hundred wives if he really wants to. By doing this they do use the "banner" of "freedom of religion". I do think that at some point in time though, people will realize how "out there" Mormonism is and it will fall, and hopefully will become Christians.
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I do not see the point in humans trying to make utopias. They will just fail cause we sin. I do not really get why people say that God gave them a vision of this religion or whatever that he wants them to form. Christianity is plain and clear and people should not use God to justify making their own religion or whatever it is they form. I also don't think it's right for them to add all these religious rules to their religion. The kids that are born into that aren't able to see the real world and know it's wrong. Not only do they themselves hide from the reality of society but they make their kids hide too. (120 words)
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