Shakers' Radical Celibacy Experiment

The Shakers' Fatal Purity

On May 10, 1774, Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker movement, arrived in New York with a small group of followers, bringing with her a radical vision of a celibate community. By 1787, the Shakers had established their first communal farm in Watervliet, New York, under Lee's leadership. This marked the beginning of a unique experiment in communal living, one that would ultimately lead to the group's demise.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that the Shakers believed in celibacy because they thought it would bring them closer to God, and most people think this was just a quirky aspect of their otherwise admirable commitment to social justice and equality. The common understanding is that the Shakers were a utopian community that simply happened to have an unusual approach to sex and marriage. However, this oversimplifies the complex historical context and theological motivations behind the Shakers' decision to adopt celibacy.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Priscilla Brewer argues in her book "Shaker Communities, Shaker Lives" that the Shakers adopted celibacy in 1788, after Ann Lee had a series of visions, which she believed were messages from God. According to Shaker leader Joseph Meacham, writing in his 1791 manuscript "A Concise Statement of the Principles of the Only True Church", the community's decision to renounce sex and marriage was a response to what they saw as the corrupting influence of worldly desires. By 1823, the Shakers had established a network of communities across the United States, all committed to the principle of celibacy. The Shakers' rules of celibacy were so strict that they even prohibited hand-holding and other forms of physical affection between members of the opposite sex. As historian Stephen Stein notes in his book "The Shaker Experience in America", the Shakers' commitment to celibacy was not just a matter of personal choice, but a central aspect of their theology, which emphasized the importance of spiritual purity and the dangers of sexual desire. By examining the writings of Shaker leaders and the historical context in which they lived, it becomes clear that the Shakers' decision to adopt celibacy was a deliberate choice, driven by a complex mix of theological and social factors.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like myself have long questioned why the story of the Shakers' demise due to their celibacy practice has been largely forgotten. The answer lies in the deliberate actions of certain individuals and institutions. Notably, the Shaker community itself played a significant role in downplaying their struggles with celibacy, as they sought to maintain a sense of dignity and morality. Furthermore, researchers and writers have often focused on the more sensational aspects of Shaker history, such as their charismatic leaders and innovative social practices, rather than the practical consequences of their beliefs. For instance, the Shakers' emphasis on communal living and equality has been well-documented, but the fact that their celibacy practice led to a sharp decline in membership has been consistently overlooked. This oversight is largely due to the fact that many historical records of the Shaker community were written by Shaker members themselves, who naturally sought to present their community in a positive light.

The Ripple Effect

The Shakers' practice of celibacy had concrete consequences that can still be seen today. As the community's membership dwindled, their once-thriving villages and farms were left to decay. Many of these villages were eventually abandoned and left to ruin, a direct result of the community's inability to sustain itself due to their celibacy practice. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the preservation of the Shaker village of Hancock, which was restored in the 1960s and now serves as a museum and historic site. The decline of the Shaker community also had a significant impact on the local economies of the areas where they were located, as the loss of a major economic and social force had far-reaching effects on the surrounding populations.

The Line That Says It All

The last Shaker village, located in Sabbathday Lake, Maine, currently has only three members, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of the community's adherence to celibacy.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the history of the Shaker movement and its practices.