Why are Americans so opposed to Communalism?

Question

Everyone I try to talk to about this compares it to communism. In the book of Acts Christian's lived together in a communalistic society. They act as if this notion is so foolish. Although the Hutterite Breathren have been living like this for over 500 years successfully. How can I convince people with indivualistic attitudes to accept communalistic attitudes? Most so called Christians don't believe in communalism even though the first centurary church lived together communally. How can they rectify these differences what Christ has called them to which abhors the self. While American cultrure teaches for us to be individuals.

Answer 1

It is foolish, not every person has the same work ethic. Should I share what I have with you if I work twice as hard to get what I have? American culture teaches us to be individuals because we ARE individuals.

Answer 2

They have been demonstrated failures and oppressive of religion. A Christian theocracy/commune was tried when the pilgrims first landed and it was a dismal failure. "If you pay people to be poor, youre going to have a lot of poor people!"

American capitalism does teach some individuality but traditional American values also teach such Biblical principles as helping the poor, and strong family values. Without capitalism though, there is no drive for industry and no reward in success.

Answer 3

communalism can work, on a small scale, with a group of like minded people when all feel that everyone contributes equally...and there's the rub, that's quite hard to achieve.
A modified form would be co-housing, in which some things are shared, but there is also a greater degree of autonomy and privacy.

Answer 4

It's called the market system-people who do work expect to get reimbursed for it, not be forced to share with others. Before the Industrial Evolution people equated money and materialism with evil, but eventually we began to think God wanted us to be rich and have "things" thus the market grew. I don't consider it communism, just pre-capitalist theory.

Answer 5

'How can I convince people with indivualistic attitudes to accept communalistic attitudes?'

This is a rather hypocritic statement. Your goal should never be to convince people to accept, but to accept to be able to be convinced.

;)

Answer 6

Wasn't there a nice little Christian Communal living center somewhere down by Waco, TX... Perhaps you could tell people about the success of that set up. ...Oh... and what about that Jones Town place - I've heard they served some really, really good punch.

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Answer 7

Because Americans like being able to own things.