The Shaker Religion????

Question

Can anyone describe this religion to me?? i am reading "A Day No Pigs Would Die" and there is a lot of reference to the shakers

what are their beliefs and anything else you can tell me...

Thanks!!!!

Answer 1

The Shakers were founded by Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784). She came from England to the United States. She was sometimes called "Ann the Word" by her followers. The Shakers (originally called "Shaking Quakers") lived communally, were persecuted for their faith, and did not believe in sex, even within marriage. Sometimes, orphanages would send children to live with them, and at the height of the Shaker movement, that's how they got young converts. They shouted and danced during their religious services. They believed in the spiritual merits of hard work, and came to be known for their fine craftsmanship, particularly in furniture. People claim that it's a dead movement, but there are actually a few Shakers left at the Sabbathday Lake, Maine colony.

From Wikipedia:

"The theology of the denomination is based on the idea of the dualism of God: the creation of man as male and female 'in our image' showing the dual sexuality of the Creator; in Jesus, born of a woman, the son of a Jewish carpenter, were the male manifestation of Christ and the first Christian Church; and in Mother Ann, daughter of an English blacksmith, were the female manifestation of Christ and the second Christian Church — she was the Bride ready for the Bridegroom, and in her the promises of the Second Coming were fulfilled."

But this is contradicted by the Shakers' own website:

"Mother Ann was not Christ, nor did she claim to be. She was simply the first of many Believers wholly embued by His spirit, wholly consumed by His love."

Here's a link to the Sabbathday Lake Shaker colony:

http://maineshakers.com/

Answer 2

I visited an old colony a few times. They believed that work was the best way to worship God. They stayed celibate and the men and women lived on opposite sides of the same building. They even had separate stairwells and only spoke in group meetings.

Unlike other groups they were very innovative and used technology to enable them to be more productive. Because of them not marrying (though some families were members, but they separated) they did adopt children often.

There are still a few around. I think they are under ten now, but there are a few.

Answer 3

Religion as a whole is responsible for many people killing other people. 9/11, the Holocaust (6 million), Iran/Iraq, Palestine/Israel, the list goes on and on. Religion downright scares me and is one of the most evil forces known to man made by man.