The United States experienced several social and economic changes during the antebellum period. During this period there were several religious revivals, which started off with the Second Great Awakening, marked by preachers travelling in vast places spreading various gospels, thereby attracting several converts to the denominations they represented. During this period Reverend Charles G. Finney was popular for his crusades in which he converted thousands of Americans to Christianity. America is a democratic country and she supports the freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of movement and the freedom of association among other freedoms; hence, these freedoms and the thirst for spiritual answers fueled the religious crusades in the antebellum period.
The initiators of Utopist societies/communities usually inspired by ideas of making the world a better place, a world whereby all humans beings co-exist with minimal conflict as well as obeying the laws of the supreme force(God) that inspired the initiator. Hence, most of the Utopian communities that were formed were based on communism and cooperation whereby the members of that community stayed together and shared roles tasks and resources as directed by their leader. The Harmony community is one of the earliest utopian communities formed by George Rapp which was socialist in nature since its members pooled their assets (Oved, 70). The Shaker community is another utopian community that came afterwards formulated by Ann Lee which was not only socialist in nature but sexual activity was prohibited. It is my point of view this is the least successful since it not only failed the test of time but it also oppressed the members decision on sexual activity by prohibiting the activity, In addition it was socialist in nature and socialist arrangements tend to make people less productive since items are communally owned.
In 1884 John Humphrey Noyes founded the Oneida utopian community which was not only socialist in nature, but the members of the community shared their spouses, a practice that John called complex marriage. John coined complex marriage with the intention of eliminating jealousy in the society. But later this community collapsed due to the strict child bearing controls as well as animosity from the rest of the society due to their radical sexual practices. John had to flee later for fear sexual offence related charges (Barnard, 1).
Joseph smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ and the latter day Saints the member are also informally referred to as Mormons which is after the scripture book used by the church known as the Book of Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1). The Mormons faced rejection from other Christian denominations due to their additional scripture book, the book of Mormon plus (McKeever and Johnson, 41). They also practiced polygamy. Therefore, the Mormons had to move from place to place until they settled at the Great Salt Lake. The group later abandoned polygamy in order to be accepted by America as a state, the state of Utah. This is the most successful Utopian community since it has stood the test of time, and it promotes a virtuous society whereby human beings can interact with minimal conflict by being friendly and supportive to their neighbor(s).
Works cited
Barnard, Beth Quinn. The Utopia of Sharing in Oneida, N.Y. The New York Times,2007.
Retrieved from web:
McKeever, Bill and Johnson Eric. Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-Day
Saints. Baker Books.
Oved, Iaácov. Two Hundred Years of American Communes. New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction
Publishers, 1993. Print.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Why is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints called Mormons or Mormonism?
Retrieved from web: http://mormon.org/faq/why-mormons/
