shaker

(noun)

One of a Christian Protestant religious sect who do not marry, popularly so called because of the movements of the members in dancing, which forms a part of their worship.

Related Terms

Examples of shaker in the following topics:

  • Utopian Communities

    • One of the earliest utopian movements was the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers.
    • In practice, men and women in Shaker communities were held as equals—a radical departure at the time—and women often outnumbered men.
    • Members of Shaker communities held all of their possessions in common and lived in a prosperous, inventive, self-supporting society.
    • Rapturous Shaker dances, for which the group gained notoriety, allowed for emotional release.
    • New members only could come from conversions and from children brought to the Shaker villages.

  • Conclusion: A Maturing Society

    • The Second Great Awakening also prompted many religious utopias, like those of the Rappites, the Shakers, and the Mormons.
    • The Shaker community of the nineteenth century was one of many groups established with a religious mission.

  • Charles Finney and the Burned-Over District

    • The first communal Shaker farm was established in this area of New York during this period.