Oneida Community

5 Pages 1258 Words

The radical notion that one could be without sin – be perfect – did not originate with John Humphrey Noyes, the leader of the Oneida Community and the perfectionist movement, however, his brand of perfectionism was genuinely new. He claimed that in 70 AD Christ had returned to earth, therefore liberation from sin was an accomplished fact. He proclaimed that he was, in fact, with out sin and that by following him others could lead a perfect, Sinless life. This concept was the basis for the formation of the Oneida Community. The perfectionists felt they could best learn selflessness in an environment where they shared everything. This environment was the biblical commune at the Oneida Community Mansion House.
John Humphrey Noyes’ goal was not to change the world but to “construct a social and economic system that would provide an alternative structure within which the self-actualization of the members, through perfectionism, could occur.” When it came to decision making for the group, Noyes gave the impression of operating through discussion and persuasion rather then proclamation, however, in the end Noyes made all final decisions. To act as a democratic type society there was a sort of hierarchy established concerning everyday operational decisions as well as economic policy and other more important matters. Committees discussed the everyday operational decisions. There were twenty-one standing committees with forty-eight different compartments. Committees were held for everything from heating and clothing to dentistry and incidentals. The committees would discuss these things endlessly and they were always making changes. They felt that change was important to keep the devil from finding you. They were so concerned with this that they even changed rooms often.
One of the prerequisites for joining the community was holding the belief that John Humphrey Noyes was God’s representative on earth. God inspired him through a...