Oneida Community
Definition
The Oneida Community was a religious commune founded by John Humphrey Noyes in 1848 in Oneida, New York. It practiced "Perfectionism," a form of Christianity with distinctive views on sin and salvation.
Analogy
Imagine an orchestra where every musician plays not only their own instrument but also switches around to play others' instruments too - this is how complex marriage worked at Oneida; everyone was married to everyone else!
Related terms
Complex Marriage: A term coined by John Humphrey Noyes referring to a system where every man was married to every woman within the community.
Communalism: A principle of living together as a community sharing common access to resources.
Perfectionism: A Christian doctrine held by certain groups who believe that moral or spiritual perfection can be achieved before the Last Judgment.
"Oneida Community" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.