The Quakers and Arts in Utopian Societies
Today, we can still find many examples of past utopias. A utopia is an ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, moral and legal aspects.1 They do not approve of any actions that are superficial and unnecessary. In addition to these beliefs, people from utopian societies are strong believers in God. Sharing many of these same ideals, the Quakers are a group with a strong faith. Despite the fact that Quakers feel art is a luxury and a frivolous thing that they should not take part in, many great artists and writers are members of the Quaker society.
George Fox founded the Quakers also known as the Society of Friends in 1650. This was a time of religious turmoil in England due to people searching for an uncorrupted version of Christianity. For their form of religion, the Quakers relied primarily on spiritual searching done by individual members, congregations and meetings. The Quakers were mainly involved in humanitarian work, seeing the good in everything. They sought to practice total Christianity, with their main opposition toward slavery. During the civil war, "the Quakers took the lead in the abolitionist movement and in running the Underground Railroad, which aided runaway slaves."2 In 1671, William Penn, a leader of the group, worked solely on expanding the Quakers and joining them with other groups.3
Fox developed the idea of "Inner Light". This is found within each person, and is a divine inspiration that brings joy and an enlightened conscience. It is God’s spirit found in every human soul. Fox felt that "following the inward light would lead to spiritual development and towards individual perfection." He taught the members to worship in silence and people only spoke when they felt moved by the Holy Spirit when they were in their meetings. George Fox promoted simple living; he was against alcohol, holidays, sports, theater, and jewelry. They thought of themselves as friends of Jesus and later, the Quakers also became known as the Society of Friends.4
The Quakers have been associated with the color gray, or drab, because of the simple living that they remain faithful to. Drab is a color that is a mixture of yellow and gray, or a dull light brown. The Friends found colors to be a distraction, using gray to avoid the excitement that was looked down upon. This was also used to keep the divine inspiration within themselves.
William Penn encouraged Quakers and Protestants to move to Pennsylvania - mainly advertised to Germans and other Europeans
William Penn, Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania, soon after wrote the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges and Liberties, a constitution for the colony of Pennsylvania, which enabled the people to freely practice their religion of choice without fear of government punishment.
A utopian society is very hard to come across these days. People tend to start a utopian society in order to better the life’s of others. Bronson Alcott of the Fruitland Community tries to find a utopian society that will last and be productive. The Fruitland’s goal is to abstain from worldly activity and integrate systems of trade and labor in order to find spirituality.
Quakers are a group of religious people or friends. Quakers have meetings for worship in silence. All the Quakers around the world combined have about 400 meetings a week (BBC). They believe that there is something of God in everybody(BBC). Even though they don't celebrate Christmas or Easter they are still kind of like Christians. They just don't want to be the same as Christians because of historical reasons. There is about 210,000 Quakers around the world today. Everyone can have a relationship with God without a priest or
meetings at churches and preach sometimes at the cost of their lives. Quakers had many
were fined and/or imprisoned; 366 were killed.4 The reason why the Quakers were put through such torture was because their beliefs and culture was different from the Anglican Church. At that time, any religion that was practiced in England other than the Anglican Church would be persecuted. They believed that religion shouldn't be practiced in a church as much as in your heart. The differences that were between the Quakers and the Anglican Christians was that the Anglicans practiced strict discipline in their prayers. They would go to prayer every morning, and ask for forgiveness of their sins. They believed that the sacred authority was the Bible, the only way to make your way to heaven was to go to sermon; they should glorify God in the world; and pay no attention to the irrationality of God. They didn't believe men could achieve anything for themselves; only God could do that. The Quakers, on the other hand, believed that God should be in your spirit, not in sermon, and that your sacred authority shouldn't be a book, it should be your inner light, the force that drives you through you life. They believed you shouldn't be servants of God, but to be friends of God.
The definition of Utopia is, “an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.” The rules and controls listed above and the many more that are in the book “Anthem” describe a society trying to become collective but in a utopian way. The purpose of these rules and controls is to keep the society collectivist. Fear is what runs this society. “.
A utopian society is a form of society in which there is only equality and justice for all. Many utopian societies are formed for means of shelter to those who form similar opinions of how the world should work, some for educational purposes and others for a spiritual communion. The Residential Community at Beacon Hill Friends House was formed “ To advance and foster the distinctive principles of the Religious Society of Friends, to provide opportunities for the development of leadership for the Society, and especially to establish and maintain a center where members of the Society and persons sympathetic to its principles, including those pursuing programs of study at other educational institutions, whether undergraduate, graduate, or special, may meet together, and where such persons may live, and where the principles of the Society may be advanced and fostered by study and example.” This society is still successful in its mission to provide what has been stated. This community is still open and willing to accept any applicant.
George Fox “founded the Quaker religion in 1647... rejected the use of formal sacraments and ministry, refused to take oaths a...
Between the 1820’s and 1860’s, Americans were trying new things and promoting different ideas and ways of thinking. Once such idea is that of a utopian society. A utopian society, simple put, means a perfect society. There are many examples of experiments at utopian society in the 1800’s.
Quakers almost as good as colored. They call themselves friends and you can trust them every time.-Harriet Tubman
...ter returning from a trip to England, however, Penn found that a Quaker had been embezzling money. After a brief argument and difficulty, the problem was settled.
To some, it can be paradise, to someone else a heaven on earth, and still to others it can mean the Garden of Eden, the New Jerusalem, or even Biosphere 2. What we have come to know as "Utopia," or, "Any idealized place, state, or situation of perfection; any visionary scheme or system for an ideally perfect society" (Neufeldt 1470), is just a name that was coined for us by Sir Thomas More for an eternal idea. There were centuries of utopian ideas before More came up with his idea for Utopia, but he has become the father of the word's meaning. Some of the previous ideal ideas were sources of information for More's book, just as More led the way for hundreds of other Utopias. Today Utopia is just another word in the dictionary, but it took years to develop it into what it is today.
Each person has their own vision of utopia. Utopia means an ideal state, a paradise, a land of enchantment. It has been a central part of the history of ideas in Western Civilization. Philosophers and writers continue to imagine and conceive plans for an ideal state even today. They use models of ideal government to express their ideas on contemporary issues and political conditions. Man has never of comparing the real and ideal, actuality and dream, and the stark facts of human condition and hypothetical versions of optimum life and government.
The ways Utopians handle religion creates unity by promoting equality. In Utopia, as in every other country, there are many different religions. However, in Utopia, this does not mean there are multiple feuding divisions within the country like there are within other ones. Instead the country is more unified as a result of all the religions. According to Raphael “the most ancient principles of [the utopians] constitution is