Help! The Shakers

[Struggling]

Help!

I like to think of myself as a die-hard, traditional Catholic who would never leave the Church for love of God (and fear of hell)…

But there has always been in me this little tug to go and join the Shakers. They are such a kindly people and I like their practices yet there are only 4 left and they have such an idyllic life…

I know their theology is CRAZY…but I can’t help but thinking, ultimately, that all philosophy is really bunk, and that Faith is ultimately just a choice, whether it’s faith in the Pope or faith in Mother Ann Lee…

Help. I reach majority soon and am worried that I might run off to the Shakers…

 

[LilyM]

Philosophy is different to theology - there IS a right and wrong conception of God and there IS most likely a right and wrong way to worship Him (for example, I’d think sacrificing your own children would be a no-no).

And my faith for starters isn’t in the Pope or not predominantly in the Pope - it’s in Christ, the Holy Spirit, the apostles, the writers of the New Testament and the Early Church Fathers :yup:

Trust me, if there are only four of them left then there’s a reason for it … for heaven’s sake, even David Koresh and Jim Jones had more followers than that!

 

[Polish]

I googled shakers and this is what I found:

oh.essortment.com/theshakersreli_rggy.htm

Glancing through the text, I noticed that they believe that in the Second Coming of Christ, **He **will come as a woman!!!

Struggling, I really think your joining this group is a real temptation. Think hard why you would want to leave the real presence of the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity.

*They are such a kindly people and I like their practices yet there are only 4 left and they have such an idyllic life…

• Sounds like you’re under a lot of stress and are looking for a more peaceful life. If I were one to give advice, it would be to grow in the trust of Jesus and pray to follow the Will of God. He will surely give you the grace to make your burdens/cross light.

 

[ValiantDomain]

If it’s the communal aspect of the Shakers which attracts you, please be aware that community does not ensure salvation but *how *and *why *we believe in our Lord. On this standpoint, if you believe the Church to teach the truth, then why risk it? Seek community within your parish, if possible and strengthen your faith!

 

[LindaS]

There are only 4 left because Shakers are celibate. They do not marry and/or have children, so they are dying out.

Peace,
Linda

 

[deb1]

If you wish a celibate, communal lifestyle filled with nice, kindly people couldn’t you simply join a monastery?

I believe that some monasteries even have retreats so that you don’t have to join but can visit and experience their lifestyle if you like.

 

[JimO]

Help!

I like to think of myself as a die-hard, traditional Catholic who would never leave the Church for love of God (and fear of hell)…

But there has always been in me this little tug to go and join the Shakers. They are such a kindly people and I like their practices yet there are only 4 left and they have such an idyllic life…

I know their theology is CRAZY…but I can’t help but thinking, ultimately, that all philosophy is really bunk, and that Faith is ultimately just a choice, whether it’s faith in the Pope or faith in Mother Ann Lee…

Help. I reach majority soon and am worried that I might run off to the Shakers…

I don’t know how old the remaining four are, but at your age, you’ll likely be living alone most of your life if you join up.

 

[Zooey]

Help. I reach majority soon and am worried that I might run off to the Shakers…

As kindly as I can, I have to remind you that there is really no place left to run off to the Shakers…
I live in an area that once had a thriving community, but that was in another century…

I have to say that I don’t think their lives were ever really all that idyllic anyway. Parents not being allowed to raise their own children? Not even able to treat them as their children? Their whole rejection of family ties was, IMHO, bizarre & unnatural in the extreme…
The whole Shaker faith rose out of Ann Lee’s own extremely tragic life, & I dare say, for her, it may have seemed lovely, but they didn’t just die off you know; a good number of them left when they found out how unhappy an existence they really had.