From: Andrew Joelson (joelsona@cpdmfg.cig.mot.com)
Date: Fri 27 Sep 1996 - 01:00:51 EEST
I only know a little about the Shakers, it that little might be a
bit off, but here goes:
The Shakers got their name from the 'sacred dance'. During
communal prayer meetings (held nightly?) shakers would occasionally be
taken by a sort of religeous frenzy/ecstacy, and start 'dancing'. The
word dance is used loosely, as the dancer usually just twisted and gyrated
in the center of the room. Outsiders who saw this dubbed the people
'Shakers', what they actually called themselves I don't know.
Shakers believed in full sexual equality. This led them to
ban marriage, which was viewed as oppessive to women. I believe the
Shakers gave up on sexual relations, as it was wrong without being married,
(but I am on weak ground here). Shakers then adopted unwanted/orphaned
children into their communes. Members were trained to whatever tasks
they liked/were capable of. So there were male cooks and female carpenters,
etc.
I hope this helps.
Andrew Joelson
PS Orlanth-Cola, official sponsor of Glorantha Con IV!
Rosemont, Illinois Jan 24-26, 1997
Orlanth-Cola, a real Windy City drink!
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