Direct answer: The statements that describe the Oneida Community typically portray it as a 19th-century utopian, religiously inspired commune founded by John Humphrey Noyes, notable for its practice of complex marriage, shared property, communal labor, and a blend of socialist and perfectionist ideals. Key statements you’ll often see about the Oneida Community:
- It was a utopian religious society founded in 1848 near Oneida, New York, by John Humphrey Noyes.
- Members practiced complex marriage, meaning marriage-like relationships were shared among the community rather than exclusive pairings.
- The community aimed to create a “kingdom of God on earth” through shared property, labor, and communal living.
- It combined religious perfectionism with socialist-style communal practices, including shared resources and welfare within the group.
- The economy operated via joint enterprises (cottage industries and later a joint-stock company) that produced goods for sale (e.g., Oneida silverware/tableware).
- The community emphasized equality among members and a unified family-like social structure, though its exact practices and internal governance evolved over time.
- It declined due to internal tensions and external pressures, but left a lasting legacy through its business enterprises (notably Oneida Limited) and its historical and architectural sites.
If you want, I can pull direct excerpts or summarize from specific sources (e.g., Encyclopedias, historical handbooks, or museum pages) and provide precise citations.
