What denominations are known for their communal living?

[JohnB445]

I have heard of the Anabaptist, but I never knew much about them. This is one denomination of the Protestant Branch I haven't yet taken the time to study.

So far I first learned about the Old Order Amish, are there any other denominations that have communal living but with cars, dishwashers, electricity?

What do they believe about Salvation that differs from other Protestant denominations?

 

[chevyontheriver]

I have heard of the Anabaptist, but I never knew much about them. This is one denomination of the Protestant Branch I haven't yet taken the time to study.

So far I first learned about the Old Order Amish, are there any other denominations that have communal living but with cars, dishwashers, electricity?

What do they believe about Salvation that differs from other Protestant denominations?

Not Protestant, but the Benedictines, Franciscans, Cistercians, and the like have been doing communal life for a long long time.

Not sure what their current status is but the Amana colonies might be of interest to you. Amana Colonies - Wikipedia

 

[The Liturgist]

Not Protestant, but the Benedictines, Franciscans, Cistercians, and the like have been doing communal life for a long long time.

Not sure what their current status is but the Amana colonies might be of interest to you. Amana Colonies - Wikipedia

And before them, the Coptic monks of the Thebaid, and later the Greek monks of Mount Athos.

Indeed the Rule of St. Benedict is basically the Typikon of St. Pachomius translated into Latin and modified based on St. Benedict’s views of how cenobitic life ought to be practiced, and the Rules of St. Columbus, and the Cistercians and Carthusians and the mendicant orders are the same thing, more or less.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Not Protestant, but the Benedictines, Franciscans, Cistercians, and the like have been doing communal life for a long long time.

Not sure what their current status is but the Amana colonies might be of interest to you. Amana Colonies - Wikipedia

Yes. Communal living in Christianity has had a long and continued history.

 

[The Liturgist]

Yes. Communal living in Christianity has had a long and continued history.

Indeed, since the early fourth century in documented, organized form, but we also know of instances before that, such as Origen’s catechtical school.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Not Protestant, but the Benedictines, Franciscans, Cistercians, and the like have been doing communal life for a long long time.

Not sure what their current status is but the Amana colonies might be of interest to you. Amana Colonies - Wikipedia

The Amana Society is well and thriving, albeit without communal living. The Society was converted in the 1930's from a communal enterprise to a regular corporation because the Great Depression had wreaked havoc on the Society. Members were given proportionate shares in the Amana Society. It became widely known later for its Amana brand of appliances which, sadly, are no longer associated with the Society. Also, the woolen mill ceased operation many decades ago, although there is a historical exhibit with an operational loom in the factory. The hand-crafted furniture continues to be made, although its popularity seems to have waned in general with interest in the arts and crafts. Primarily, the main economic engine of the Amana Society is tourism, with tourists being primarily focused at Main Amana, which is semi-authentic. and an Amana commercial development at the Amana exit at Interstate 80, which is not in the least bit religious (or communal).

The Amana Society, as you probably know, has an interesting history as a sort of proto-pentecostal, pietistic spin off from the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. In addition to believe the literal inspiration of the Bible, they believed in the same level of inspiration as being given through their charismatic (note the small c) leaders. Among the beliefs was a very firm preference for celibacy such that virtually all of the true believers had died off by the early twentieth century, leaving the children and grandchildren of the wayward believers who had fallen to the desires of the flesh in marriage.

The other Amanas (six of the seven colonies were named Amana by inspiration) include High Amana, South Amana, East Amana, Middle Amana, West Amana, and Homestead (a village which pre-existed the purchase of the land by the Amana Society) are very small villages without much to interest the casual tourist. Their meetinghouses survive but are not in active use.

The Amana Society is frequently conflated with the Old Order Amish. There is virtually no correlation between the two movements. The Amana Society has never rejected any form of technology for any religious reasons.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Then there is the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (aka Shakers) who believed that Christ Jesus returned in the eighteenth century in the person of (Mother) Ann Lee in England. They migrated to North America and founded several widespread communes. They taught strict celibacy and, by the end of the nineteenth century were rapidly fading off the scene. They adopted numerous orphans to replenish their ranks and the last of these orphans died in the latter half of the twentieth centuries. That left some very seriously-valuable property with no legal heirs. A young man came on the scene, claiming to be a latter-day Shaker and laying claim to the property. Apparently he is now the owner of the property and is probably living a very quiet life of complete celibacy. You can read a much more detailed history here - Shakers - Wikipedia

 

[bbbbbbb]

Here is a much more generic Wikipedia article about Christian Communism - Christian communism - Wikipedia

As you can see, there have been a really large number of communal Christian movements in Christian history. Perhaps one of the odder ones was a group which styled themselves as Christian Communists in the later years of the nineteenth century. What made them really outstanding (both positively and negatively) was their emphasis on the absolute need to divest oneself of selfishness in all of its manifestations. One of the most egregious manifestations was that of marriage. It was abhorrent to them for men to claim dominance and control over a woman (their wife). Thus, they practiced open marriage among all members. They were at the opposite end of the spectrum on this issue from the Shakers.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Finally, to end my rant on a more positive note, there is the thriving Christian communal society known as the Hutterites. Rather than attempt to explain their history and beliefs, I will direct your attention to their Wikipedia article here - Hutterites - Wikipedia

They do not reject modern technology.

 

[prodromos]

I know the monks of Mt Athos use washing machines, since water is scarce and the washing machines make much more efficient use of it than hand washing.