communism

The ideal of economic communism was one means that both medieval and post-Reformation dissident groups used to create the internal cohesion necessary to face the disapproval of society and of traditional religious institutions. The example of "primitive" Christianity has been used again and again in latter Christian groups, even as the economic evolution of Western culture has led so far from it.

The economic order of the Shakers saw its greatest development after the sect's establishment in America, but the original seeds are nevertheless evident in the members of the Wardley Society who -- mostly of poor circumstance in an emerging working class-- came together to common meetings, financially supported by those numbered members who had the means. From the start, their form of worship represented the original ideal of apostolic Christianity.

• notion

• cohesive factor

• sect and religion

• Medieval heresy

• Although

• basis

• Introduction

• Most modern

• conclusions

• persecution