Elyse+L.+-+RC+-+FA09


 * John Humphrey Noyes

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John Humphrey Noyes wanted to achieve both a social and religious revival. He had believed some of the early Puritan beliefs of a 'vengeful God' and adapted them to create his own ideas of a 'true Christian'. Noyes wanted to strive toward Perfectionism, and devote his life to God in that way because he believed that was the only way to be a pure Christian. In order to make this possible, he strongly insisted that one should deprive themselves of all selfish needs and give their will to God. This included emotional relationships, private property, and material objects. In his thinking, all men were married to all women, and everything should be shared. Noyes also supported equal stance between women and man, and believed women should have a voice in government. He did not think America was heading in the right direction, and believed the country should revert back to the original beliefs of a 'vengeful God', and attempted to spread his ideas and create a society where those beliefs could be practiced.
 * CRITCISIMS OF AMERICA/GOALS:**

**METHODS USED TO IMPROVE** **AMERICA** **:** Noyes had attempted to preach his ideas, and he had written a few documents expressing his views. When that option was deceased, he had created his own community. He and his supporters created a society where they could set an example on how this lifestyle would be practiced. To gather more supporters, they practiced Ascending Fellowship. This allowed Noyes to convert young people into the community before they were tempted by their selfish desires. By showing an example, he hoped that people would want to join this community and change the country into a better state.

John Humphrey Noyes was fairly successful in dispersing his ideas and gathering followers. In the Oneida Community they practiced Complex Marriage (every man was married to every women), Male Continence (a type of birth control or controlled sex), Ascending Fellowship (the process of converting and accepting new members to the belief), Mutual Criticism (the act where a person is publicly criticized in order to maintain humility), Equality (equal stance between man and women), and his other many beliefs.
 * EVALUATION IN ATTEMPT OF REFORM: **

John Humphrey Noyes' ideas were not practical in his time period. The maximum number of followers in the Oneida Community did not exceed over three hundred. Many people were appalled and disgusted by Noyes' ideas and beliefs. His idea of 'Complex Marriage' was taken as adultery and embarrassing. Noyes was a Perfectionist, and therefore believed he could not sin and that he was perfect. John Humphrey Noyes thought that since he gave his will to God, he could make no mistakes. The church was not favorable of his preaching, and he was stripped of his ministerial license and expelled from Yale University. To go along with that, Noyes acted on impulse and did care or follow the societies rules or regulations, which the people were not taken to. He was accused of statutory rape and then exiled. (From which he then retreated to the Oneida Community on the border of Canada)
 * PRACTICALITY: **

The Federal Government could create a law that supported John Humphrey Noyes' beliefs. The federal government could abolish the Constitution, and make the church and the government one. This way Noyes' ideas of a man's subjected to God would prevail and be practiced widely. Also, the government could acknowledge women's rights as equal to men. The federal government could donate money to his cause so he can fund a larger population of his community and allow the beliefs to spread.
 * FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: **

The first reference is the Shakers/Ann Lee. The Shakers devoted their life to perfectionilism. They believed that you could find God within yourself rather than a ritual. They could support John Humphrey Noyes, because he too had lived his life as a Perfectionist. Just as the Shakers believed, John Humphry Noyes had started his beliefs after he claimed to have a conversion. The second reference is Amelia Bloomer. Amelia Bloomer was a womens rights activist, and attempted to gain equal rights as men. One of John Humprey Noyes goals were to support this same cause. He had believed that women should have a voice in government, and should not be subjected to domestic means.
 * REFERENCES:**

"John Humphrey Noyes." //GTM//. Web. 02 Oct. 2009. [].
 * BIBLIOGRAPHY:**

"The Oneida Community - New York History Net." //New York History Net - A project of the Institute for New York State Studies//. Web. 03 Oct. 2009. [].

"THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.; THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ITS FOUNDER, JOHN H. NOYE... - Article Preview - The New York Times." //The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia//. Web. 02 Oct. 2009. [].

"Utopian Movements." //HippoCampus - Homework and Study Help - Free help with your algebra, biology, environmental science, American government, US history, physics and religion homework//. Web. 02 Oct. 2009. .