The Shakers were a pretty significant social and economic force in the time of their flourishing. I’m a little surprised that they’re not gaining some members, given the great interest these days in simple living, a small carbon footprint, being “spiritual but not churchgoing,” and so on.
Perhaps one reason they’re not gaining members - even temporary, “give it a try a couple of years” members - is their location in freezing Maine. If one of their communities in, say, Tennessee had endured ...
I wonder what % of their members came from taking in orphans/foundlings or the children of unwed mothers? I have to think that would have decreased drastically as birth control and abortion were accepted, also the scandal of getting pregnant without being married becoming less of a big deal. Maybe the advent welfare state probably made the Shakers less attractive as people didn’t look at as a place were at least you would get fed.
Freegards