Shakers, Mormons, and Religious Worlds: Conflicting Visions, Contested Boundaries

Among America's more interesting new religious movements, the Shakers and the Mormons came to be thought of as separate and distinct from mainstream Protestantism. Using archives and historical materials from the 19th century, Stephen C. Taysom shows how these groups actively maintained boundaries and created their own thriving, but insular communities. Taysom discovers a core of innovation deployed by both the Shakers and the Mormons through which they embraced their status as outsiders. Their marginalization was critical to their initial success. As he skillfully negotiates the differences between Shakers and Mormons, Taysom illuminates the characteristics which set these groups apart and helped them to become true religious dissenters.

Author: Stephen C. Taysom
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 11/22/2010
Pages: 280
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.39w x 0.95d
ISBN: 9780253355409

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2011

About the Author

Stephen C. Taysom teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at Cleveland State University.