The Oneida Community

The Oneida Community was a religious and social movement founded in the 1840s in New York by John Humphrey Noyes. It promoted a unique form of communal living, based on shared property and resources. Members believed in equality, complex marriage (where all members could marry one another), and a radical interpretation of Christianity. The community aimed to create a perfect society free from traditional constraints, emphasizing mutual support and cooperation. It lasted until the 1880s and is notable for its innovative practices in social organization, including gender equality and communal child-rearing.