Noyes’ journey situated in the protestant revival of the early 19th century- rise in religiosity (Baptist, Methodist and Evangelical) – height of popularity was 1830’s/40’s- was behind a lot of the encouragement for temperance and abolitionism.

Journey began at young age

Open minded family that allowed him to go on religious quest!

  • Converted by evangelist Charles Grandison Finley in 1831finney6rf
  • Attended the Andover and then the Yale Theological Seminary

Developed his ideas:

The second coming had already occurred in AD 70 and now the Church on Earth was rising to meet the approaching kingdom in heavens- so needed to practise progressive Christianity towards perfectionism- millenialism.

Millennialism is uniquely Christian; it comes form the Latin word millenarius meaning “containing a thousand”. It is reliant upon the apocalyptic scenario, stated in the Book of Revelation, that upon the second coming there will be an establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth that will last a thousand years or more.

  • Upon public declaration Noyes dismissed from YTS
  • Homeless in New York for a while

Became an admirer of St Paul- believing in the Spirit of the Law

“Noyes argued the spirit not the letter of the law was what really mattered” (Foster, 257). For law could not be summed up as just instructions. Instead an individual would find salvation, not through just outwards acts per se, but through realizing that loving God meant loving your neighbors as yourself- community….

  • With this new religious conviction Noyes turned his attention to what practises he could recommend- starting 1848- Oneida

One of his many premises that I explored was his need to replace individualism with community.