Community of the Cross: Moravian Piety in Colonial Bethlehem

Max Kade Research Institute: Germans Beyond Europe

by Craig D. Atwood

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was a unique colonial town. It was the first permanent outpost of the Moravians in North America and served as the headquarters for their extensive missionary efforts. It was also one of the most successful communal societies in American history. Bethlehem was founded as a "congregation of the cross" where all aspects of personal and social life were subordinated to the religious ideal of the community. In Community of the Cross, Craig D. Atwood offers a convincing portrait of Bethlehem and its religion. Visitors to Bethlehem, such as Benjamin Franklin, remarked on the orderly and peaceful nature of life in the community, its impressive architecture, and its "high" culture. However, many non-Moravians were embarrassed or even offended by the social and devotional life of the Moravians. The adoration of the crucified Jesus, especially his wounds, was the focus of intense devotion for adults and children alike. Moravians worshiped the Holy Spirit as "Mother," and they made the mystical marriage to Christ central to their marital intimacy. Everything, even family life, was to be a form of worship. Atwood reveals the deep connection between life in Bethlehem and the religious symbolism of controversial German theologian Nicholas von Zinzendorf, whose provocative and erotic adoration of the wounds of Jesus was an essential part of private and communal life. Using the theories of René Girard, Mary Douglas, and Victor Turner, Atwood shows that it was the Moravians’ liturgy and devotion that united the community and inspired both its unique social structure and its missionary efforts.

Genres: History

296 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 2004

Reviews

[Rachel Miller Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was fascinating. Not my usual read- just starting to soak up some context for Bethlehem, PA.

This book - really a long thesis - explores the Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA from about 1740-1760, when it was called the Brudergemeine (with a broad look at the before and after). It effectively demonstrates how the weird imagery behind the theology of the church at that time was not pathological, and that the ‘cult of the wounds’ served an important social function that made communal living possible in that time in the colonies.

The fundament thesis: “In summary, the vivid imaginative life of the Brudergemeine was not pathological. In fact, it was a key factor in the success of Bethlehem’s communal society. It provided a mythology and ritual that allowed the members of the society to sublimate a variety of personal drives and fears to the mystical realm for the good of the Gemeine and its mission.”

In thinking about inspiration and connection to current community practices - there is a lot to be drawn from the German Pietist movement in which the beginning of the church sits (emphasis on knowledge and practice of religion in the hands of individuals and small groups), and there is definitely some interesting stuff to draw from the communal economy of early Bethlehem (communal life and conversation as the driving social forces).

[Denise Kettering · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book looks particularly at the way that Moravian piety developed Christo-centrically, particularly around the side-wound of Christ. This book combines excellent historical writing with an interesting and yet largely unexplored set of sources (at least not fully explored in English scholarship). The early Bethlehem community in Pennsylvania. The importance of Christ's wounds really demonstrates a different form of piety than in other religious communities. Atwood begins by tracing the development of Bethlehem and how the movement connected with larger German Pietism. Zinzendorf began with connections to Halle, but develops in his own direction. Zinzendorf developed the theology of the heart, which focuses on inward ad outward piety. This idea includes a connection to the Holy Spirit as Mother. By tracing various devotional and liturgical activities of the community, Atwood masterfully demonstrates the ways that the community's piety made them distinct among other Pietists and other American German groups.

[Joshua Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Dr. Atwood's other book on the ancient Unitas Fratrum, and having been taught this information by him in other formats, I figured I had to give this book a fair shake. Widely expanded my knowledge of Bethlehem, PA as a Moravian community within the wider context of what was going on in the renewed Unity at the time. Would like to read more about the Salem, NC Moravians and developments from the 20th and 21st centuries next. (I think I need to revisit Peucker's work on this as well.)