Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills Practice Questions: 18 | Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills for MCAT PDF Download

The Shakers, also known as the American Shaking Quakers, were a radical group characterized by their contradictions. Despite firmly practicing celibacy, their original leader, "Mother Ann," was a young woman who had given birth to and lost four children. They embraced severe simplicity, yet their rituals were filled with strange and ecstatic dances, which ultimately led to their name. These contradictions would both empower and destroy the Shakers.

The Quakers, an established religious group in both England and America, took a new path when James Wardley began leading his followers. Influenced by the millennial French Prophets, Wardley introduced communion with the dead, visions, and shaking into Quaker worship. However, these unusual practices often subjected the members of the Shaking Quakers to harassment and imprisonment, as they were considered radicals at the time. It was during one such imprisonment that a young parishioner named Ann Lee had a vision, proclaiming herself as the embodiment of the Second Coming of Christ, the female version of God as both Father and Mother.

Following her vision, Mother Ann assumed leadership of the congregation and decided to take her followers to America when another vision revealed that a place had been prepared for them. A small group accompanied her, and they settled on a commune near Albany, New York. Despite the turmoil of the American Revolution, the Shakers remained pacifistic, which led to further ostracism and harassment from the nearby colonists.

In 1779, the Shaker community experienced a revitalization when Joseph Meacham and his followers converted to their religion. This was a radical shift as the Shakers rejected the trinity in favor of believing in the duality of the Holy Spirit, encompassing both male and female. They viewed the new millennium as already underway through Mother Ann's vision and embraced celibacy as a symbol of returning to pre-Adam purity, leading to a unique form of gender equality. The goal of the commune was unity, achieved through the suppression of individuality. Shakers resided in communal dormitories, shared all possessions, and lived simple lives in terms of dress and food.

The Shakers' commitment to equality and community attracted individuals from different cultures, including Native Americans, free blacks, and non-Christians, all of whom were welcomed into the commune. Under Meacham's guidance, the Shaker community embarked on missions to other areas, eventually establishing 17 additional communes. Despite their isolationist tendencies, the survival of a religion rooted in celibacy relied on occasional missionary work and outreach.

Many years after Mother Ann's death, Shaker communities began using mail-order catalogs to sell the simple and functional furniture they became known for. The peak of the Shaker religion occurred in the mid-19th century. However, by the end of the 20th century, only one tiny Shaker commune remained near New Gloucester, Maine, housing a small number of elderly, female members. These remaining Shakers continue to farm the land, create baskets and woven goods, and maintain a museum and library accessible to the public.
Q.1. What was one of the main contradictions associated with the Shakers?
(a) Their strict adherence to celibacy while their leader, Mother Ann, had given birth to children.
(b) Their belief in gender equality while embracing communal living.
(c) Their rejection of traditional religious practices while advocating pacifism.
(d) Their pursuit of severe simplicity while engaging in strange and ecstatic dances.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The passage states that the Shakers firmly practiced celibacy, yet their original leader, Mother Ann, was a young woman who had given birth to and lost four children. This contrast between their celibate lifestyle and their leader's personal experience with childbirth creates a contradiction. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Q.2. How did the Shakers differ from traditional Quakers?
(a) They embraced visions and shaking in their worship practices.
(b) They believed in the trinity and the future arrival of the new millennium.
(c) They focused on missionary work rather than communal living.
(d) They practiced pacifism but faced no harassment or imprisonment.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The passage mentions that the Shaking Quakers, or Shakers, were a subgroup of the Quakers led by James Wardley. The Shakers differed from traditional Quakers by incorporating visions and shaking into their worship practices. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Q.3. What was the goal of the Shaker commune?
(a) To achieve gender equality through the suppression of individuality.
(b) To establish a self-sufficient and isolated community.
(c) To convert people from other cultures to their religion.
(d) To maintain simplicity in all aspects of life.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The passage states that the Shakers aimed for unity within their commune, which was achieved through the suppression of individuality. This suppression of individuality contributed to the goal of achieving gender equality. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Q.4. Why did the Shaker religion rely on missionary work?
(a) To attract new followers and spread their beliefs.
(b) To ensure the survival of their celibate lifestyle.
(c) To establish more communes across the United States.
(d) To counteract the isolationist tendencies of their commune.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The passage mentions that a religion based on celibacy, such as the Shakers, needed missionary work to ensure its survival. By reaching out to other cultures and communities, they could attract new followers and spread their beliefs. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Q.5. What is the current state of the Shaker religion?
(a) It has completely died out, with no remaining followers or communes.
(b) It is still thriving with numerous communes across the United States.
(c) It has declined significantly, with only one small commune remaining.
(d) It has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The passage states that by the end of the 20th century, only one tiny Shaker commune remained in New Gloucester, Maine, with a handful of elderly, female members. This suggests that the Shaker religion has declined significantly and is now represented by a single surviving commune. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer.