Resource pool for a christian commune on 100 or so acres??

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,114
9,214
113
#21
I don't think that Utopia exists in this troubled world.
There are reasons other than creating a utopia.

Depending on how close you think we are to the end of the world, it could be a matter of survival... IF you think we are that close to the great tribulation and IF you think we will still be here when the tribulation starts. (Opinion is and always has been divided on both of these.)
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,176
2,478
113
#22
There have been many utopian societies created here before.
It's not a new idea.

One of the largest was called the city of Brotherly Love....

Today we call it Philadelphia. It doesn't resemble anything of the intention.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,422
5,361
113
#23
There have been many utopian societies created here before.
It's not a new idea.

One of the largest was called the city of Brotherly Love....

Today we call it Philadelphia. It doesn't resemble anything of the intention.
It's always been interesting to me that most utopian movements, even with Christian intentions, overwhelmingly seem to turn into cults.

Or at least, something very different than what was supposedly intended.

For instance, how would it be determined that those wanting to live there would be "Christian enough" to qualify?

What happens when people fall off the wagon and into sin, or disobeys the rules? Who disciplines them or kicks them out?

People will naturally want their friends and family to be able to move there as well.

Who would get to decide the qualifications and cut-offs when the place became overrun?

If things like taxes are paid collectively, what checks and balances will be in place to deter, punish, or stop theft?

Even Jesus had a thief amongst His inner circle.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,213
1,620
113
#24
My thoughts. The Garden of Eden no longer exists on Earth. When we close our environment to a few Christians, how can we obey Christ when he tells us to "go and tell"?
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#25
Johnstown was not a Christian settlement
it was originally a splinter church called the peoples temple

read a bit of history about it..Jonestown not Johnstown
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#26
oh and Gloriavale in nz

no, sounds idyllic but...not sure wanna join that one
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#27
to be ' more free' sort of sounds a bit like the naturist club wants to do down the road

you could join but only if you dont want to wear any clothes

100 acres sounds a bit much

so would the membership be limited to 100 people, everyone gets 1 acre or how would that work? or maybe 400 people and everyone gets 1/4 acre ?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,692
29,027
113
#28
100 acres sounds a bit much

so would the membership be limited to 100 people, everyone gets 1 acre
or how would that work? or maybe 400 people and everyone gets 1/4 acre ?
I would think acreage would be for agricultural and fuel purposes :unsure:
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
13,741
7,741
113
#29
The devil always
it was originally a splinter church called the peoples temple

read a bit of history about it..Jonestown not Johnstown
no more "Christian" than any cult that deviates from what Christ taught.
Your nastiness is coming out again over a tiny typo.
best wishes
 
May 1, 2022
40
23
8
#30
to be ' more free' sort of sounds a bit like the naturist club wants to do down the road

you could join but only if you dont want to wear any clothes

100 acres sounds a bit much

so would the membership be limited to 100 people, everyone gets 1 acre or how would that work? or maybe 400 people and everyone gets 1/4 acre ?
It would not be considering the space needed for agriculture and fuel and other odds and ends. I think 100 people would be counting women and children too, that's about 50 homes.

If a group of people actually did want to do this, it would take about a year or more of just planing and preparation. This thread was half "what if" and half, "eaaay....who actually wants to pray about it?"
 

BeeThePeace

Active member
May 2, 2022
443
135
43
#31
Well, maybe it's easier than we think when wondering if such a community is possible.

Let's project a bit, shall we?

While we're here on the net in this community. What's to do?

Buy land = Who buys? Is the cost divided equally among all involved?

If someone wants to leave afterward, what happens to their share of their stake?

How are the costs of construction for all forms of shelter divided?

Ok. Now we've got that all worked out.

Land, let's imagine 200 acres to give a community of 100 room to breathe. And shelter. Homes, a chapel, etc....

Now imagine that place of privacy, community, freedom to make your own little world if Christians in community together.

Now, think of how we all get along on this anonymous cyber community when interacting together and faceless, behind pseudonyms and while sharing with one another using only a keyboard.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#32
It would not be considering the space needed for agriculture and fuel and other odds and ends. I think 100 people would be counting women and children too, that's about 50 homes.

If a group of people actually did want to do this, it would take about a year or more of just planing and preparation. This thread was half "what if" and half, "eaaay....who actually wants to pray about it?"
what, women werent even counted as people?
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#33
The devil always

no more "Christian" than any cult that deviates from what Christ taught.
Your nastiness is coming out again over a tiny typo.
best wishes
your nastiness is just a projection, I was simply correcting your typo

Jesus doesnt teach that you need 100 acres - he didnt even own any land, those who had any actually sold it because they were too busy going out into the world preaching the gospel
 

BeeThePeace

Active member
May 2, 2022
443
135
43
#34
your nastiness is just a projection, I was simply correcting your typo

Jesus doesnt teach that you need 100 acres - he didnt even own any land, those who had any actually sold it because they were too busy going out into the world preaching the gospel
Jesus was God. He owns all that exists.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#35
if Jesus owns everything then actually nobody needs to buy any land.
It will be given/inherited.

However, Jesus hasnt said I want you to live on 100 acres with a bunch of others to be free

so...not sure why people would want to do this. Hes already set me free spiritually, so, why need to buy land for?
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#36
sorry, dont mean to put damper on idea but every commune that nz had ended up going bust or charged with sexual immorality, whether was christian in name or religious or hippie.

of the many ohus set up in the 60s only 3 remained in 2010s

there is one eco-village near me, I have been and know some people who lived there, who dont anymore. if you want to share one laundry and toilet with 100 others...go for it.

also you'll be obligated to meet everyone at least once a week and operate by consensus and that might take a long time depending on how many people are in the commune

and if you dont mind sharing your things and wont lose sleep over them going missing and people going in and out of your space cos nowhere is private ...then communal life is for you
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
13,741
7,741
113
#37
your nastiness is just a projection, I was simply correcting your typo

Jesus doesnt teach that you need 100 acres - he didnt even own any land, those who had any actually sold it because they were too busy going out into the world preaching the gospel
thanks mom
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,114
9,214
113
#38
read a bit of history about it..Jonestown not Johnstown
Your nastiness is coming out again over a tiny typo.
best wishes
your nastiness is just a projection, I was simply correcting your typo
Well this illustrates the point BeeThePeace was making. :eek::oops:

You even started it before he made the observation.

Now imagine that place of privacy, community, freedom to make your own little world if Christians in community together.

Now, think of how we all get along on this anonymous cyber community when interacting together and faceless, behind pseudonyms and while sharing with one another using only a keyboard.
Yeah, no, if we tried to make a Christian commune it probably would end in flames and court trials.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,176
2,478
113
#39
100 acres is insufficient land to feed, clothe, and house 100 people.

Ten times that much might get them subsistence living. 50 times and now you are talking.

People eat a LOT...so do livestock. And you are going to want a variety of livestock from chickens, pork, beef, and fish. (Milk, cheeses, and eggs) Then there's the wheat for bread, oats for oatmeal, and corn. Nevermind rice and soybeans.
Apiaries for honeybees. Trees for fruits and nuts.

Now all these groceries require fertilizers and pesticides. Otherwise you flat out will not get a crop. The bugs and birds will consume it all.

So since the livestock will produce manure...you can use that...but it still won't be a sufficient amount. You will need more. That means $$$. Meaning you need more land to farm to make enough of a profit just to buy diesel and farm equipment that will need maintenance every year. (More $$$)

1,000 acre farm of two crops usually works out for six people on a regular basis...no one gets rich but you can make a living. That's what happens today. Those are the numbers.

So I don't see a farm commune working out. They already exist in rural areas today but not as a commune...but as regular God fearing people living in harmony. Strangers are given the one squinted eye routine. And their biggest fights are usually over John Deer or the other brands.
 

Mission21

Pathfinder
Mar 12, 2019
913
805
93
#40
I have this pipe dream of pooling money and resources with a large group of Christians to live more free and pure. As will maybe be essential for the faith to survive in the next 20-30 years. Any thoughts? Anyone have this same desire?
The idea of 'Intentional Communities' is not new..
- You can find it..in Christian history.
---
I assume that you are familiar with..
-'Back to the Land movement'
- 'Bruderhof Communities'