The Brotherhood of the Spirit (renamed Renaissance Community in 1974) was one of the largest and most enduring communes in the northeast United States and as such was a distinct link between the commune phenomenon of the 1960s and the current New Age movement. In existence from 1968 through 1988, its rise and fall mirrored that of its charismatic and mercurial leader, Michael Metelica.[1] The Brotherhood of the Spirit underwent several distinct identity changes during its 20-year history.[2] The Brotherhood of the Spirit was reported in the Wall Street Journal,Look,Family Circle, and Mademoiselle magazines. They had also been featured on 60 Minutes and the David Frost show.[2]
Brotherhood of the Spirit: Warwick, Mass. 1970.
In 1974, the Brotherhood became the legally-recognized Renaissance Church Community and moved its operations to the mill town of Turners Falls, MA.
Resentment and Metelica's increasing abusive behavior due to drug and alcohol addictions led to eventual migrations of members out of the community until 1988 when the few remaining members paid Metelica to leave and never return.
The Aftermath: 1988–2006edit
Reunion, 2002.
In 1988, the Renaissance Community as a recognizable communal entity came to an end. The commune's property was cleaned up and cooperatively managed. The various houses were sold off to private ownership or converted and renovated into separate apartments. Several contracting businesses based in Gill still exist, along with regular seminars dealing with meditation and spiritual practice. Former and current members attend reunions and discuss the community's controversial legacy. In May 2006, former member Bruce Geisler produced a documentary film about the community entitled Free Spirits: The Birth, Life and Loss of a New Age Dream.[3]https://www.ic.org/whatever-happened-to-the-renaissance-community/
Referencesedit
^Gorni, Yosef; Oved, Iaácov; Paz, Idit; Ṭabenḳin, Yad (1987). Communal life: an internat. perspective; [lectures delivered at The Internat. Conference on Kibbutz and Communes, May 1985, Yad Tabenkin-Efal, Israel]. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books. p. 201. ISBN9780887381508.
^ abSreenivasan, Jyotsna (2008). Utopias in American history. Santa Barbara, CA, US: ABC-CLIO. pp. 330–334. ISBN9781598840520. OCLC 213444815.
^"Free Spirits movie. Michael Rapunzel, Renaissance Community commune". acornproductions.net. Retrieved 2018-04-27. For DVD, Free Spirits : the birth, life, & loss of a New Age dream in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
renaissance, community, major, contributor, this, article, appears, have, close, connection, with, subject, require, cleanup, comply, with, wikipedia, content, policies, particularly, neutral, point, view, please, discuss, further, talk, page, april, 2022, lea. A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view Please discuss further on the talk page April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Brotherhood of the Spirit renamed Renaissance Community in 1974 was one of the largest and most enduring communes in the northeast United States and as such was a distinct link between the commune phenomenon of the 1960s and the current New Age movement In existence from 1968 through 1988 its rise and fall mirrored that of its charismatic and mercurial leader Michael Metelica 1 The Brotherhood of the Spirit underwent several distinct identity changes during its 20 year history 2 The Brotherhood of the Spirit was reported in the Wall Street Journal Look Family Circle and Mademoiselle magazines They had also been featured on 60 Minutes and the David Frost show 2 Brotherhood of the Spirit Warwick Mass 1970 In 1974 the Brotherhood became the legally recognized Renaissance Church Community and moved its operations to the mill town of Turners Falls MA Resentment and Metelica s increasing abusive behavior due to drug and alcohol addictions led to eventual migrations of members out of the community until 1988 when the few remaining members paid Metelica to leave and never return The Aftermath 1988 2006 edit nbsp Reunion 2002 In 1988 the Renaissance Community as a recognizable communal entity came to an end The commune s property was cleaned up and cooperatively managed The various houses were sold off to private ownership or converted and renovated into separate apartments Several contracting businesses based in Gill still exist along with regular seminars dealing with meditation and spiritual practice Former and current members attend reunions and discuss the community s controversial legacy In May 2006 former member Bruce Geisler produced a documentary film about the community entitled Free Spirits The Birth Life and Loss of a New Age Dream 3 https www ic org whatever happened to the renaissance community References edit Gorni Yosef Oved Iaacov Paz Idit Ṭabenḳin Yad 1987 Communal life an internat perspective lectures delivered at The Internat Conference on Kibbutz and Communes May 1985 Yad Tabenkin Efal Israel New Brunswick NJ Transaction Books p 201 ISBN 9780887381508 a b Sreenivasan Jyotsna 2008 Utopias in American history Santa Barbara CA US ABC CLIO pp 330 334 ISBN 9781598840520 OCLC 213444815 Free Spirits movie Michael Rapunzel Renaissance Community commune acornproductions net Retrieved 2018 04 27 For DVD Free Spirits the birth life amp loss of a New Age dream in libraries WorldCat catalog https www youtube com watch v XLIhybMQGsw https www digitalcommonwealth org search commonwealth oai np194j877 https www gen us net whatever happened to the renaissance community https www gen us net we left our community but our community never left us https www newyorker com magazine 1971 08 07 vibes http scua library umass edu brotherhood of the spirit https archive org details mademoiselle7374julnewy page n1369 mode 2up q open the shutters and let godforce throughExternal links edit Daniel A Brown Photograph Collection Special Collections and University Archives UMass Amherst Libraries Retrieved 2018 04 27 Devine Tom 2009 05 22 Valley Guru The Baystate Objectivist Retrieved 2018 04 27 42 38 36 N 72 29 26 W 42 6432 N 72 4906 W 42 6432 72 4906 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Renaissance Community amp oldid 1188440660, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
