"So Much They Have Got for Their Folly": Shaker Apostates and the Tale of Woe

Introduction: Persecution and CommunitySectarian groups and their detractors exist in symbiotic fashion, each feeding off the other as both construct the social world around them.While in recent years the study of apostasy has gained increased recognition, especially from social scientists, research has focused on the causes of or steps leading up to defection.And while some studies have addressed the post-apostate experience, few have looked at the ramifications of apostasy from the perspective of the sect from which apostates emerged.Yet, defectors turned persecutors play an integral role in building and maintaining sectarian community.For example, Rosabeth Kanter's analysis of the process of building community illustrated how enduring continual persecution reinforces group cohesiveness and social identity.Acts of persecution, argued Kanter, work as a "social vaccination," building up the strength of persecuted groups who can then better withstand future potentially destructive actions.Public attacks can strengthen the faithful, relieve tension and warn leaders of potential problems.2