Where Have All the Utopias Gone? Ritual, Solidarity, and Longevity in a Multifaith Commune in New Mexico
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University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 6-1-2010 Where Have All the Utopias Gone? Ritual, Solidarity, and Longevity in a Multifaith Commune in New Mexico Linda Prueitt Hansen University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Religion Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Hansen, Linda Prueitt, "Where Have All the Utopias Gone? Ritual, Solidarity, and Longevity in a Multifaith Commune in New Mexico" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 266. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/266 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. WHERE HAVE ALL THE UTOPIAS GONE? RITUAL, SOLIDARITY, AND LONGEVITY IN A MULTI-FAITH COMMUNE IN NEW MEXICO __________ A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Social Sciences University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts __________ by Linda Prueitt Hansen June 2010 Advisor: Dr. Tracy Ehlers ©Copyright by Linda Prueitt Hansen 2010 All Rights Reserved Author: Linda Prueitt Hansen Title: WHERE HAVE ALL THE UTOPIAS GONE: RITUAL, SOLIDARITY AND LONGEVITY IN A MULTI-FAITH COMMUNE IN NEW MEXICO Advisor: Dr. Tracy Ehlers Degree Date: June 2010 ABSTRACT Utopian experiments creating new forms of community have dotted the globe throughout human history. Despite grandiose visions, a majority of communal experiments have faded quickly into oblivion. A wealth of scholarship has focused on reasons why communes typically fail. My research of an ecumenical commune in northern New Mexico examines what has facilitated its perpetuation for over 42 years. I participated in this community for different periods of time for over three years. With the assistance of a resident oral historian, I was able to expand my study into a diachronic view that spanned decades. I conclude that there are multiple and interconnected factors that have given strength to this community. Factors contributing to its persistence throughout its existence have been a strong economic base, strong social structures, overarching ideologies, adaptability, charismatic influence, ritual observances, sacralization of space and material culture, amicable relations with the outside, conflict management mechanisms, and boundary maintenance. In the past two decades other factors have been added or intensified to contribute to its solidarity including a transient population and a widening circle of outside support. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My gratitude extends to many individuals who have supported this project. I thank my advisor, Dr. Tracy Bachrach Ehlers for her undaunted support of an older student who needed to brush up on her skills by re-entering academia after a twenty-four year absence. I thank my mentor Dr. Larry Conyers who taught me how to use the left side of my brain and taught me how to lighten up when the pressure is on. I thank Dr. Richard Clemmer Smith for his constant guidance and moral support. I thank the Lama community for teaching me how to embrace diversity and open my heart and mind to new possibilities. I thank them for allowing me to conduct this research that can potentially guide other communitarians. A major supporter and guide throughout this research was Ammi Kohn, Resident Oral Historian from the Lama Foundation. He has spent countless hours consulting with me on this Thesis and has offered all of his resources for my benefit. I thank Dr. Hans Von Briesen for his advice on this thesis and expertise as one of the original founders of the Lama Foundation I also thank my dear husband, Dana Hansen who has stood by my side and supported me in every way possible. I thank my mother, Susi R. Prueitt and my father, Melvin L. Prueitt notable scientist and inventor, for inspiring me to follow my dreams even at an older age. iii Table of Contents Chapter One: Introducing Utopia ............................................................................................1 I. Factors Related to Success and Failure ...................................................................5 II. Empirical Studies of Commitment and Solidarity ...............................................9 III. Lama Foundation: A Diachronic Approach ........................................................13 IV. Overview of My Research ..................................................................................14 Chapter Two: Historical Contextualization ..........................................................................17 I. Revitalization Movements in America ..................................................................19 II. Counterculture Revitalization Movement ............................................................23 III. New Religion Movement and the Counterculture ..............................................29 IV. New Mexico and the Taos Scene ........................................................................34 Chapter Three: History of the Lama Foundation ..................................................................42 I. Founding Years: 1965-1971 .................................................................................42 II. The Holy Wars 1971-1977 ...................................................................................54 III. The Hondo Fire and Beyond 1980s-2010 ...........................................................57 Chapter Four: Literature Review ..........................................................................................65 I. Kanter’s Commitment and Community ................................................................73 II. Clifford Thies: Successful American Communes ...............................................77 III. Hugh Gardner: Counterculture Communes ........................................................78 IV. Victor Turner’s Theory of Liminality and Communitas ....................................81 V. Material Culture, Ideology, and Sacralization of Space ......................................85 VI. Performance Studies and Ritual Activity ...........................................................89 VII. Bennet Berger’s Theory of Ideological Work ...................................................93 VIII. Theories of Charisma and Alienation ..............................................................95 Chapter Five: Methods ..........................................................................................................99 I. Methodological Concerns ....................................................................................105 Part Two ..................................................................................................................108 Factors Contributing to Solidarity and Longevity ..................................... 108 Chapter Six: Commitment Mechanisms .............................................................................112 I. Sacrifice Commitment Mechanism .....................................................................113 II. Investment Commitment Mechanism ................................................................115 III. Renunciation Commitment Mechanism ...........................................................117 IV. Communion Commitment Mechanism ............................................................119 V. Mortification Commitment Mechanism.............................................................121 VI. Transcendence Commitment Mechanism .........................................................123 Chapter Seven: Charisma ...................................................................................................128 Chapter Eight: Ideological Work ........................................................................................142 iv Chapter Nine: Governance and Social Structures ..............................................................156 I. Lama Foundation By-Laws .................................................................................159 II. Scheduling and Organization of Labor ..............................................................165 Chapter Ten: Economic Base ..............................................................................................169 I. Lama Foundation: Economics and Ideology ......................................................171 II. Redistribution of Material Goods .......................................................................174 III. Sources of Income .............................................................................................176 IV. Communes That Were Economic Failures .......................................................181 Chapter Eleven: Conflict Management Mechanisms ........................................................189 Chapter Twelve: Ritual Activity and Communitas ............................................................197 Chapter Thirteen: Sacralization of Space and Material Culture .......................................215 Chapter Fourteen: Outside Relations and Boundary Maintenance ....................................229 I. Outside Relations .................................................................................................229 II. Boundary Maintenance ......................................................................................238