Page 19 - ISVB

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utopias demonstrate a quest for community and sense of community
identity that characterizes American society. These societies are
examples of people bound by common ideologies and shared visions of
social harmony, striving together to live a purposeful and principled life.

The history of the Community of True Inspiration in the United States
illustrates the breadth of religious experience in America and how
religious freedom helped define United States settlement patterns.
Amana’s religious heritage exemplifies how a person’s relationship with
his/her God can shape social and economic relations as well. It is an
example of how religious convictions can play out in the secular world.

Amana’s ethnic German heritage helps to destroy ethnic stereotypes to
better understand the complexity of the German immigrant experience
and German-American daily life and culture. It counteracts the
“Bavarianization” of German-Americans and the superficial celebration
of famous people and contributions to the larger culture.

In short, the story of the Amana Colonies contributes to an
understanding of the social, religious, and ethnic diversity of the
American experience. Amana stands as testimony to the freedoms