The Shaker Religion is Fading, and the Last Two Live in Maine

I went to church when I was a kid.

Much to my dismay, of course. As I've gotten older, I'm not necessarily anymore likely to want to go to church, but I'm mature enough to understand how important it can be sometimes to feel like other people have your back. And how important it can feel to have community.

Read More: Did a Maine Church Really Hold a Witch Trial in the 1990s?

These are the reasons a lot of people go to church. The Shakers believe all those things, and even more. But they also take it to a whole other level most of us couldn't achieve. They're hardworking, celibate followers who don't marry. So new members can only be added by physically joining. No one is born into being a Shaker.

So how did they happen to land here?

At Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester, an area that was designated by the Shakers a couple centuries ago, there was once several hundred members who chose to adopt this ascetic lifestyle, giving everything over to the religion. You gave up your family, your wife, your kids... You all went to the area where you were needed most.

Because of the intensity of being a Shaker, many people can't last more than a year or two, and even that's not a guarantee. Sometimes you're simply told it won't work out, because they don't think you have it in you. Again, you give up everything. It's not a religion for the faint-of-heart. But since the only path to new Shakers is volunteerism, it gets smaller all the time.

There are only two Shakers left in the whole world.

And they're here in Maine, at Sabbathday Lake. 67-year old Brother Arnold, and his only other fellow Shaker, 86-year old Sister June. Together, they are the last two remaining members of the Church, in the whole world. However, there is a strong community of "outsiders" who help maintain the property and the farm. And most even attend Sunday services.

But they aren't true Shakers for one reason or other. The key problem, is likely the celibacy aspect. Not being able to marry and start families greatly reduces your chances of passing the religion on. Yet, Brother Arnold and Sister June are hopeful for the future. They keep hoping for the next generation to latch on, and take over, according to the New York Times.

What's the worst case scenario?

In some ways, that's hard to say. But there are people in the "Outside Family" that would likely keep the property going. Fundamentally, Shakers are among the most gentle and fair in any religion. Touting race and gender equality long before it was cool... But recruiting new Shakers will always be a challenge.

Read More: Do People in Maine Hate Going to Church More than Everybody Else?

There's hope that anytime a new young person comes to check the place out, that they'll be the next one to carry on the faith. But it's crazy to think that a religion that once numbered in the thousands, even despite it's recruitment challenges, is on the verge of extinction.