1963: The SECT who DEFY the STATE | Tonight | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive

[@hilaryepstein6013]

It takes courage and a great deal of inner strength to be able to live completely by very strong principles and I admire them for that.

[@depniff]

Wiki page for Stapleton Colony says there were 4 residents in 2016. They have an old web page which looks like its not been updated for over 10 years. There are a lot of keyboard warriers who say they want to resist the authorities but I wonder how many would remain committed for this long to one purpose.

[@minui8758]

These peoples are bloody marvellous

[@christrinder1255]

Lovely to hear Fyth Robinson again after all these years!!❤

[@chriswalford4161]

I’m struck by the clarity of the recording and the lack of wind noise, despite several of those interviews, and the introductory preamble, being conducted outside in high wind. @BBCArchive - how was that achieved?

[@alexanderaleksander4272]

“Could a whole society live as you’re?” Well, for thousands of years, everyone lived like this, and that's how we became a modern society.😂

[@professormcclaine5738]

Governments first duty is to protect the people not run their lives.

[@djtomoy]

Nice idea

[@moonlightbay4814]

I get the impression that Fyfe had some fellow feeling with these people. His own upbringing might have been a slightly watered down version of theirs.

[@colinglass1342]

I remember fyth robinson on tv interesting vewing. Sorry about miss spelling

[@onlyme219]

Not causing any trouble, not claiming hand outs just feeding and housing themselves off the grid. I'm not religious but I have to say kudos to them

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Where is the brotherhood church today, I wonder…?

[@minui8758]

Still about. Also the Quakers who are much more moderate on cooperation with the state but similar in theology and ethics (a lot of early Bretheren were ex Quakers) still have 20,000 odd members

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Amish equivalent? Is the community still around today?

[@2Tricky]

They are still going, living at the same place - 60 years later they have grown to 5 members, bless them. They have a website - search 'Brotherhood Church, Diggers and Dreamers'.

[@titan90000]

This is what I thought of at first as well. But, I am not sure how well known the Amish and Mennonite communities are outside of North America. I don't think there are any large similar communities in the UK and Europe.

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

Seems they were a breakaway group from the religious society of friends inspired by the work of Tolstoy.

[@minui8758]

@@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6tsthe Quakers themselves of course have a few informal communes in old country houses. Nothing like as radical as Stapleton

[@fourtoes412]

Yesteryear Sovereign Citizens?

[@minui8758]

More principle behind it. Also absolute Christian pacifism doesn’t seem top of the sovereign citizen movements list like it was for the Tolstoyans

[@joedge6142]

They look fit and well on it.

[@JanUK26]

They would be absolutely horrified if they were still alive today at the state of the UK and the rest of the world!

[@justinklenk]

That little child would be 64 this year...

[@minui8758]

@@justinklenkprobably one of the few oldies clinging on

[@luiathmorgan7709]

Religion moves woth the times and generalky corruption sets in....

[@thecaveofthedead]

Direct action

[@flower-ld5id]

Progressive Canadian is a weird guy I think he got my replies removed by reporting me. I was just challenging some assumptions he made about cult members. Just a warning

[@101Tanyah]

I know they meant well. Thats why when you go to church you need to make sure that your minister was called by God to be one. I cant stress enough how important that is. If these men knew the bible they would know that we are meant to also follow the laws of the land (government)

[@professormcclaine5738]

Doing what benefits an elite minority you mean.

[@minui8758]

Well they’re Tolstoyans which means they don’t accept the any scripture apart from the Gospels… slightly harder to justify participating in a military superstructure with just the Sermon on the Mount. Also about ministers - like the Quakers they believe in direct communion with God in the heart rather than outward forms. So called by God or otherwise the minister is a bit of a white elephant getting between God and man

[@WesTheHunter]

I bet none if this exists anymore.

[@MrJakeTucker]

See the post by depniff. Stapleton Colony, in 2016, has 4 residents. It's a colony of the Brotherhood Church.

[@minui8758]

Just about still going

[@WastingTime1878]

What .. what is so strange or wrong about this. Seem to be peace loving people who are opposed to war and want to keep it to themselves.

[@luiathmorgan7709]

I dont understand whats Christian about it 😮? Yiu can and people do this without beibg part of any religion !

[@minui8758]

Read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and it becomes pretty clear. Also Tolstoy’s essay the “Kingdom of God is Within You” and Ruskin’s “Unto This Last” should clarify the history of the movements ideas. You’re right though. Gandhi wasn’t a Christian but was still deeply inspired by Tolstoy’s Christian communism and pacifism

[@gavinbrando8255]

At least they didn’t fly planes into buildings cos some of them thought it would be a good idea