Page 4 - C.A.L.L. #22 - Fall 2003
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New Books
No Heavenly Delusion? A Comparative Study of Three Communal Movements
By Michael Tyldesley (Liverpool University Press, 2003)
Among the communes of the 20th century, you When the theorizing is reached, however, the
would be hard-pressed to find three more quality drops off significantly. Although it is
important movements than the Kibbutz, the interesting to see how he traces the German
Bruderhof, and the Integrierte Gemeinde (IG). Youth Movement’s links to the later movements,
These movements have all stood the test of Tyldesley never quite seems to prove that there
time, resolving crises and adapting to the is anything more than an accidental relationship.
changes of modernity. Each has multiple Also the final chapter, looking at the extent to
settlements and over a thousand members. For which each movement is “counter-cultural”,
communal movements, the three, however, could feels like it has been taken out of a different
hardly be more different in terms of their study, not following on from the author’s original
background, outlook, and structure. The IG and claims.
Bruderhof are unified bodies with well-defined
religious ideologies, while the Kibbutz is Let me make clear that No Heavenly Delusion is
comprised of a variety of mostly secular first and foremost an academic study, with the
movements and ideological streams. The IG is requisite notes and critical comments on other
urban and the other two mostly rural, they have researchers. For this type of work, however, it
differing views on communal is unusually lively and accessible to the casual
property, and so on. reader. The author, in addition to
referencing existing studies and
I n N o H e a v e n l y written materials from the
Delusion, Michael Tyldesley movements, has conducted first-hand
argues that the three movements, despite interviews with present and former
appearances, actually have quite a lot in c o m m u n e m e m b e r s . T h e s e
common. Tyldesley’s thesis, a constant interviews, though obviously not free
presence throughout, rests upon two of bias, provide a fascinating look into how the
propositions. Firstly, that all three communal members view the movement and their
movements owe their origins to the German experiences within it. There are also some
Youth Movement of the early 20th century, and unusual angles; for example, I was pleasantly
second, that the three movements are, at least surprised by the time devoted to urban
in theory, committed to interaction with, and Kibbutzim, which are not usually considered a
involvement in, wider society. These two part of the Kibbutz mainstream.
propositions are the motivation for Tyldesley’s
research. For all its flaws, No Heavenly Delusion is a
surprisingly readable book, at least for those
This survey is not taken up entirely with who are interested in communal movements and
analysis – the history and ideology of each have patience for the scholarly style. I do not
movement is described briefly in an know how this book was received in the
introduction, then again in depth in separate academic community, but I found it to be a
chapters. Description is definitely Tyldesley’s treasure-trove of information on communes that
strong point. A great deal can be learned from I had been previously unfamiliar with. Depicting
the concise, yet detailed, movement overviews. ideology and history in equal measure, and able
There is also a full chapter on the German Youth to reflect, at least a little, on how the
Movement, clearly defining its stages and movements see themselves, it is definitely a
currents of thought. worthwhile read.
Review by Robin Merkel, Kvutsat Yovel
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