Talk:Zion, Illinois

Planning
Isn't Zion also an interesting example of city planning - I seem to remember seeing an aerial photograph showing an arrangement of city streets in the shape of a wheel (streets as spokes) with the Tabernacle in the center. It that's true (this is a vague memory and American utopian movements is not my thing) it's sure worth mentioning. It looked neat! --MichaelTinkler

Zion has a large number of churches per capita, most of which are of fundamentalist leanings. The city was taken to court (or at least threatended to be taken to court) by the American Association of Athiets as their city seal has overtly christian religious symbols on it. I"m not sure what the result of this was. On a personal note, being someone who was raised in Zion, fundamentalism's main downfall is it's emphasis on certainty in items of faith. It is my belief that faith is only applicable where fundamental uncertainty is inherant. Things that are in doubt call upon our faith. Intollerance based on strong assertions of certainty are anathema to faith and wisdom and usually lead to behaviours that are contrary to the explicit dogma of the group. I step off my soap box now. John Larsson

Flat earth connection
According to the Flat Earth Society article this town was founded as a planed theocratic community by the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church, a group connected to the Flat Earth Society. Seano1 16:27, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

Overwritten image
Guys.. Sorry about the overwritten image. Possible to reupload? Thanks

Date
This article says the town was founded in July 1901. The article on Dowie says 1900. Which is correct, because they can't both be right. 81.145.246.223 (talk) 10:40, 17 July 2011 (UTC)

Interesting history needs grappling with
This city has such an interesting history it's a shame that there is no history section. This link and this one might be helpful in getting that started. Twang (talk) 23:23, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

I just did a bunch of research on the city's founder, and was disappointed to find no History section for Zion City - it would be great if someone would add. Quick synopsis: The Rev. John Alexander Dowie came to Chicago in 1890, having previously established his own brand of healing ministries in Australia and California. By the end of the 1890s he'd established the Christian Catholic Church in Zion, headquartered in a seven story building downtown Chicago, with activities spread throughout the city in the form of Zion College, various tabernacles and healing houses, a publishing house, bank, day school, plus housing for worshippers in residence, while holding regular services in some of the largest venues in Chicago to accommodate the huge crowds. From this base his congregation already reached across the US, and overseas. All this amidst considerable opposition and animosity from Chicago city officials and other factions and probably the general population as well. Dowie founded Zion City on land he had purchased to offer a place where his congregation could live, work, and and practice their brand of worship in peace. Unfortunately, Dowie's aspirations grew increasingly eccentric, his family left him, and he was ousted by officials of his congregation and Zion city (one in the same, I think), against whom he evidently fought to remain in charge. This founding father is considered to have been a controversial character. He died 1907, just a few years after Zion City was fully established. References: Wiki article on John Alexander Dowie; Zion Historical Society's article Early History; Stephanie Wolfe's Faith in the City article John Alexander Dowie and Zion City, Illinois; Dowie's newsletters avail online [http://www.iapsop.com/archive/materials/leaves_of_healing/ Leaves of Healing: A Weekly Paper edited by John Alex. Dowie] dating 1894-1909 chronicles the history of the movement in general and Zion City in particular. Cengelbart (talk) 16:35, 14 October 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 3 one external links on Zion, Illinois. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive http://web.archive.org/web/20070601234029/http://dnr.state.il.us:80/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R2/ILBEACH.HTM to http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R2/ILBEACH.HTM
 * Added archive http://www.webcitation.org/6YSasqtfX to http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130911234518/http://factfinder2.census.gov to http://factfinder2.census.gov

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at ).

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 21:54, 20 July 2016 (UTC)

Zion is a reality related to utopias
Thank you for your contributions! Anyway, I wounder how a flat earth planned religous settlement is not related to utopias? Thank you in advance for understanding my point here. --Geysirhead (talk) 07:53, 28 August 2021 (UTC)