Just Who Are The Mennonites?
The Mennonites are a very diverse and unusual group of Christians. They range from border-line Amish to the more liberal of religious groups. Like most Christians, they ground their beliefs in the Bible and are committed to nonviolence, nonresistance and pacifism.
More specifically, their traditions include the authority of Scripture and the Holy Spirit; salvation through conversion by the Spirit of God; believer’s baptism, usually by pouring or immersion; discipline in the church (including shunning in some congregations); and the Lord’s Supper as a memorial rather than as a sacrament or Christian rite (Third Way Cafe, 2014).
There is a wide scope of worship, doctrine and traditions among Mennonites today. Old Order Mennonites use horse and buggy for transportation and speak Pennsylvania Dutch (similar to German). They refuse to participate in politics and other so-called “sins of the world.” Most Old Order groups also school their children in church-operated schools. Traditionally, they used horses to pull the farm equipment, but within the past ten years some are now using steel-wheeled tractors for farm work.
Conservative Mennonites maintain conservative dress but accept most other technology. They are not a unified group and are divided into various independent conferences. Moderate Mennonites differ very little from other conservative, evangelical Protestant congregations. There are no special form of dress and no restrictions on use of technology. They emphasize peace, community and service.
Other groups of Mennonites have established their own colleges and universities and have taken a step away from strict Bible teaching. They ordain women pastors, embrace homosexual unions, and practice a fa...
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... different organizations in their neighborhoods, their states, and even on a national and global scale.
Works Cited
Ed. Bender, Harold S., and Smith, C. Henry. “Menno Simons.” The Mennonite Encyclopedia. Scottdale: Mennonite Publishing House, 1963. 580. Print.
Krahn, Cornelius and John D. Rempel. "Communion." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1989. Web. 14 Apr 2014. http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Communion&oldid=120975.
Kraybill, Donald B. “Overview.” Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites and Mennonites. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 2010. xiv-xv. Print.
Herald Press. "Article 22. Peace, Justice, and Nonresistance ." Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Scottsdale: Herald Press, 1995. Document.
Third Way Cafe. (2014). Retrieved from Mennonite USA: http://www.thirdway.com/menno/?Topic=23_Basic+Beliefs
Huebner, Harry. “The politics of memory and hope.” Mennonite Quarterly Review 76, no. 1 (2002): 35-48. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed November 14, 2013).
The Amish people, who are considered as conservative Protestants, believe in the readings of the bible. Most Amish people also have the Martyr’s Mirror, which is the book of Amish history and tells about the Amish, Mennonites, and Anabaptists who died for their faith. There is also a newspaper that many Amish and Mennonite communities use called the Budget, which is still p...
The Amish religion is one of high standards. They strive to keep away from modernism and to keep the basic principles of their faith. The Amish live on their own and care for their own things without the help of outsiders. By isolating themselves from the modern world the Amish keep a strong faith. They have good values and try to continue showing those values through their children and grandchildren.
Peace Shall Destroy Many, by Rudy Wiebe, is considered to be a groundbreaking novel. When first published in 1962, it became the, “first realistic novel ever written about Mennonites in western Canada” (RandomHouse.ca). The novel takes place during World War II, and is set in a community that has cut itself off from the rest of the world to strengthen their relationship with Christ. The founder of the community, Peter Block, leads this community to follow the traditional path of those before them, known as “the fathers.” It is the community’s Christian values of peace and love that are called into question by the 20-year old farmer, Thom Wiens, the main character in the novel. In John 15:12, the Bible states: “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you” (New American Standard Bible, John. 15.12). By reading Peace Shall Destroy Many, the reader discovers that, in the Mennonite religion, this commandment means that everyone must be treated and loved equally. However, it is the inconsistent use of this commandant, by Thom's community that leads him to question the views and opinions of various influential people in his life. Thom sees that this commandment is applied inconsistently when trying to explain why certain members of the community were treated the way they were, why the Mennonites are pacifists, and why the Mennonites do not associate with the nearby Métis. It is through Thom's questions, on his quest to find truth, that he develops as an individual.
During this war, actually driven by economic concerns, many religious radical groups were forming among the Roundheads. One of the most important groups was formed in 1650, and was later dubbed the “Quakers.” This religious movement held that the presence and grace of God was inside of everyone; they felt no need for elaborate church services, priests, or offerings of any kind.
...en that work for them and whether or not they need the benefit of contraception. Moreover I agree with the point that the women Justices aggressively questioned if ruled in the Mennonite’s favor, then what else would be allowed to refuse coverage of other procedures and treatment that affect people’s lives. This could be seen as cherry picking the Mennonite religion as far as only considering the things that cost more money to the company would later be consider against their religion, thus deeming it as unconstitutional. I feel that this would be a manipulation of the system. I concur with the Affordable Care Act; this is a great start to fixing our country’s Health care issues and holding every one accountable for America’s health care. This will also further stimulate a growing economy and exerts fair coverage for everyone. I foresee a bright future for the ACA.
There is a lot of debate and confusion on the topic regarding whether or not Mormons are related to Protestants, or even Christians. The founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, did in fact come from a Protestant background, and many Protestant presuppositions create a part of the foundation of Mormonism. According to the Catholic Church, it is incorrect to call Mormons Protestants, or even Christians. Gordon Hinckley, the former president and prophet of the Mormon Church, says that he and his co-religionists "are no closer to Protestantism than they are to Catholicism." The doctrines and teachings of the LDS are very different from those of the Roman Catholic Church, and Christianity. There are several differences between Catholicism and Mormonism. Perhaps the single thing that the Mormon church holds most unique to itself is its use of The Book of Mor...
The large majority of female concerns are tremendously private and the action of childbearing and birth are of no exception. The average pregnancy is 280 days or about 9 months which holds true to the culture as well, but it is so strongly believed that it is Gods will that one becomes pregnant that in many cases it is unknown until positive physical changes have occurred (Jarvis, 2016; Kulig et al., 2008). Most often even if pregnancy is known, Mennonite women do not go for prenatal care until late in the pregnancy or if an issue is encountered. In a study of low-German speaking Mennonites from Mexico and Canada many women stated or agreed with the statement of one
Decisional Conflict R/T Cultural, religious and family beliefs AEB Amish typically do not believe in preventative medicine (Prenatal testing and immunizations).
Melton, J. Gordon, James A. Beverley, Constance M. Jones, and Pamela Susan Nadell. Melton's encyclopedia of American religions. 8th ed. Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
Frequently, Amish and Mennonite cultures are considered confusing. With both the Amish and Mennonite coming from common historical roots, they still have their similarities and differences. Amish and Mennonites (2013) states that both groups grew out of the Anabaptist movement which arose in 1525 in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Protestant Reformation movement brought on by Martin Luther. (Amish and Mennonite, 2013). With once being considered one, they still share some of the same qualities. This paper will discuss the differences and similarities between both the Amish and Mennonite cultures, including their material objects, beliefs, behaviors, and symbols.
Naka, T. (2010). Faith At Work: Mennonite Beliefs and Occupations. Ethnology: An International Journal of Cultural and Social Anthropology 47. Retrieved January 27, 2014 from http://ethnology.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Ethnology/article/view/6040/6217
Often it seems that in our day and age religion has taken a back seat to science and reason. Many see religion in the same context as folklore, mythology, or as merely moral philosophy. I think this is especially true in the United States of any religion that is not mainstream Protestant Christianity. Even Christianity is not as strong as it once was. However, it does bear relevance in our lives, because the majority of people in the United States still practice some form of Protestantism. However, the focus of this paper is Native American religion as presented in Gardens in the Dunes as a counter to the progress of Protestantism and science. Specifically, I will be looking at the scene of the coming of the Messiah. What is interesting about
The Hutterian Brethren, more commonly known as “Hutterites”, possess many similarities and differences to my own culture as a North American Christian. The life of a Hutterite society is characterized by their historical background, geographical distribution, language, unique cultural aspects, and threats within the colony. I have always been fascinated and curious by the consistent and well-structured way of living that the Hutterites have accomplished over many generations. Ironically, it was the first culture that was spoken about in the anthropology course and book by Michael Allen Park. Therefore, I have chosen to compare and contrast my culture, which I live in today, with the Hutterian Brethren civilization, to further
Eastman, Roger. The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. N.Y. 1999