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Mennonites
The Mennonites are a community based Christian Anabaptist group. They have strong beliefs in non-violence.
208 Questions
An English is someone who did not grow up in an Amish family - even if they grew up in China and don't speak English.
If you grew up in an Amish family, speaking Amish as your native language, is Amish, even if they never join the church.
Someone who leaves the church after becoming a church member are shunned, but they never becomes English. They are still Amish.
In most languages, there are words that mean "one of us" and other words that mean "not one of us". Almost always, there is an element of trustworthiness and civilized behavior implicit in the semantics. The N-word is the most reviled word in the language, despite literally just meaning "black." Montenegro is the Black Mountain of what used to be Yugoslavia, and finch feed used to be sold as Niger seed; now it's labelled "Black Thistle". If native Americans had been a little more successful in getting athletic teams to change their names, we might recognize that "Redskin" is equally offensive. After all, pirates and buccaneers are also dishonest, violent and treacherous, the native didn't choose to be inhuman, he was born that way.
But interestingly, the shunned are still considered Amish; they may be backsliders, but they are still recognized as inherently "one of us" and not one of those (pitiful?) English. Whether this is being nice to the shunned, or nasty to the English, is a judgment each of us decides for himself.
I live in the midst of Amish country in the Lancaster, PA area. The farm across the road from us is Amish and we talk to them almost weekly. Also had work done by Amish contractors.
We find them totally non-judgemental and we respect their way of life as do most of us "English" people in this area.
To tourists the Amish or Mennonites may look odd, because they dress different, but the local people don't notice.
Do Mennonites believe in Santa Claus?
Believing in Santa Claus or not believing in Santa Claus has nothing to do with Mennonite practices. The little kids in our Mennonite church love the idea of a big red fat man with a ton of facial hair quickly and quietly coming into their house and giving them Star Wars mugs, bicycles, and an Xbox at 12:00 A.M. So there you go. (I am a Mennonite by the way; and yes, Mennonites do believe in the use of computers; no, Mennonites are not of the Amish - the Amish are actually from the Mennonites - it's the Amish that don't believe in the use of computers)
Why doesn't the Catholic Presbyterian Quaker Amish and Mennonite do death penalty?
They disapprove of killing. "Vengeance is mine, saith the lord."
Incidentally, the Methodists disapprove of the death penalty as well - but they fought to make elective abortion legal. Why other churches think a human life is precious before birth, but undeserving of life once it is born, is probably a better question.
Why did the mennonites oppose slavery and prejudice?
Due to their religious beliefs, namely, that all men are made in the image of God and that everyone in the world are brothers and sisters through Christ Jesus, Mennonites believe that it is morally wrong to enslave any person (since all are part of the family of God). For those same reasons, Mennonites believe in equality and nonviolence.
Turkey is the name of the Hard Red Winter Wheat and is a tall, winter hardy cultivar, grown in the Great Plains. This wheat variety has a unique, rich, and complex flavor and excellent baking qualities. Production methods used are nearly identical to those used for other hard winter wheat, with the exception of accommodating the significantly taller growth habit and later date of harvest.
This particular variety can be traced to Crimea between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in the early 19th century and earlier to Turkey to the south of the Black Sea. Mennonite immigrants brought it to the United States in the early 1870s, introducing it to the areas surrounding Marian, Reno and Harvey Counties in Kansas. It became the dominant hard red winter wheat in Kansas and much of the Great Plains bread basket and was the major hard winter variety in the 1920s. Significant acreage was planted in Kansas until the mid-1940s when it was replaced with modern higher-yielding cultivars.
Currently, 'Turkey' wheat is grown in a few small plots by hobby growers but the variety has virtually disappeared from the agricultural and gastronomical landscape. Today, few people under thirty have heard the story of Mennonite families fleeing Tsarist persecution and coming to Kansas with trunks of hand-selected 'Turkey' wheat seed. Bryce Stephens of Jennings, Kansas has planted 100 acres, which is likely the largest planting of 'Turkey' wheat in many decades and this planting was harvested during the summer of 2009. With the hope of making more wheat available, increased planting acreage is planned for the coming years. Increased planting and active usage of this variety will help maintain its genetic diversity and viability.
This was originally brought to the US and Canadian Midwest but it did also make it over to California.
Kate Gosselin is not Mennonite, she and her family attend a Assembly of God Church.
Does the Mennonite Church Canada permit same-sex marriage?
The Confession of Faith of the Mennonite Church Canada states that marriage is between one man and one woman for life. However, in 2014, the Church announced that it would allow individual congregations to decide for themselves whether to permit same-sex couples to marry. On December 31, 2104, the first such marriage was performed in Osler, Saskatchewan.
What are the do's and don'ts of mennonites?
Mennonites typically adhere to principles of simplicity, community, and non-violence, emphasizing a lifestyle that reflects their faith. Do's include participating in community service, practicing humility, and valuing peaceful living. Don'ts often involve avoiding violence, materialism, and behaviors that disrupt community harmony, such as gossip or judgment. Additionally, many Mennonites refrain from modern conveniences that may detract from their communal values, depending on their specific group or denomination.
Are there any mennonites in Ontario?
Yes, there are Mennonites in Ontario. The province is home to a significant Mennonite population, particularly in areas like Waterloo Region, where many live in traditional farming communities. These groups often maintain their distinct religious and cultural practices, including plain dress and a focus on community and family life. Ontario's Mennonites are part of a broader network of Mennonite communities found across Canada and the United States.
