NationStates Jolt Archive

They give their offspring a choice, they force no religious beliefs upon them.

They give their offspring a choice, they force no religious beliefs upon them.

Is that all?

Well, yeah. I admire the commitment to family ideals and greatly respect their discipline and ability (I admit it freely, I could not endure what they do), but my main admiration goes to the fact that they are the only western religion I know of that gives their children a choice.

Ah. I, too have great respect for their courage in choosing the lives they do. There is something about the austerity and simplicity of such a lifestyle that greatly attracts me.

What rules do the Amish live by?

I also tend to respect religious sects that go against the norm (SOME of them, not all, not the ones that believe we will rule another planet when we pass on :P )

Where I live there are a lot of Mennonites and Hudderites. Hudderites are a lot like the Amish, with a bit more technology, they kind of pick and choose. They drive big vans around though, and come into my store to buy pots and pans in their old fashioned clothes, with their thick German accents.

I love all Mennonites, I've decided :) my best friend and her boyfriend are mennonites, and they are less extreme (well, this generation, really not extreme at all) than the Hudderites. They oppose conflict and weapons (yay them!) and are based on strong family values and a firm community. I really have a lot of respect for them.

I also tend to respect religious sects that go against the norm (SOME of them, not all, not the ones that believe we will rule another planet when we pass on :P )

Where I live there are a lot of Mennonites and Hudderites. Hudderites are a lot like the Amish, with a bit more technology, they kind of pick and choose. They drive big vans around though, and come into my store to buy pots and pans in their old fashioned clothes, with their thick German accents.

I love all Mennonites, I've decided :) my best friend and her boyfriend are mennonites, and they are less extreme (well, this generation, really not extreme at all) than the Hudderites. They oppose conflict and weapons (yay them!) and are based on strong family values and a firm community. I really have a lot of respect for them.

Yay you!

I'm Mennonite; we're like Amish with cars, phones, and computers.

I would sum up beliefs by saying we taking the Sermon on the Mount very seriously, the rest of the New Testament seriously, and everything else with a grain of salt.

The thing that is hardest for most newcomers is that we are answerable to the community. If we mess up, we need to 'fess up.

Otherwise there is a lot of freedom.

We encourage our teens to go to other churches, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, check out their fellowship, see how it feels. Everything must be done in freedom of conscience, not by force.

Here's a good site for Americans (the Canadians are cooler, imho):
http://www.thirdway.com/

I also tend to respect religious sects that go against the norm (SOME of them, not all, not the ones that believe we will rule another planet when we pass on :P )

Where I live there are a lot of Mennonites and Hudderites. Hudderites are a lot like the Amish, with a bit more technology, they kind of pick and choose. They drive big vans around though, and come into my store to buy pots and pans in their old fashioned clothes, with their thick German accents.

I love all Mennonites, I've decided :) my best friend and her boyfriend are mennonites, and they are less extreme (well, this generation, really not extreme at all) than the Hudderites. They oppose conflict and weapons (yay them!) and are based on strong family values and a firm community. I really have a lot of respect for them.

Yay you!

I'm Mennonite; we're like Amish with cars, phones, and computers.

I would sum up beliefs by saying we taking the Sermon on the Mount very seriously, the rest of the New Testament seriously, and everything else with a grain of salt.

The thing that is hardest for most newcomers is that we are answerable to the community. If we mess up, we need to 'fess up.

Otherwise there is a lot of freedom.

We encourage our teens to go to other churches, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, check out their fellowship, see how it feels. Everything must be done in freedom of conscience, not by force.

Here's a good site for Americans (the Canadians are cooler, imho):
http://www.thirdway.com/

Yay you!

I'm Mennonite; we're like Amish with cars, phones, and computers.

I would sum up beliefs by saying we taking the Sermon on the Mount very seriously, the rest of the New Testament seriously, and everything else with a grain of salt.

The thing that is hardest for most newcomers is that we are answerable to the community. If we mess up, we need to 'fess up.

Otherwise there is a lot of freedom.

We encourage our teens to go to other churches, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, check out their fellowship, see how it feels. Everything must be done in freedom of conscience, not by force.

Here's a good site for Americans (the Canadians are cooler, imho):
http://www.thirdway.com/

There's a restaraunt run by Mennonites near where I went to college. The food is really good and well priced =) I think some of the rules are quaint but neat, like the whole no makeup and making your own clothest thing. The only problem I have is the whole "a man is the boss of a woman" thing.

Yay you!

I'm Mennonite; we're like Amish with cars, phones, and computers.

I would sum up beliefs by saying we taking the Sermon on the Mount very seriously, the rest of the New Testament seriously, and everything else with a grain of salt.

The thing that is hardest for most newcomers is that we are answerable to the community. If we mess up, we need to 'fess up.

Otherwise there is a lot of freedom.

We encourage our teens to go to other churches, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, check out their fellowship, see how it feels. Everything must be done in freedom of conscience, not by force.

Here's a good site for Americans (the Canadians are cooler, imho):
http://www.thirdway.com/

There's a restaraunt run by Mennonites near where I went to college. The food is really good and well priced =) I think some of the rules are quaint but neat, like the whole no makeup and making your own clothest thing. The only problem I have is the whole "a man is the boss of a woman" thing.

I know of many conservative Christians who espouse that philosophy, but I've never seen any of them abuse the authority they supposedly have. My grandfather, a pastor at the local Church of Christ, is a biblical literalist, and while he may believe that ultimately the decisions are up to the man, he certainly acknowledges the fact that my grandmother truly runs the show, and respects her decisions. Generally, I have found that balance struck by the admonition to husbands "love your wives as yourself, care for them, etc" and the instruction that wives should be"subordinate" to the husband is an equitable one if followed in practice, although it is certainly not my preference or belief.

Yay you!

I'm Mennonite; we're like Amish with cars, phones, and computers.

I would sum up beliefs by saying we taking the Sermon on the Mount very seriously, the rest of the New Testament seriously, and everything else with a grain of salt.

The thing that is hardest for most newcomers is that we are answerable to the community. If we mess up, we need to 'fess up.

Otherwise there is a lot of freedom.

We encourage our teens to go to other churches, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, check out their fellowship, see how it feels. Everything must be done in freedom of conscience, not by force.

Here's a good site for Americans (the Canadians are cooler, imho):
http://www.thirdway.com/

There's a restaraunt run by Mennonites near where I went to college. The food is really good and well priced =) I think some of the rules are quaint but neat, like the whole no makeup and making your own clothest thing. The only problem I have is the whole "a man is the boss of a woman" thing.

I know of many conservative Christians who espouse that philosophy, but I've never seen any of them abuse the authority they supposedly have. My grandfather, a pastor at the local Church of Christ, is a biblical literalist, and while he may believe that ultimately the decisions are up to the man, he certainly acknowledges the fact that my grandmother truly runs the show, and respects her decisions. Generally, I have found that balance struck by the admonition to husbands "love your wives as yourself, care for them, etc" and the instruction that wives should be"subordinate" to the husband is an equitable one if followed in practice, although it is certainly not my preference or belief.

My wife asked if I thought I should give the orders in the family, and I replied "why should we change around at this late date?" :P

My wife asked if I thought I should give the orders in the family, and I replied "why should we change around at this late date?" :P

Hehe...that sounds very like my parents and grandparents. :D