aLoneVoice said:
What do you think about us "Anabaptists" (33%) 11 ? :D
By the way - it is nice to meet you. I notice that you have a long history here - good to see you back!
Hi aLoneVoice. Thanks for the welcome!
I am not that familiar with
Mennonites - I have only read about their lifestyle and interest in godly living. Sounds good but I hope it does not go as far as the monks who lock themselves away from society in the Roman Catholic tradition. That seems to go against the Bible and involvement with our neighbour. How can you possibly be a 'good Samaritan' when you are closeted away in some monastery? Now I know Mennonites are not in monasteries but do they not think of themselves as so chosen (a called out fellowship of believers) that they remove themselves from involvement in the secular world?
I understand that both
Mennonites and
Quakers have a historic tendency to non-violence. I was like that many years ago when I was an atheist and a idealistic student! I must say that George Bush is making me rethink my current stance. Maybe the Mennonites and Quakers are right.... but I do tend more towards the 'just war' thinking. My recent experiences and where I live suggest that the 'war' against apartheid in South Africa was 'just' after all peaceful efforts had failed. So someone like Nelson Mandela (for me anyway) seems to have got the balance right in all respects. His initial peaceful opposition to apartheid, his decision later to target only military and government targets and finally, his Christ-like ability to forgive.
I think he is a
Methodist!
I won't get into the Anabaptist theology of rebaptism.
In reading about Anabaptists, I can see how they would have been persecuted by the Roman Catholic 'church' (who has the Roman Catholic 'church' NOT persecuted??), by the Protestants and by the state.
The little I have read about Menno Simons - sharing resources, living simplistically, care for the poor, sick and widows - I can identify with all of that.
The link between Mennonites and Quakers (I think) would run deeper than only non-violence. If Mennonites settled in Pennsylvania, they would have been in contact with Quaker William Penn.
Lastly, again out of my own ignorance, I am not sure how Mennonites and
Amish differ or share beliefs. I probably have seen Amish community living and thought it was Mennonite or Anabaptist. So please excuse me if I have jumbled up some of your beliefs and traditions.
So.... unlike Roman Catholicism which I have studied and rejected, I can immediately identify with several 'Godly living' and 'simplistic living' traditions of Anabaptists.
Please tell me more and correct me where I have misunderstood your beliefs and traditions.
Kind regards
Gary
