The Mennonites are members of Christian groups belonging to Anabaptist communities (ie, linked to the Protestant movement). The name of this group is based on Menno Simons, a 15th century Christian priest whose ideas caused a group of believers to follow him.
The early beliefs of the Mennonites revolved around the priesthood of Jesus Christ, a belief that the faithful of Anabaptism had held for several centuries. Their beliefs caused them to be persecuted by both the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church, but throughout history Mennonites refused to fight.
The beginnings of the Mennonites occurred in Europe and today there are communities of this religion in 87 countries around the world, with the largest group located in Canada, North America. They have varied religious views, but generally consider themselves a peaceful congregation.
Where are the Mennonites from?
The Mennonites organized in the middle of the 16th century, after a disagreement with Martin Luther (the famous reformer of the Church and who inspired the Protestant Reformation). The ideas of the Mennonites differed from those of Luther, especially on issues of pacifism and the separation of state and church.
Menno Simons had been born in the early 1490s and was a Dutch priest of the Catholic Church, whose ideas were the cause of the Mennonite movement.
Simons decided to leave the Church after studying the New Testament of the Bible, as he sought to understand if the bread and wine really become the blood of Christ at communion.
This is why he joined the Anabaptist movement. There he became a preacher of this branch of the religion and delivered his services until the day of his death in 1561. His impact on Anabaptism was such that believers in this religion came to be called Mennonites, in honor of his name.
Religion
Mennonite beliefs vary depending on each group, their ethnicity, and the region of the world they occupy. The common vision of those who call themselves by this term is pacifism and non-violence.
Its general beliefs are the same as those of Anabaptism. In fact, Mennonites are considered Anabaptist Christians. This religion opposes the baptism of infants, as its adherents assure that this practice is only valid if the person agrees with it.
That is, when an infant is baptized, it is not aware of what is happening. So according to Anabaptism, it is not valid for the Christian faith.
The person to be baptized must be aware of what is happening and must also agree with the practice. According to these beliefs, a confession of faith is required before baptism; otherwise the baptism is not valid.
Although Mennonites are Anabaptists, what makes them a different group is their beliefs in pacifism.
Language
Each Mennonite group uses the language of the country in which they live. However, at the end of the 18th century the Mennonites who settled in southern Russia appropriated a branch of German that to this day bears their name: Mennonite Low German or Plautdietsch.
This type of German was a dialect like any other until it was adapted by the Mennonites. From then on it was used by religious emigrants of this belief when they arrived in the United States, and later in Latin America.
Plautdietsch is spoken by more than 400,000 Mennonites around the world. The dialect has evolved throughout history for 4 centuries, becoming the verbal banner of the Russian Mennonites and being present in Latin countries such as Mexico, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina.
Clothing
The way Mennonites dress sets them apart from the rest of society. The type of clothing they wear to stand out has a religious purpose: according to their beliefs, they should stand out as believers, since they are the ones who represent God and his kingdom on Earth.
Women in modern Mennonite society are not required to dress in a specific way, but they do have to meet a particular attribute: wearing one-piece, one-color dresses, somewhat long and similar to those of Christian nuns.
Men traditionally dress in clothing similar to that of the North American colonists represented on Thanksgiving Day: they wear a hat and suspenders on their black pants.
In modern society, clothing is not as crucial as it was centuries ago, but the simplicity of your clothing should highlight some difference so as not to be overlooked among the rest of the people. Mennonite dress is usually only worn by the most arduous believers of the religion, and not by those who simply sympathize with it.
Customs and traditions
Mennonite beliefs have varied throughout history. Some groups identify themselves as faithful servants of the word of Menno Simons and serve only the New Testament; They do not have a Church or a body to protect them, they only rely on the bible to preach the word of God. These types of believers usually wear simple and traditional clothing.
The most dedicated Mennonites tend to distinguish themselves and separate themselves from all types of religious groups, considering the Mennonite belief as unique and different from the rest. Children are not forced to follow their beliefs, as part of their faith rests in the free choice of whether or not to follow God.
Other groups of Mennonites are more inclined towards evangelical beliefs and demand strict order in their churches. On the other hand, the more traditional groups still use donkeys for transportation and speak only Plautdietsch.
Each group has different thoughts and are affiliated with different branches of the Christian religion; however, all believe in the word of Menno Simons and in the pacifist culture that surrounds Christianity.
References
- Mennonite, Religion; The Writers of Encyclopedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from Britannica.com
- Mennonite clothing, (nd). Taken from thirdway.com
- Mennonites and their origins, (nd), 1984. Taken from nytimes.com
- Mennonites, (nd), March 13, 2018. Taken from Wikipedia.org
- Anabaptism, (nd), March 13, 2018. Taken from Wikipedia.org
- Menno Simons, (nd), January 26, 2018. Taken from Wikipedia.org
- Plautdietsch language, (nd), January 12, 2018. Taken from Wikipedia.org