I'd like to know about the Mennonite religion?

Question

I'd just like to know any facts you can tell me about the Mennonite religion. Why black vehicles? Why do they dress the way they do? Why do the women wear the white caps or black bonnets?
And anything else you can tell me.
I'm simply curious and would like to know. Thanks! :)

Answer 1

oh my goodness....I have seen so many wrong answers here. first and foremost, mennonites are strong christians. Not all mennonites where kapps. and the different colours? different "versions" of mennonites wear different colours of kapps (black or white). typically, the amish wear white kapps, along with some groups of conservative mennonites. in the kansas area, the holderman mennonites wear black kapps. the purpose of the kapps is showing respect for the Lord. the most defining characteristic of the mennonites is anabaptism. this means that one is not baptized as a baby, but rather when they are old enough to understand the bible and accept the Lord Jesus Christ. this started in the 1600s and the anabaptists (mennonites) were persecuted for their beliefs by the Roman Catholic church. the reason that they are called mennonites is because of the founder, Menno Simons. another defining characteristic of mennonites is that they are passafists (spelling error?) this means that we do not believe in fighting at war because of the fact that it would most likely require killing another human being that God has created. this is as much as i can tell you as my anabaptism class is fuzzy in my memory...and yes, i am a general conference mennonite. oh and about the black car...for that "version" of mennonite, any other colour is considered "worldly"...everybody in that mennonite church wants to be on an even playing field....as so somebody doesn't have something better than the other person leading to a pursuit of consumerism rather than a pursuit of the Lord.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I'd like to know about the Mennonite religion?
I'd just like to know any facts you can tell me about the Mennonite religion. Why black vehicles? Why do they dress the way they do? Why do the women wear the white caps or black bonnets?
And anything else you can tell me.
I'm simply curious and would like to know. Thanks! :)

Answer 3

You may be thinking of Amish. There is also an Amish Mennonite. But just plain old Mennonites are pretty regular folk. They are very Baptistic in service. Their beliefs are right on. Only they do not usually fight in the armed forces. Modern city folk may see them as a little old fashioned. They are okay.

Answer 4

Black Bumper Mennonites

Answer 5

I grew up in rural Kansas where Holderman's were very common. As a kid I did not know much about their religious beliefs. I know the girls did not go to school beyond 8th grade. There were a pair of sisters in our class who were very friendly. Beyond 8th grade many became hospital aids. The younger girls always wore their hair in two braids. The older girls/women had the black coverings. The men had beards.They had no televisions and a few times were allowed to spend the night with school friends. They lead very simple lives. Much like Amish.

Answer 6

i grew up in the amish/mennonite area of nothern indiana. i am Protestant. mennonites were considered as "jerked over 'am's" in my day, meaning they were "jerked over the fence" away from the amish religion. there's significance to the fence that i've never really understood. white bonnets are virginal (maybe) and black means matrimony or engagement. why the black cars -NO COLOR ALOUD!! their thinking is that color attracts attention, embellishment of any kind is a sin. they are truly wonderful people to be amongst, my best childhood friends were of this persuasion.

Answer 7

They are Christians first and foremost.

Like any other religion, they base their actions and dress on the bible.

The bible does not command us to live as the minnonites, but it does not tell us not to either.

They base their way of life on trying to stay as pure of worldly influence as possible. Dress styles stay the exact same, to avoid the fashion stress of the world.

Vehicles are black because they choose that color, but honestly I have seen them (as they live in my community) with cars of other colors, so not sure why you think they must be black. Might be thinking of the amish on this one. THey do not own vehicles, but their buggies are black. Just a color chosen and kept in order to keep people from having to think they have to change things in order to keep up with the Jonses (so to speak)

The bonnets are something they have done throughout the history of their way of worship. They may at some point decide to go without them, but probably not. This bonnet keeps them from having to deal with different hairstyles and worldly influence of what they must look like to be accepted.

Its mostly about keeping all in the flock on the same level. No one is more fashionable, or more this or more that.

This same thing is being done in some really bad areas in schools who have went to uniforms. This has really cut down on peer pressure to have the newest and so called best clothing shoes, etc.

Answer 8

Here are some of the official sites,
http://www.mennoniteusa.org/
http://www.mennonite.net/
http://www.themennonite.org/

And, the wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mennonite

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Old Order
There are many distinct groups of what are known today as Old Order Mennonites. Some groups use horse and buggies for transporation and speak German while other drive cars and speak English. What most Old Orders share in common is conservative doctrine, dress, and traditions, common roots in 19th and early 20th century schisms, and a refusal to participate in politics and other so-called 'sins of the world'. Most Old Order groups also school their children in parochial schools (?).

Horse and Buggy Old Order Mennonites came from the main series of Old Order schisms that began in 1872 and ended in 1901 as conservative Mennonites fought the radical changes that the influence of 19th century American revivalism had on Mennonite worship. Most Horse and Buggy Old Order Mennonites allow the use of tractors for farming although some groups insist on steel-wheeled tractors to prevent tractors from being used for road transportation. Like the Stauffer or Pike Mennonites, they stress separation from the world, excommunicate and wear plain clothes. Unlike the Stauffer or Pike Mennonites their form of the Ban is less severe as the excommunicant is not shunned, therefore is not excluded from the family table, shunned by a spouse or cutoff from business dealings.
Automobile Old Order Mennonites also evolved from the main series of Old Older schisms from 1872-1901. They often share the same meeting houses with, and adhere to almost identical forms of Old Order worship as their Horse and Buggy Old Order brethen with whom they parted ways in the early 1900's. Although this group began using cars in 1927 they were required to be plain and painted black. The largest group of Automobile Old Orders are still known today as 'Black Bumper' Mennonites because some members still paint their chrome bumpers black.

Stauffer Mennonites
Stauffer or Pike Mennonites represent the first and most conservative form of Horse and Buggy Mennonites. They were founded in 1845 following conflicts about how to discipline child and spouse abuse by a few Mennonite church members. They almost immediately began to schism into separate churches themselves. Today these groups are among the most conservative of all Swiss Mennonites outside the Amish. They stress strict separation from "the world", adhere to "strict withdrawal from and shunning of apostate and separated members", forbid and limit cars and technology much like the Amish and wear very plain clothing. They are now considered to be part of the larger less-conservative Horse and Buggy Old Order Mennonite group which formed from later schisms.

Conservative
Conservative Mennonites are generally considered those Mennonites who maintain somewhat conservative dress as well as regulations on television and radio, although accepting most other technology. They are not a unified group and are divided into various independent conferences such as the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church conference. Despite the rapid changes that precipitated the Old Order schisms in the last quarter of the 19th century, most Mennonites in the United States and Canada retained a core of traditional beliefs and 'Plain' practices into the beginning of the 20th century. However, intense struggles in the United States and Canada between conservative and progressive leaders began in the first half of the 20th century and continue to some extent today. Following WWII a conservative movement emerged from scattered separatist groups as a reaction to these changes. 'Plain' became passé as open criticisms of traditional beliefs and practices broke out in the 1950's and 60's. The first conservative withdrawals from the progressive group began in the 1950's. These withdrawals continue to the present day in what is now the growing Conservative Movement formed from Mennonite schisms and/or from combinations with progressive Amish groups. Other Conservative Mennonite groups descend from the former Amish-Mennonite churches, who split from the Old Order Amish in the latter part of the 19th century. There are also other Conservative Mennonite churches that descend from more recent groups that have left the Amish.

Moderate
Moderate Mennonites include the largest denominations, the Mennonite Brethren and the Mennonite Church. In most forms of worship and practice they differ very little from other conservative evangelical protestant congregations. There is no special form of dress and no restrictions on use of technology. Worship styles vary greatly between different congregations. There is no formal liturgy; services typically consist of singing, scripture reading, prayer and a sermon. Some churches prefer hymns and choirs; others make use of contemporary Christian music with electronic instruments.

Mennonite congregations are self-supporting, and appoint their own ministers. There is no requirement for ministers to be approved by the denomination, and sometimes minsters from other denominations will be appointed. A small sum, based on membership numbers, is paid to the denomination, which is used to support central functions such as publication of newsletters and interactions with other denominations and other countries.

The distinguishing characteristics of moderate Mennonite churches tend to be ones of emphasis rather than rule. There is an emphasis on peace, on community and service. However members do not live in community - they participate in the general community as 'salt and light'. The main elements of Menno Simons doctrine are retained, but in a moderated form. Banning is hardly ever practiced, and would in any event have much less effect than those denominations where community is more tight-knit. Excommunication can occur, and was notably applied by the Mennonite Brethren to members who joined the military during the Second World War. Service in the military is generally not permitted, but service in the legal profession or law enforcement is.

Outreach and help to the wider community at home and abroad is encouraged. Mennonite Central Committee is a leader in foreign aid provision. Ten Thousand Villages acts as a reseller of fair trade goods.

Progressive
The Germantown Mennonite Church and about 5 other churches who welcome homosexuals and are much more liberal than other Mennonites make up this classification.