What are some amish Mennonite beliefs?

Question

what about dating outside theire religion, and how they view Christ, What would happen if a male had relations with an outsider? I am interested in anything anyone knows about Mennonites. Amish or Old Order Mennonites not holdeman.

Answer 1

Old Order Amish do not purchase health insurance, preferring to pay for health care on their own. In general, informants were open in their response to questions. Theologically, the Old Order Amish are Anabaptists. The key tenets include 1 adult, rather than infant, baptism 2 separation of church and state 3 refusal to bear arms, take oaths, or hold political office 4 excommunication or 'shunning' of members who break the church's moral law and 5 attempting to live life in accordance with the teachings of Christ as described in the Bible Schwieder & Schwieder, 1975.
Mennonites are Trinitarian (i.e., they believe in the doctrine of the Trinity), affirm the Scriptures (especially the New Testament) as the final authority for faith and life, and appeal to the pattern of the early church as their congregational model. They stress the importance of believer's baptism and the public confession of faith. They teach the symbolic understanding of the Lord's Supper, and, in imitation of Jesus, some practice foot washing. The doctrines of nonconformity to the world, church discipline, nonswearing of oaths, and nonresistance (a Mennonite teaching based on New Testament ethics that rejects both war and the use of coercive measures to maintain social order) are affirmed but not practiced universally. Mennonite worship services are sermon-centred. A simple, almost austere liturgy surrounds the Gospel proclamation. Congregational singing is four-part a cappella. In the late 20th century, however, there were many signs of experiment in worship similar to those found in other denominations, including the use of organ music. An "outsider" becoming a "successful" member of the Old Order Amish church is an extremely rare occurrence, but not impossible. However, it is extremely difficult, in the long term, for an "English?" person to give up modern accoutrements for the extreme discipline of the Old Order Amish. Such a conversion would include formal instruction in Amish beliefs and the German language as well as baptism -- not to mention almost impossible and significant lifestyle changes. I know of only two individuals from the outside world who have joined the Old Order Amish church and remain members in good standing today. Several (the Amish call them "seekers") have made the attempt to join, but have failed. However, the Amish are adopting non-Amish infants at an ever increasing rate. Amish individuals are seldom completely comfortable around non-Amish people, or the "English" or "Outsider," as non-Amish are known to the Amish. Although they are to be peaceful, meek, different and a "peculiar" people as commanded by the Bible, they do desire to peacefully co-exist with members of the "world." They understand that, like Jesus who mingled with non-believers, including money-changers and prostitutes, as well as other sinners, they too must gain an accurate understanding of the "worldly" people living in their midst. They understand that they must learn to speak the English language of the non-Amish "English," gain a knowledge of their values and ways and learn how to trade effectively with them. But again, they must always live their lives "separate and different from" the ways of the "world" and further, not to be "unequally yoked together with non-believers... what communion hath light with darkness? Come out from among them, and be separate..." (2 Corinthians 6:14) . The latter verse is a favorite and very important dictate emphasized over and over again by the Amish ministers. It is the major underlying theme of every sermon given at any Amish religious service including weddings and funerals. I remember questioning an Amish father about the meaning of the term "unequally yoked." He explained that it was similar to two horses being hitched together to pull a wagon and that one was a tame, good pulling horse while the other was not broken and therefore would not pull his weight appropriately. His point was, I believe, that if a believer is yoked together with a non-believer, the non-believer will only pull the believer down to his level and/or lead him/her astray. This Biblical dictate also prohibits an Amish person from marrying outside the faith, from going into business with an "English" person, from attending high school, from having insurance of any kind, from collecting social security, pensions, etc. It implies strict separateness from the "world" which adds to their distinctiveness and "peculiarity" as a group. Amish individuals of all ages and gender must avoid intimate connections with any "outsider," any "worldly" person, where and when possible. As noted above, the major tenet of the Amish religion is that separation must exist between those who believe in God and are obedient to Him and those who are "non-believers" and not obedient. Does this mean that they (the Amish) believe that all non Amish are non-believers? No, they feel that one really never knows whether the "English" person one meets and has engaged in conversation is a believer or non-believer. And, of course, an Amish person would never ask a non-Amish person if he/she is a "believer." So, where possible, it is simply best not to "mingle" with "worldly" people. And, most certainly, one should not be a "friend of the world" as is clearly stated in the Bible.

Answer 2

Most Mennonites stay in school at least a full 12 years, and some attend college. Traditionally Amish attend a private parochial school up to the eighth grade and then start on the job vocational training in their chosen profession. Also, eight years in an Amish school does not necessarily equal eight years in a public school. With less distractions, the Amish will cover much more subject matter in eight years than a public school would. A few Amish do continue their education beyond the eight grade, but those would typically be the ones who want to become school teachers.

Answer 3

The only thing I know is that their children have the best rave parties in the whole country. They preferably will not date outside their culture unless they are around 16-18 years old, at this time they are left to the "English world" to see if they like it better than the enclosed zone where they live. They are welcome to comeback at whatever time they decide to do that. I think they may marry someone from outside their culture if: they plan to not go back to their culture, or if the person is willing to become Amish. Mennonites are about the same but weight less strict.