Whenever anyone discovers that I grew up as Mennonite, they instantly become curious, lean in and interrogate me with questions. So what is it like living with out electricity? What is it like riding a horse and buggy? What language did you speak?
I don’t mind answering these questions because Mennonite culture is a very closed society that doesn’t allow for joiners. No one can become a Mennonite. Unless you’re born into it, there is no way of getting in.
The biggest problem though is the one question people don’t ask: You’re a Mennonite, not Amish correct? Thanks to Hollywood, everyone assumes that both Mennonite and Amish are the same. In terms of religion, we are fairly similar as we are both Judeo–Christian but the lifestyle, appearance and traditions are completely different.
For the differences in appearance, take a look at the photos to the right. As is clearly evident, we dress differently. As well, Amish men grow beards while Mennonites see it as unclean. Mennonite women wear colourful and patterned dresses while Amish stick to the solid and often dark coloured garb.
Our lifestyle choices are much different too. Mennonites are much more modern and now allow members to drive cars and trucks, use tractors and have electricity in the home. Amish on the other hand reserve these earthly technologies for work only. For example an Amish man who owns a construction company will have a van and cellphones for his crew of Amish labourers. However, he will hire a heathen to drive the van for him but is at the end of the day the owner of the technologies.
We also speak different languages. Amish speak a Pennsylvania Dutch while we Mennonites speak a Dutch German dialect called Plautdietsch.
There are many differences between the Amish and Mennonites and will proceed to dispel the rumors in the weeks and months to come but it is most important to realize there is a difference between the two.
And before any Mennonites who also read this blog throw up their arms in despair, yes I am generalizing for this initial post. Both Mennonites and Amish vary based on location. Mennonites in Canada have different views and dress compared to those in Paraguay or Mexico. Same can be said for the Amish.
Mennonites on the left, Amish to the right.
This post was meant mostly for those who have never had the view from inside the buggy.
(4.40 out of 5)
November 18, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Terrific content Cornelius. This blog post is both informative and entertaining, and in my opinion, it raises the barn on what we offer as a community.
November 18, 2010 at 11:40 am
I am glad you enjoyed it. I plan to hopefully create fresh content on a regular basis and blow the lid on a culture tightly closed for hundreds of years!
November 18, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Excellent Mennonite targeting.
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May 4, 2011 at 12:12 pm
I can’t decide how much of your site is supposed to be satire. I was raised Mennonite and am thoroughly indistinguishable from your average heathen. Why, I cut my hair, shave my legs, wear jeans, wear jewelry, drive a car… but I’m guessing you knew that.
May 4, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Much like you, I would be indistinguishable in a crowd. This blog is meant to be a retelling of my more traditional experiences growing up in a Mennonite community.
May 11, 2011 at 8:21 pm
I’m getting that idea now having read that you grew up Old Colony. Makes much more sense.
Whereas I was an urban PK.
May 12, 2011 at 8:23 am
Urban PK?
May 18, 2011 at 8:34 am
Sorry for the long delay in answering — Pastor’s Kid. I grew up in the Philadelphia area and Fort Wayne, Ind. both fairly urban US settings. HUGE difference between that and the Old Colony communities in Paraguay … I’d guess even for a Menno kid your experience was atypical.
January 21, 2012 at 4:11 pm
I agree.
August 3, 2011 at 12:47 pm
“No one can become a Mennonite. Unless you’re born into it, there is no way of getting in.”
I’ve noticed that is not true for all Mennonite churches, some are quite open to new members. There are Mennonites of all races around the world. Does your statment apply to ‘old-order’ groups?
August 3, 2011 at 1:05 pm
There is an exception to every rule, yes. Many modern Mennonite churches welcome new people with open arms. It tends to be the more traditional communities that live off to themselves that don’t like strangers. These people in general close themselves off to everything outside their world though.
This blog was meant to mostly deal with the older order Mennonite communities that I grew up in. If i tried to include every Mennonite in this blog, I’d be writing forever so I created a disclaimer instead.
Glad to see people are keeping me in check.
August 5, 2011 at 8:39 am
I am joining a conservative Mennonite church and they do welcome new members.
December 23, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Glad someone corrected this statement. Its been my experience in both GC/MC (Liberal) Mennonite church, welcome all, and in conservative, but using modern conviences also welcoming. I have not know old order, although I have also attended the Beach Amish Group… very similar to conservative Mennonite (again not old order). I have friends though who joined an old order about 10 years ago, they are still with them.
August 22, 2011 at 1:12 am
Hey man, I read all of your blogs and I enjoyed every single one of them. I just moved to Seminole, tx about 3 years ago. Huge Mennonite population here. Ive been interested since I moved here. Thanks!
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September 17, 2011 at 4:51 am
You make the comment that one must be born into the Mennonite Faith. This is simply not true, as I am member of Canadian Mennonite Brethern Church on Confession, not even Baptism. I was Bapstised in the Baptist Faith. This extremely common place.
I think your experiences are very atypical.
September 17, 2011 at 9:20 am
Correct! That is why I started this blog. Having grown up in a very traditional Mennonite community, I felt it would make for an interesting read.
October 14, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Thanks for this interesting website. I would love to hear more about when you left the community, how old you were, why and how you did so, and your feelings at the time. Do you sometimes feel that the Mennonite part of you lingers on, inside the new you? Any personal reflections would be interesting to read. Best wishes to you. Linda G
January 21, 2012 at 4:17 pm
There is a great difference in the old order Amish vs. the Mennonites. The Old Order Amish also have the ordnung and don’t always have a choice of what part of the Bible they can read. They don’t always believe that they can know they are saved and are waiting for God to make that choice fore them when they die. If they would read all of the scripture they would know the whole truth.
February 1, 2012 at 12:14 am
I have gone to an old order mennonite church i was invited by a lady i meet in town and went to church and loved it they were all so kind i must say i felt more welcome there then i have in alot of churches
February 14, 2012 at 5:29 pm
I appreciate this blog, its an opening for discussion. At 19 God lead me to back out of a Mission trip to New Orleans and go meet some Mennonite people in Tennessee (Black Bumper) the reality is that the particular group had a way of life I’d never known. But one kind family living for Jesus, faithful to their belief in a closely literal interpretation of God’s Word has actually done more to inspire me on in my Christian growth than anything else in my life. There are many shades of Mennonites, but the foundational Biblical principle behind every practice is nearly the same. In leaving the culture, have you left your faith and beliefs?
February 28, 2012 at 12:17 am
Iam curious about myself and my last name. Would i have any connection to the religion. Iam of german backgound. reply please.
March 8, 2012 at 7:56 am
i am, what i call, a hyphenated Mennonite. i was raised Brethren-in-Christ, married into the mennonite community (on the extreme liberal end of the spectrum of mennonites), meditated with the Catholics for 20 years and worshiped on Sunday evenings with the Pentecostals for 10 years————-so needless to say, my Mennonite experience varies greatly from yours————in fact i wonder if there can be too much acceptance!!!! i am glad to see your disclaimer !!
March 8, 2012 at 10:58 pm
The only thing I can’t agree with you here is that people aren’t accepted into the religion. I was raised Catholic and married a Liberal Mennonite woman. I have not only adopted the belief, but participate in the church community. I was in search of a better belief and Mennonite is it. We also need to understand that Liberal Mennonite is a very different style then conservative, which I understand, but the idea is simply community, fellowship and belief in God… which I can fully attest to.
June 7, 2012 at 1:07 pm
I read your disclaimer. I fear that far to few people will read it and take what you are writing as truth. I am a practicing Mennonite, and I think you are way, way off base. I am disappointed that you choose to continue the false stereotypes. I would challenge you to pick me out of a crowd as a Mennonite. We do not dress different. I also want it to be clear that you do NOT have to be ‘born a Mennonite’ in order to join a Mennonite church. I am sorry that you apparently had a bad experience, but please do not tar and feather the whole church based on your bad experience.
July 19, 2012 at 10:10 pm
is there such thing as a liberal mennonite. sounds like an oxymoron, but just wondering
August 14, 2012 at 11:19 am
There sure are. All types all across the scale.
September 2, 2012 at 8:10 am
As with any “religious” group there is stereotyping. I have found blog dispelling the myths of the Methodist and Catholic alike. After my parents divorced, I finished my childhood in an old world Catholic home. Religion was practiced but Christian faith was not. It is the practice of religion, which Jesus spoke against, even of His own people. Religion kills; it is the true follower of Christ, which understands righteousness with grace and mercy. It was Rod and Staff that taught my children and I of a merciful God. I am saddened by religion no matter its source, for it produces the same result, those distant from God by the practices that would appear right but are not.
Mrs. J.
December 12, 2012 at 1:36 am
Very interesting blog. It’s interesting to see a glimpse inside an Old Order Conservative Mennonite community which is very, very different from the Mennonite Church community that I’m a part of. We are a liturgically eclectic and politically progressive (Feminist/Anarchist/Liberal/Gay Rights Supporting) community of Mennonite Christians. There are some of us who’re really into starting organic farms and living with less and going off the grid in order to be better stewards of creation, and in that way we draw some inspiration from old-school Mennonites but in other ways we’re very open and welcoming and supportive of alternative to conservative thinking.
December 23, 2012 at 12:49 pm
The Holy Bible asks us ‘to be no part of the world’…. we can live in this world and not be worldly and partake in worldly things and views … and yet we do not have to segregate ourselves which will lead to going about our own devices and perhaps falling into the traditions of man.
December 29, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Do you allow guest to visit your church services or must you be invited? I am visting in PA, and would like to visit the mennonite church near me. Do mennonite churches hold bible study sessions and if yes, is there a specific version of bible used?
December 30, 2012 at 5:22 pm
For a very long time I have been interested in the Amish/Mennonite community. I honestly thought that you had to be born into the community in order to be a part of it. I would love to live that simple life out on a farm and love around peaceful and simple living people. I would like to learn more about it and possibly visit a church. Ive been reading up on this and also saw that they will not accept you if you have been divorced, or they will look down upon you because of that, Is this true?
February 20, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Hello there, thanks for the information(even wikipedia posted like that), I always thought mennonites and amish were the same, since here are called like that. I’m from Mexico, and I´ve seen people so white and blond and dress like the very old times, but now I’m confuse, because they are not bearded, but their wives use plain dark colors. Most of which I’ve seen don’t know which language they talk but I saw a quite young man, selling cookies but he does speak spanish, while the other I’ve just seen selling cheese don’t.
They are not any mix communities of Amish and mennonites?
March 26, 2013 at 11:03 pm
My family joined a conservative (not old order church) when i was a baby. They were welcomed. I grew up in that Church until fifth grade when my parents left. They no longer identify as Mennonite. It is my hope to rejoin the local Mennonite Church on my own accord when I reach 18. Just a few more months to go.
March 26, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Good for you Thompson.
Best wishes