Comments on: Pandora’s Box: Faithful to Laura

By: farmwifetwo

farmwifetwo — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:37:15 +0000

I have to admit, what I was use to growing up and what I’ve discovered moving to where we are has surprised me at the variations that there are. I’m also annoyed at times at my Mother’s refusal to teach us German which would really come in handy at times. Hindesight….

I also did a project in highschool on the amish for English class and my teacher recommended reading “High bright buggy wheels” by Luella Creighton. I worked in the library at the time and since it was OOP it was in special collections so I had to read it there. Mom and I hunted for it everywhere we went. I finally found it in a tourist town’s bookstore in this little alcove. http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Buggy-Wheels-Luella-Creighton/dp/B00176AV1Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344033321&sr=1-1&keywords=high+bright+buggy+wheels It cost Mom $20, 20+yrs ago and it’s in h/c and full library binding. I’ve only read it once long ago but it’s one of those “things I just had to find” treasures so I’ll never give it away.

By: AARLynn

AARLynn — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:24:10 +0000

Thanks! We have Old Order Mennonites near where I grew up, and also several Brethren congregations, but I didn’t know a whole lot of detail about the differences.

By: farmwifetwo

farmwifetwo — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:29:01 +0000

United’s are complete assimilated into Canadian culture. No rules outside of passiveness – although there are always “bad apples” in every culture/religion – and baptism is when you choose not at birth.

Then there’s the Brethern that are mostly assimilated into Cdn culture. But usually have rules on behaviour – drinking, dancing etc.

Old Order’s usually have strict rules of behaviour, sometimes clothing, and are partly assimilated.

Not to mention the Mennonites that moved to Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay etc when they left Russia – are all different in a “culture” sense.

Then there’s the Amish that allow only buttons and may allow zippers or only allow certain colour of clothing.

Bottom line is they are “passive” and don’t baptize at birth…. otherwise each church is different.

By: AARLynn

AARLynn — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:21:39 +0000

That is interesting. How does United Mennonite compare to the Old Order Mennonites? We had Old Order where I grew up, and they seemed very similar to everything I was ever taught about the Amish except that they would sometimes ride in a car and there were a couple places in their community with telephones.

By: maggie b.

maggie b. — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:42:51 +0000

Thanks so much for that information. I thought ecah church running itself might be the case but wasn’t sure if there was some sort of base line or what, if anything, unified the church in terms of doctrine.

By: farmwifetwo

farmwifetwo — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:18:26 +0000

The one thing about the Mennonite community is the variations from church to church. I don’t think they would appeal to me because of that reason.

See, I grew up in the United Mennonite church and would probably call myself agnostic now. As my Mother says it’s almost the same as the United Church of Canada with the biggest exceptions being one is passive, one is not. One baptises at birth, one does when you choose. My cousin’s went to a stricter church and were not allowed to drink or dance. My Opa brewed his own wine in the basement and my Mother loves dancing.

There is no “book of rules”, and truly it comes down to the outside culture you were born in and that churches interpretation of the bible, it’s hold over it’s congregation, and the rules it enforces (lifestyle, clothing, culture etc).

So, I think it’s just one of those style of books I should simply advoid since I suspect I know too much about the religion and it’s sects.