I love what I just read!

[rturner76]

It would seem that an Anabaptist, Menninite, or Amish society would be a sort of Utopia for those that agree with the system. For those that do not there is the "ban." In a different time and place, the ban could be the same as a death sentance. Are these the same quaker traditions of the Pilgrims of the MAyflower? Certainly a non-violent society such as the one described in the articles of faith I read would have been a awsome launch pad for peaceful relations between the native tribes and the new immigrants. It's too bad that others had to come and bring the sinful society with them. This is what we have now today and I am so beat down by the lonliness, isolation, depression, addiction, and immorality that abounds because of the search all humans are on for a relationship with a higher power. The Anabaptists live in the fullness of this relationship accprding tp the articles of faith. I can see why it is not evangelical because there is no comprimise or any way to make this look like an easy way. To me it is a much easier way that trying to navigate this sinful world and keep a steadfast relationship with Christ.

My question to the faithful is, are there any places one could go to experience this type of life. By that I mean volunteer to work for room and board in a community of Anabaptist, Menninites, Quakers, or Amish and the like. I would love to experience this way of lif in it's purest form. Has anyone heard of anything like that? A kind of give yourself over for a year or two and see how you may fit in their society?

 

[mighty2save]

It is extremely hard to join into a conservative Anabaptist community, many are simply born into it. But it is possible! Many conservative Mennonites and Anabaptists do not live in accordance to an ordung (rules) but live near one another and have open churches. I would not attempt to go straight into the Amish communities but if you are interested in learning more I would suggest checking out a Beachy Amish Mennonite Church if you go to their site you can find a church near you. Just google "Beachy Amish Mennonite" and it will come up.

Honestly those Anabaptists that live in communities are usually very self sufficient but I would first start with a Beachy church.

 

[rturner76]

I believe you about the community living peice. I forgot that the communities are not really evangelical and are not always open to the public. I have been talking with alot of Catholics about vocations like monastic life but that is soooo different. From the small amount I do know people seem to be born in the communities and maybe marry in. It would seem that some go off to college or leave home but I don't hear about people moving in. Maybe through buying a farm or property nearby a closed community or something but I get what you mean, that's not the route to try if I'm just trying to learn more. I will check out the websit you mentioned. It may at least be nice to go and worship with the Anglican community. I'm sure the churches are open to Christians who are just looking to deepen their faith and trying to learn how to live their faith in closer communion with Christ. I am looking for a home church right now. I am reading the Bible every day and I was raised in an AME church (African Methodist Episcopal). So much of my "theology" I guess would be along those lines if I had to choose. I'm sure some their ways have rubbed off on me anyway. I'm open to any group that is working to get closer to Christ. Thanks for the information, sorry for the rambling. I'm new here so I'm still feeling like I need to explain myself.

 

[mighty2save]

I am new too actually and thank you for the blessings!

The only communities that are really closed are the Amish, which you can still interact with if you were to move there. Very few people leave, college is not allowed and very very few marry into these communities.

But conservative mennonites, anabaptists and like minded groups are very welcoming and would probably love to see you at a service! I grew up catholic and methodist and came in as an outsider too and eventually joined.

If you have any specific questions please ask!

 

[alton3]

In a different time and place, the ban could be the same as a death sentance.

Could you elucidate a bit on what you mean by this?

Are these the same quaker traditions of the Pilgrims of the MAyflower?

There were no Quakers on the Mayflower. Quakerism was not founded until the middle of the 17th century; the Mayflower landed in 1620. When Quakers did begin to appear in New England toward the tail end of the Great Migration they were persecuted.

The 'Pilgrims' were members of the Leiden Congregation - separatist Puritans, English Dissenters. The 'Pilgrim Fathers' were the passengers of the Mayflower - roughly half of whom were not Puritans or members of the Leiden Congregation. Many were Anglican (members of the Church of England). They and the Puritans didn't quite get along but they all signed the Mayflower Compact, hence the 'fathers' appellation.

Certainly a non-violent society such as the one described in the articles of faith I read would have been a awsome launch pad for peaceful relations between the native tribes and the new immigrants.

Faulty premise; the Puritans were not pacifists, Quaker or otherwise, nor were the native tribes. The Indians gave as good as they got in many a battle. Had the Pilgrims been a peace-religion does not automatically mean the warrior bands would have reciprocated those overtones.

It's too bad that others had to come and bring the sinful society with them.

That was the attitude of the Leiden Pilgrims toward their non-Dissenting shipmates, many of whom were simply under merchant contract to look after business interests in the new world. The whole voyage for religious freedom thing is a bit myopic but unfortunately is official national folklore.

The Puritans sought to create a theocratic government in New England which they had attempted to bring about in England - hence their exile. Sending them to the new world was a convenient way to get rid of upstarts in the eyes of the establishment. They didn't simply believe or pray differently; they were quite intent on taking things over in the old country. The Anglican John Lyford and other outsiders conspired to disrupt their theocratic ambitions and after some time the Crown threatened to revoke the Mass. Bay charter if they didn't tolerate Quakers and other non-Puritans.

My question to the faithful is, are there any places one could go to experience this type of life. By that I mean volunteer to work for room and board in a community of Anabaptist, Menninites, Quakers, or Amish and the like.

'Old Order' communities would likely view this sort of arrangement as inviting the "world" in. That doesn't mean you can't visit them - best places to do this would be Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, maybe a few other places I'm missing.

Work is seen as a great equalizer of sorts and it's not entirely uncommon for people who live in those areas (rural, typically) to go and visit the Amish or Mennonites for a day and help them around their farms. My great-grandfather was a Methodist but he spent quite a bit of time with the Amish in Northern Indiana working with them, taking meals with them, that sort of thing. Eventually they came to view him as a comrade of sorts and bought up his firm's entire inventory of wood-stoves. Made him quite wealthy at the height of the Depression.

Anyways, I recommend reading up on the Leiden Congregation and the Puritans in general just to clear up some misconceptions.

As for the Anabaptist sects, there are plenty resources to tide you over until you can visit a community. When you do, take whatever you can from the experience (which should be a great deal) but bear in mind that there's going to be an invisible wall.

 

[rturner76]

Could you elucidate a bit on what you mean by this?

When I was talking about "The ban" it was when I was reading in the by-maws and it looked like if you were a rule breaker or a dissenter, and refused to repent on more than one occasion, you could run the risk of being banned from the community. I was saying in the wrong place and time, that could be like a death sentence. Out in the middle of nowhere needing to forage with strangers about and sometimes wild animals. Bad water, and a hard time finding food.

WHen I first joined this site, I would go to many of the different commmunities and read they're bylaws or creeds and then study them a little but inline or go to their proprietary websites. I found it facinating and I was very surprised by the Anabaptists, how much they had the same philosophy about many things that I seem to have. Actually, for fun, I took a "What is your denomination" test once and it came up "Anabapist or Apostalic." Go figure, I been AME all my life with a little Lutheran sprinkled in. You can't help it if you are from Minnesota. There's a Lutheran church on every corner. Everybody had at least 1 girlfriend that was Lutheran.