Some Questions On Anabaptist Doctrinal Positions

[General Mung Beans]

-Are all Anabaptists Arminians or are there any Calvinists among them?
-Do most Anabaptists hold to Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth Creationism, or Evolutionary Creationism?
-Are Anabaptists largely fundamentalists or are there large pockets of theological liberalism?

 

[MrJim]

1. Anabaptists would be somewhat arminian~not going to find a lot of predestinarian/calvinists amongst them.
2. Most I know would tend toward the young earth.
3. There are large pockets of theological liberalism, especially at the mennonite universities. The conservatives have generally separated themselves from the liberals..not so different than most denominational splits between libs and conservatives.

I stay in touch a bit with some menno folks but there are lots of different groups out there, especially amongst the conservative folks...mennonite, amish, brethren, hutterite, and subsects and sub-subsects of each.

 

[General Mung Beans]

1. Anabaptists would be somewhat arminian~not going to find a lot of predestinarian/calvinists amongst them.
2. Most I know would tend toward the young earth.
3. There are large pockets of theological liberalism, especially at the mennonite universities. The conservatives have generally separated themselves from the liberals..not so different than most denominational splits between libs and conservatives.

I stay in touch a bit with some menno folks but there are lots of different groups out there, especially amongst the conservative folks...mennonite, amish, brethren, hutterite, and subsects and sub-subsects of each.

Alright thanks for the answers.

 

[WayneinMaine]

-Are all Anabaptists Arminians or are there any Calvinists among them?
-Do most Anabaptists hold to Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth Creationism, or Evolutionary Creationism?
-Are Anabaptists largely fundamentalists or are there large pockets of theological liberalism?

Since Anabaptists are not Protestants (nor are the Roman or Orthodox) your questions don't quite fit. Strictly speaking A "Calvinist" Anabpatist would be like a "Lutheran" Catholic.

Anabaptists would generally believe in free will, in agreement with Armenius. Those that hold an opinion at all would be generally by Creationists, most would accept young earth arguments. I'm even aware of flat earthers among some Anabaptist groups.

As far as Fundamentalism and Liberalism - I would assert that any "Anapatists" that holds to "Protestant Fundamentalism" is not an really an Anabaptist anymore. Within Anabaptist, there is a liberal-conservative spectrum, but it is different from Protestantism. A Conservative Anabaptist would never serve in the military, for example.

That said, there are Mennonites who are far more Protestant intheir theology than Anabpatist.

 

[Rex Lex]

Though they did not all agree with each other and didn't exactly always come to the same understanding about things I love the history of my anabaptist forefathers...who though all were merely sinners saved by grace, they were probably the closest thing to 'innocence' this world has ever seen in any human community. More like Jesus than any other groups.

 

[Studeclunker]

Lex, I believe you to be close to the truth, as far as fallen sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve could be. We could all take some lessons on living one's faith from the Amish at least.

Beans, you will find no influence of Westley or Calvin in the Amish, at least. The Reformed and some of the other Protestant denominations (sadly including Lutheran) killed a lot of Anabaptists for their faith. Drowning was the favourite form of homicide. Menno Simmons and his friend Jacob Ammann, are considered the fathers of the Anabaptist movement. Yet, both of these men studied under Zwinglii (Reformed), so go figure. There is a very small influence from Martin Luther in the Amish. Mostly because of his German translation of the Bible.


The only difference that I am aware of is that the Mennonites are followers of Menno Simons and the Amish are followers of Jacob Ammann. Simons took a more traditional, less... utopian (if that's the word) view of religion. Ammann insisted that all aspects of one's life must be conformed to the word of God. Hence, the hard line taken with dress, living standards, and behaviour. Also, non-resistance, or pacifism was stressed by both.

If anyone is interested in a very good treatise on the modern (sic) Amish culture and life, Bernd G. Langin wrote Plain and Amish (An Alternative to Modern Pessimism). I don't know of a good book for the Mennonites. Perhaps someone in this congregation can suggest it?

I'll be lurking around waiting for an answer.

I don't know about the Mennonites, but the Amish would consider the various creation views foolishness. They take the Bible very literally. Hence, though you'd likely never get them to admit to it, they'd possibly take the Young Earth approach. Admit to it... heck, you'd be lucky to get them to talk to you!

 

[Basil the Great]

Since Anabaptists are not Protestants (nor are the Roman or Orthodox) your questions don't quite fit. Strictly speaking A "Calvinist" Anabpatist would be like a "Lutheran" Catholic.

Anabaptists would generally believe in free will, in agreement with Armenius. Those that hold an opinion at all would be generally by Creationists, most would accept young earth arguments. I'm even aware of flat earthers among some Anabaptist groups.

As far as Fundamentalism and Liberalism - I would assert that any "Anapatists" that holds to "Protestant Fundamentalism" is not an really an Anabaptist anymore. Within Anabaptist, there is a liberal-conservative spectrum, but it is different from Protestantism. A Conservative Anabaptist would never serve in the military, for example.

That said, there are Mennonites who are far more Protestant intheir theology than Anabpatist.

Anabaptists are not Protestants? This statement reminds me of a few Lutherans who say they are not Protestants.

 

[Basil the Great]

Lex, I believe you to be close to the truth, as far as fallen sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve could be. We could all take some lessons on living one's faith from the Amish at least.

Beans, you will find no influence of Westley or Calvin in the Amish, at least. The Reformed and some of the other Protestant denominations (sadly including Lutheran) killed a lot of Anabaptists for their faith. Drowning was the favourite form of homicide. Menno Simmons and his friend Jacob Ammann, are considered the fathers of the Anabaptist movement. Yet, both of these men studied under Zwinglii (Reformed), so go figure. There is a very small influence from Martin Luther in the Amish. Mostly because of his German translation of the Bible.


The only difference that I am aware of is that the Mennonites are followers of Menno Simons and the Amish are followers of Jacob Ammann. Simons took a more traditional, less... utopian (if that's the word) view of religion. Ammann insisted that all aspects of one's life must be conformed to the word of God. Hence, the hard line taken with dress, living standards, and behaviour. Also, non-resistance, or pacifism was stressed by both.

If anyone is interested in a very good treatise on the modern (sic) Amish culture and life, Bernd G. Langin wrote Plain and Amish (An Alternative to Modern Pessimism). I don't know of a good book for the Mennonites. Perhaps someone in this congregation can suggest it?

I'll be lurking around waiting for an answer.

I don't know about the Mennonites, but the Amish would consider the various creation views foolishness. They take the Bible very literally. Hence, though you'd likely never get them to admit to it, they'd possibly take the Young Earth approach. Admit to it... heck, you'd be lucky to get them to talk to you!

Studecluncker - You are no doubt right to some extent re: the persecutions. However, according to a Mennonite book I once had, banishment was more common than death in Protestant controlled areas.

 

[joe100]

"I don't know of a good book for the Mennonites. Perhaps someone in this congregation can suggest it?"

I've heard the most complete work on Mennonites is The Naked Anabaptist by Stuart Murray. I haven't read it myself just yet, but I plan on it.

 

[Studeclunker]

"I don't know of a good book for the Mennonites. Perhaps someone in this congregation can suggest it?"

I've heard the most complete work on Mennonites is The Naked Anabaptist by Stuart Murray. I haven't read it myself just yet, but I plan on it.

thanks Joe, I'll try it. Funny, there's an Anabaptist preacher here in town named Joe... Pretty good too!

 

[Basil the Great]

I checked out the website of Gregory Boyd, whose website was mentioned somewhere in this forum and found it truly interesting. He lists a whole lot of questions and gives answers to all of them. I do not know if he is a Mennonite, but he is a pacifist. I was especially intirgued with his theology of Open Theism and the fact that he leans towards annhilationism as the likely form of punishment in the afterlife, instead of conscious eternal torment

 

[General Mung Beans]

I checked out the website of Gregory Boyd, whose website was mentioned somewhere in this forum and found it truly interesting. He lists a whole lot of questions and gives answers to all of them. I do not know if he is a Mennonite, but he is a pacifist. I was especially intirgued with his theology of Open Theism and the fact that he leans towards annhilationism as the likely form of punishment in the afterlife, instead of conscious eternal torment

He is Anabaptist although some of his leanings might be considered "liberal" by some.

 

[Basil the Great]

Yes, I also thought that some of his positions would be considered liberal, especially his position against eternal conscious punishment in Hell.

 

[joe100]

Greg Boyd is an interesting creature. He seems to try not to identify himself in one certain tradition, such as Anabaptist, because that way he would be limited to a certain theological framework. Greg seems to be striving to find Truth,thus not having to defend a certain belief system.

With that said, his years of research and wrestling with God have led him to agree with many Anabaptist traditions (non-violence, not relying on government for change, social justice, etc.). He certainly hasn't had these beliefs his whole life, which to me, makes them more sincere because they took much thought and consideration.

With that said, it is hard to identify him as Anabaptist, evangelical, liberal, conservative or really any other "denomination." By not identifying exactly with any of these, he seems to be free to consider any theological truth. Also, I was the person who referenced him... and after what I've said, I must admit that I consider myself "Anabaptist" more because of my cultural background (I am from the culture of Mennonites similar to how a person could be considered Amish although they don't practice Amish values) then my faith system (though I do identify with many Mennonite beliefs).

Am I making sense?

 

[Basil the Great]

Yes, you are making sense and I am a lot like Boyd, in that I am willing to take a theological tenet from any tradition, if I believe it is valid.