Difference between Mennonites and Amish (Full Version)

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cherish405 -> Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/6/2008 12:47:37 PM)

In reading some Christian fiction, I've become aware that there is a difference between Mennonites and Amish. Can anybody tell me what it is? I know they both have ties to older style living, some Mennonites preferring not to live with electricity and the like. What other differences are there, and what is the difference in their beliefs?



Kath -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/6/2008 1:25:06 PM)

moving from General Faith to The Church



cherish405 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/6/2008 1:45:39 PM)

Thanks Kath. I didn't know where to put this.



betterisoneday -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/6/2008 4:28:33 PM)

If you go to Third Way Cafe's site they have some info on the differences between the two. It's a Mennonite site.

The Mennonites get their name from Menno Simons, who was a part of the Anabaptists, and the Amish then followed Jacob Ammann.
Ammann broke from the Anabaptists because he thought they should have very strict separation from the world. They both believe in simple living but most of the Mennonites have electricity and vehicles.

And then they each have different groups (denominations) too, Mennonnite, Old Order Mennonite, Conservative Mennonite, Old Order Amish, Beachy Amish. Those are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head.



3cappuccinosmom -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/7/2008 4:53:42 AM)

quote:

And then they each have different groups (denominations) too, Mennonnite, Old Order Mennonite, Conservative Mennonite, Old Order Amish, Beachy Amish. Those are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head.


There are lots more. Not to mention the conservative Brethren sects as well.

Where it gets really confusing is that some Amish groups actually are more liberal than some Mennonite groups. [&:] I have friends in Virginia who are Old Order Mennonites, or "horse and buggy Mennonites". No electric in the homes, phones only for business, etc. I have Beachy Amish friends who tool around in newer cars and have electric, running water, and cell phones, even internet. But then the Menno's allow small prints for women's dresses, while the Beachy's only allow plain colored material.

I guess one of the bigger differences is worshiping in homes (Amish) vs worshipping in a church house (Mennonite), but then again, most of the Beachy Amish I know have church buildings.



cherish405 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/7/2008 6:35:18 AM)

Wow, I didn't know that there were so many groups in the Amish and Mennonites. I just assumed that there were one group of Mennonites and one group of Amish.



brothertodd -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/8/2008 12:17:02 AM)

I live among both, in Illinois and its simmilar to 3capps. disdription but reversed Our Amish use the buggies, the mennonites will either walk or take black sedan type cars, and use technology, Ill be seeing one about repair on my riding lawnmower. He also uses computers. I believe the amish are on the liberal side, they have a trampoline in there front yard. But on both accounts...if they made it its top quality.



cherish405 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/8/2008 12:52:58 PM)

I think all of this is really interesting!



PolarBear -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/9/2008 4:22:36 AM)

I was raised in the Mennonite church and went to a Mennonite university. Most Mennonites fit into society pretty well -- the ones I've associated with have no trouble with computers, cars, buying stocks, etc. They are "just" a group of Christians who believe that Christians should not engage in any warfare. They also tend to be highly concerned about social justice issues, feeding the hungry, etc. The Mennonite churches I've been to had good Bible-based preaching. So it's not a weird cult or anything. [:)]

I've had only minimal contact with Amish.

Mennos and Amish share a love of good home-cooked food and strong craftsmanship (though Amish might be slightly ahead in the latter).

Both groups can be very business-savvy. I visited a Mennonite group in Belize once. They had an amazing farm operation. Looked like a slice of rural Pennsylvania (where there are a lot of Mennonites and Amish) transplanted to the middle of the jungle. [:)] They virtually ran the country's chicken production.



3cappuccinosmom -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/9/2008 7:32:53 AM)

There definately is a segment of Mennonites that fit into society just fine. Even a few who would fit into the extreme Left just fine. [&:] We eventually had to leave a Mennonite church because one of the pastors would just go on and on and on about the terrible oppression of homosexuals not being allowed to marry. Every single sermon of hers ended up with weeping and wailing over that issue. [:'(] Mentally I think of Mennonites as three groups, Liberal (and by that I mean less rules, traditions, etc), Conservative, and Old Order, but there are so many groups and a lot of overlap between the groups.

Polar Bear brought up South America--it is so interesting. There are communities there of super-conservative Old Order Mennonites as well as many mission churches. My conservative Mennonite friend just wrote to let me know she is headed to Paraguay to teach at a mission school. In her church people are constantly going back and forth between here and Paraguay, and it occurs to me that they might have a thriving Mennonite community down there. I just never thought to ask her about it. [&:] They are also marrying interracially, with South American converts to the Mennonite faith, and adopting interracially as well.



cherish405 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/10/2008 12:45:56 PM)

Micah, I didn't know you were raised Mennonite! I didn't know there are Mennonite universities either.

I know it's only fiction, but the character I'm reading about at the moment isn't allowed to further her education, (she wants to become a vet). She's expected to marry and have children.

Cappucino, that's sad about the pastor you mentioned believing in homosexuals having the right to be married.



3cappuccinosmom -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/10/2008 2:09:43 PM)

quote:

Micah, I didn't know you were raised Mennonite! I didn't know there are Mennonite universities either.


Hesston, Goshen, and Eastern Mennonite University, off the top of my head.

When I was little we lived in Virginia and I used to call EMU "Eastern Moonlight Cottage" (it was a college back then). [8D]

quote:

I know it's only fiction, but the character I'm reading about at the moment isn't allowed to further her education, (she wants to become a vet). She's expected to marry and have children.


It all depends on the group. In the really conservative groups, limited education isn't just for girls. Both boys and girls finish their education in 8th or 10th grade (depending on the group), and are expected to marry and raise a family, and work within the community.
In other groups, both boys and girls are allowed further education for certain occupations. There is one very conservative teacher's school, where young folks from different Amish and Mennonite groups are allowed to go in order to prepare to teach in their community's schools.
Generally, if education and options are limited, it's "equal opportunity" limited-everyone is limited regardless of gender. And if further education is allowed at all, it's allowed for both genders.



cherish405 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/11/2008 1:17:49 PM)

Thanks for the information, Cappucino. I find all of this fascinating!



DarleneSchreiber -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/11/2008 3:40:21 PM)

Does anyone know anything about Mennonites/Amish and taxation? I've been told that many/most of them don't pay any taxes. Or is that just an urban legend?

Thanks!



Ps103 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/11/2008 8:48:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarleneSchreiber

Does anyone know anything about Mennonites/Amish and taxation? I've been told that many/most of them don't pay any taxes. Or is that just an urban legend?

Thanks!


I am hoping THIS link goes to the right question. (If not, scroll down to the tax question.)



betterisoneday -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/11/2008 8:59:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ps103

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarleneSchreiber

Does anyone know anything about Mennonites/Amish and taxation? I've been told that many/most of them don't pay any taxes. Or is that just an urban legend?

Thanks!


I am hoping THIS link goes to the right question. (If not, scroll down to the tax question.)


I want to say they pay taxes but not social security. I've read about it before but have to go look again. If I remember correctly it's something about belonging to a group that takes care of it's elderly without government assistance.

ETA: I see she already gave you an answer, also amishnews .com has a more in depth article on the subject. Who paid, didn't pay, got taken to court, had their property confiscated, etc.



DarleneSchreiber -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/11/2008 9:05:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ps103

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarleneSchreiber

Does anyone know anything about Mennonites/Amish and taxation? I've been told that many/most of them don't pay any taxes. Or is that just an urban legend?

Thanks!


I am hoping THIS link goes to the right question. (If not, scroll down to the tax question.)


Sounds like we could learn a thing or two from the Amish! [8|]



cherish405 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/12/2008 3:11:24 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: betterisoneday

I want to say they pay taxes but not social security. I've read about it before but have to go look again. If I remember correctly it's something about belonging to a group that takes care of it's elderly without government assistance.


I wish that happened with a lot more of society. The government can be helpful if families don't have the finances to help, but for those who do, I wish it were more commonplace for people to help their elderly.



PolarBear -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/13/2008 12:16:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 3cappuccinosmom

In her church people are constantly going back and forth between here and Paraguay, and it occurs to me that they might have a thriving Mennonite community down there. I just never thought to ask her about it. [&:] They are also marrying interracially, with South American converts to the Mennonite faith, and adopting interracially as well.

When I was a missionary in Ecuador I worked with a German Mennonite from Paraguay! There is a good sized community there.

AFAIK the Mennonite Church is not really strong among regular Latinos, though there are some. The group I visited in Belize was also German. There is a Mennonite church in Quito but I never got around to visiting it.



PolarBear -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/13/2008 12:17:51 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 3cappuccinosmom

Hesston, Goshen, and Eastern Mennonite University, off the top of my head.


Yeah, I went to EMU! Hesston is only a 2-year college. Those are run by the "main" Mennonite denomination. There is another that has a university or two of their own. Fresno, CA and Spokane, WA I think.



PolarBear -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/13/2008 12:20:24 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarleneSchreiber

Does anyone know anything about Mennonites/Amish and taxation? I've been told that many/most of them don't pay any taxes. Or is that just an urban legend?

Thanks!

Nearly all pay like anyone else. A few of the more hardcore peace activist Mennonites will "withhold" $100 or so from their tax payment and send it to Mennonite Central Committee is a protest. Some of the most hardcore might try doing that with 25% or so of their tax bill (the proportion of government spending that goes to the military). I'm not sure how much they get away with it.



3cappuccinosmom -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/13/2008 2:39:54 PM)

quote:

A few of the more hardcore peace activist Mennonites will "withhold" $100 or so from their tax payment and send it to Mennonite Central Committee is a protest. Some of the most hardcore might try doing that with 25% or so of their tax bill (the proportion of government spending that goes to the military). I'm not sure how much they get away with it.


Wow, I'd never heard of that! They must be the more liberal brand? I can't imagine conservative Mennos of Amish engaging in direct activism.

From what I understand the only tax the Amish don't pay is social security, because they don't use it--they take care of thier own.



PolarBear -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/14/2008 10:29:56 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 3cappuccinosmom

Wow, I'd never heard of that! They must be the more liberal brand? I can't imagine conservative Mennos of Amish engaging in direct activism.

IIRC an EMU prof mentioned doing that.

quote:

From what I understand the only tax the Amish don't pay is social security, because they don't use it--they take care of thier own.

A truly excellent way to live. I had not heard of that. I know Mennonites are in the system as is anyone.



cherish405 -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/14/2008 11:35:43 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PolarBear

quote:

From what I understand the only tax the Amish don't pay is social security, because they don't use it--they take care of thier own.

A truly excellent way to live. I had not heard of that. I know Mennonites are in the system as is anyone.


I find that really interesting too.

I don't know whether this is true or not, but I heard that Amish teens are given the opportunity to live outside the community for a while to decide whether they want to live the rest of their lives as part of the community. Is it the same way with the Mennonite community?



3cappuccinosmom -> RE: Difference between Mennonites and Amish (6/14/2008 12:55:47 PM)

quote:

I don't know whether this is true or not, but I heard that Amish teens are given the opportunity to live outside the community for a while to decide whether they want to live the rest of their lives as part of the community. Is it the same way with the Mennonite community?


It depends on the group (I sound like a broken record).

Many Amish group allow their young people to "run around" (Rumpspringa) during thier teen years, and some of the old order Mennonites. The level of trouble they get into depends on the kids and what's popular and allowed in the community. For some "running around" is playing country music and dancing, but others do get into drugs, sex, and alcohol. [>:] However, the Beachy Amish we know discourage it, as do most of the conservative Mennonites I know. I think among the mainstream Mennonites there isn't any thing like it because the kids are already like everyone else pretty much, and haven't been kept seperate their whole childhood. They don't need to "test the waters" 'cause they're already in them like the rest of us. [:)]



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