Mennonites

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the religion of the Mennonites who became the first German colony in America when, in 1683, they planted their settlement in Pennsylvania, called Germantown. It describes the history and the background of the Mennonites and focuses on their religious and cultural practices. The paper also describes the current practices of the Mennonites living in the United States.

From the Paper:

"Prior to World War II, members of the Historic Peace Churches--Mennonites, Brethren in Christ and the Quakers--sent a letter to President Roosevelt outlining their peace position and requesting special provisions before any war ensued. The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 granted that those opposed to war because of religious beliefs should be given "work of national importance under civilian direction," such as forestry, soil conservation, public health, and agriculture and instrumental in the mental health system. The Mennonites embraced this Civilian Public Service (CPS) system not only as a substitute for armed services but, more importantly, as an expression of biblical faith and dedication to their society. Over 4,600 Mennonites served in the CPS program and about 3,900 served as noncombatants conscientious objectors in the military ((Towes, 1930, p.141). Similarly, in the Vietnam War, they aided both sides with food, money, and relief work around the world, and they will continue to pursue this outlet in the future."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bernhardt, A. F. (1909) German element in the U.S. with special reference to its political, moral, social and educational influence. NY: Houghton Mifflin.
• Klees, F. (1950). Pennsylvania Dutch. New York: Macmillian.
• Lederach, J.P. (2000) From the ground up: Mennonite contibutions to international peacebuilding. Oxford: Oxford Univeristy Press.
• Melton, G. J. (1988). "Mennonites," The Encyclopedia of American Religions. Detroit: Gale Research.
• Mennonite Newsletter. "Look in the mirror." Retrieved March 27, 2007. http://themennonite.lightsky.com/php/magazine.cover.story.php?mag_id=147

More papers on Mennonites:

• Persuasive Essay # 66778 : "Mennonites"
• Term Paper # 98307 : "Russian Mennonites"
• Book Review # 75436 : "Timothy George's "The Theology of the Reformers" "

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