Anyone know about this religion?

[Doctor_J]

I might have some business dealings with some Mennonites. I scoped out their web sites, and it looks like they are devout Christians, but part of the religious left instead of the religious hate-mongers. Their site says they have a high percentage of ConSci's, for example.

Anyone familiar with this group?

[auntAgonist]

1. I spent most of my life

In Ontario Canada, specifically in the Elmira, St Jacobs area settled by mostly Mennonite people (old order) I've never heard of ConSci's ?

[Doctor_J]

5. Is Elmira/St. Jakes loaded with Mennonites?

ConSci is a Conscientious Objector to an illegal war, who wishes to avoid killing because of her/his religious beliefs.

Why did you post what you did?

[auntAgonist]

6. I edited my post

to clarify.
Concientious Objector gotcha. Yes, they are very much against violence and war. They are quiet honest folk who keep to themselves a fair bit. They school their children in their own schools. There are many different 'sects' of Mennonites. Some will NOT drive cars and some will NOT drive buggies with rubber on the wheels. Many of the farms are still worked with horses and the power is by generator rather than electricity.
All in all they generally are a very family oriented, peace loving people.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. How do they deal with non-conformity in their ranks?

... in terms of sexuality, especially, but also in regard to dissent in general.

Are there many different sects because there is constant splintering over issues of doctrine? Do the various sects "peacefully coexist"?

[auntAgonist]

11. I don't really know how

they deal with non conformity ie sexuality etc. I do know that they splinter off because of issues of doctrine. They do peacefully co-exist. In the area that i lived there were many sects. You got to recognize them by their dress and what they drove. Markham Mennonites for example drove cars with absolutely NO chrome showing at all, all painted black. The women were allowed to wear patterned apron dresses and the men traditionally in black pants and braces, white shirts.
Old order mennonites only get around by horse and buggy. There are a few splinter groups of 'old orders' too. The old order women only wear solid colours.
Here's a comprehensive link if you would like to read more.
http://www.mhsc.ca/index.asp?content=http://www.mhsc.ca/encyclopedia/contents/O544.html

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. Interesting... thanks much.

[ikojo]

2. I've met a few mennonites in my life

They are peace loving people who do not shove their faith down your throat.

The first time I met a mennonite was at a pro choice march in the early 1990s.

[xmas74]

3. We have Mennonites in my area.

I have never had a problem w/ them.

[Sanity Claws]

4. They're like the Pennsylvania Dutch

if I remember correctly. They are against all war, and thus would be considered conscientious objectors.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Mennonites

that I've known work as a family-one group has a salvage grocery store here and their stuff saves a lot of us folks a lot of money. Like the Old Order Amish, the married men wear beards and suspenders (not belts). The women wear prayer caps and long dresses, but unlike the Old Order Amish, they can have patterns on the fabric of their dresses. All Mennonites I've known drive vehicles. Many, like Old Order Amish, were farmers; now that land is harder to obtain they have gone into other fields, like roofing and cabinetry.

Mennonites I know have a church; Old Order Amish worship in their houses.

Both organizations are pacifists, though the ones I know aren't politically active in any way.

[RevCheesehead]

8. Think Amish, with cars and electricity.

Mennonites are cool. I believe they're pacifists, too.

[ohiosmith]

10. Shrewd business people and tough negotiators.

I knew a number of them in the Fraser Valley in British Columbia. Their MO was to buy a small business (farm, retail outlet, plant, etc.) then undercut their competition forcing them to sellout or go bankrupt. After they controlled the market they would raise their prices in excess of those of the competitors they put out of business.

[xchrom]

12. i love the mennonites.

often where there are amish -- you find mennonites -- they see as one of their responsibilities -- explaining the amish to the world.
and often act as go betweens for the amish.

also for many years -- the mennonites were often the first on the scene when desperate emergencies happened in the world.
and they still do have fast emergency services.
and they make a point not to proselytize -- that is not why they are there.
they follow christ's teachings to do for the least at that time.

they are ''conservative'' -- so i expect they would be a disappointment when it comes to gay folk.

[GOPBasher]

14. Never heard about them until now.

But reading about them has made me interested in them.

[hyphenate]

15. Only to the extent that they are/were related to the Amish

I guess at one point in the far past, they were one group. But while the Amish have pretty much rejected all technology (even down to hand sewing garments), the Mennonites have changed with the times to a higher degree. They are definitely peace loving, and can be very shrewd traders, and are not afraid of making changes as the Amish are. Instead of the Amish treating their beliefs as a lifestyle, they treat their ways as a philosophy instead.