Concept in Definition ABC

It is estimated that there are currently one and a half million Mennonites worldwide and mostly They are distributed in Latin America, the United States and Canada and to a lesser extent in countries such as India, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia and Russia. This group leads a life isolated from the rest of society and they call themselves "brothers of Christ."

Its origin is related to the Protestant Reformation of the XVl century

In the seventeenth century the Lutheran Reformation caused a deep division in Christianity. In that religious context, new currents emerged and one of them was Anabaptism, which defended baptism for adults and not among newborns. One of the religious leaders of this current was the Dutch Menno Simons, who is considered the founder of the movement Mennonite (the word Mennonite comes precisely from the name of the founder).

Characteristics of Mennonite culture

They live in communities and are generally engaged in agricultural and livestock activities organized through cooperatives. In their daily life they do not use current technology (they do not use the telephone or motor vehicles and their usual means of transportation is the horse cart).

Their clothing is very simple and men, women and children wear farmer-style clothing. His way of dressing is in line with his lifestyle, based on austerity, discipline, industriousness, and weekly church attendance.

Boys and girls are separated in schools and usually do not pursue higher education. The educational system is very rudimentary, since they read the Bible as the only textbook and have a basic knowledge of mathematics

Although in each country they speak the language indigenous, they maintain their original language, which is a dialect of German known as plattdüütch.

They do not play sports and avoid any activity they consider tempting, especially dancing, music and the consumption of alcohol.

A community that has been persecuted throughout history

Although today Mennonites are accepted by different governments, it must be remembered that they have suffered persecution for centuries. Originally in the 17th century they were persecuted because their religious beliefs were considered heresy. This circumstance made many of them emigrate to other countries.

In the 18th century, Empress Catherine II of Russia welcomed thousands of Mennonites to cultivate the land and practice their beliefs. nuns released, but in subsequent decades they were expelled because the authorities objected to their failure to perform the service military.

At the beginning of the 20th century the government Canadian expelled them, as the Mennonites did not accept the education system ordinary and did not want to give up their language and traditions. After World War II Stalin made the decision to expel them definitively and the cause of This measure was based on the religious persecution practiced by the communist regime of the Union Soviet.

Photos: Fotolia - Amyinlondon / Kseniya Ragozina