Way to Russia Talk Lounge

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

Fire_Goddess: I lived in Russia for 21 years and went to the university there and the first time I heard about mennionites was here in the US a couple of years ago when on one of the Discovery channel programs. Unless there's some other Russian name for that ethnic/cultural group. Are you a mennonite? What are you so curious about Russian mennonites?

mr. barley · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:52 am Post subject:

You probably never heard of them when you were there because they left so long ago. Plus religion in general was squashed up until a decade or so ago.

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kwrty321 · Frequent Guest Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 36

Fire_Goddess, have you ever actually known someone who was sacrificed to Satan? Just wondering.

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vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

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wavetossed · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 337

Mennonites are Swiss-Germans and it is unlikely that there are many of them in Russia. Most of the Germans in Russia (a million or two) are from ordinary Lutheran German farming families who emigrated in the 19th century in search of land.

However, Russia does have its own religious groups who shun modern society like the Old Believers in Siberia.

bryak · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:52 am Post subject:

I work with Mennonites all the time and they are normal members of society and don't live on farms like amish etc. I volunteer working with immigrants at the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers and some of my "bosses" are Mennonites.

Tonight a group from a Mennonite church came and fed us all tacos. They were delicious (the tacos that is).

It's Hutterites who are more like the amish and shun society, as it were. Mennonites are pretty normal members of society I'd say. There's a Mennonite family who lives down the street from me and the women won't wear pants (they wear dresses only), but other than that . . . pretty normal (and they drive way to fast!!!).

Here's what Wikipedia has to say:

"The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist (Re-baptizers) denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons (1496-1561). As one of the historic peace churches, Mennonites are committed to non-violence, non-resistance and pacifism (or refusal to go to war).

There are over 1 million Mennonites worldwide as of 2006. Mennonite congregations worldwide embody the full scope of Mennonite practice from old fashioned 'plain' people to those who appear no different in dress from other people. The largest population of Mennonites is in the United States but Mennonites congregrate in tight-knit communities in many other countries as well.

Mennonites are prominent among denominations in disaster relief, often being the first to arrive with aid after hurricanes, floods and other disasters. In the last few decades they have also become more actively involved with peace and social justice issues, helping to found Christian Peacemaker Teams, Mennonite Conciliation Service, and the Mennonite Central Committee."

I like Mennonites.

Zach10791 · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 816

OMG it is so strange to find a thread about Mennonites on a Russian travel forum. Shocked

I went to (still sometimes go) to a Mennonite church.

txriverranch · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 8:41 am Post subject:

The Mennonites were invited to Russia by one of the "Greats", Katherine, I think. Back in Germany they were required to do military service, which they don't do. Russia needed farmers and craftsmen, and exempted them from military service. This deal stayed in effect up until that nice Mr. Stalin.
Many emigrated to the US, Canada and Mexico during the 19th century