Differences between Mennonites and Amish?

[adamhovey1988]

Okay, so my brother used to live in Geauga County, Ohio, and I live in South Carolina. Here, unless they’re visiting, there are no Amish people here. Where he lived, they were a regular sight. But we do have Mennonites. I know they have many similarities, but what are the main differences? Thanks, God bless!

 

[susanlo]

“Summary
1.Amish is a subgroup of Mennonites following Jakob Amman. Mennonites follow the teachings of peaceful Anabaptists popularized by Frisian Menno Simons.
2.Amish are very resistant to technology whereas Mennonites are moderate in this regard.
3.Amish are strict followers of nonresistance where the Mennonites are of non violence and have established a very strong disaster management system.
4.Amish have a very strong commitment to lead a simple lifestyle and live in separate close knit communities, however, the Mennonites live among the normal communities.”

Read more: Difference Between Amish and Mennonite | Difference Between | Amish vs Mennonite differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-amish-and-mennonite/#ixzz45Here0wH

 

[adamhovey1988]

“Summary
1.Amish is a subgroup of Mennonites following Jakob Amman. Mennonites follow the teachings of peaceful Anabaptists popularized by Frisian Menno Simons.
2.Amish are very resistant to technology whereas Mennonites are moderate in this regard.
3.Amish are strict followers of nonresistance where the Mennonites are of non violence and have established a very strong disaster management system.
4.Amish have a very strong commitment to lead a simple lifestyle and live in separate close knit communities, however, the Mennonites live among the normal communities.”

Read more: Difference Between Amish and Mennonite | Difference Between | Amish vs Mennonite differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-amish-and-mennonite/#ixzz45Here0wH

Alright thank you I know some of the history behind the Amish but not so much about the Mennonites

 

[susanlo]

Alright thank you I know some of the history behind the Amish but not so much about the Mennonites

The Amish were Mennonites before they became Amish. They are sometimes called Amish Mennonite as they are a subgroup of Mennonites.

 

[jcwit]

The Amish were Mennonites before they became Amish. They are sometimes called Amish Mennonite as they are a subgroup of Mennonites.

Two totally separate groups of Mennonites. How do I know, I’ve lived with them both for 72 years. Have close friends in each.

The Amish Mennonites have actual church buildings whereas the Amish meet at their homes and rotate the meeting place from Sunday to Sunday. Just one of many differences.

Here the Amish are slightly more liberal as far as technolagly goes, they have CNC controlled wood & metal working equipment, but they are off line and run be natural gas generators.

 

[on_the_hill]

I live in the heart of the Amish/Mennonite world: Lancaster County.

There are Mennonites who are very contemporary. You wouldn’t really be able to tell them apart from anyone else. There are Old Order Mennonites who are as Old Order as the Amish can be. You can tell them apart by the buggies they drive. Amish drive gray, Mennonites drive black. There are Amish up around Lewistown, PA who drive white buggies. And I’ve heard of a group that drives yellow buggies.

The Mennonite men around New Holland, PA wear black straw hats that look like fedoras, and they ride bicycles.

Also, the women wear different bonnets. Amish bonnets are heart-shaped, Mennonites’ are round.

I’ve never heard the term Amish Mennonite, but I do know that all Amish are Mennonite but not all Mennonite are Amish.

And I think the Brethren are somehow connected.

Anyone ever see that ridiculous show, “Breaking Amish?” It was hilarious. Loved the part where the Amish guy didn’t know what a microwave oven was. (of course he knew what it was. )

Trivia–the Stoltzfus family was among the first (if not the first) Amish families to settle in Lancaster County. One Stoltzfus family. There are now an estimated 1 million Stoltzfuses in the U.S. descended from that one family (including Smuckers, Schmuckers, and other variations).

 

[pensmama87]

There are a few Amish communities around here, as well as Mennonites. I’ve known Mennonites who completely integrate into the community (went to grad school with one, and I only knew she was because she told me - and she at least attended church) and those who don’t. In my college town there was a large group of Mennonites that were more traditional in dress, but a much larger variety of colors than the Amish, and the women’s head coverings only covered their buns rather than all of their hair.

There’s a lot of variation in custom and culture, though it may not seem that way to us. I don’t know much about their theology.

 

[Jerusha]

Yesterday I read “5 keys to overcome any obstacle: my journey as Amish”, by Jacob Fisher. The writing style is odd, but it is a free Kindle on Amazon. He describes his journey from Amish to liberal Brethren, and his eventual reconciliation with his father. Describes his rejection of the rigidity of Amish culture, and demands for conformity, not acknowledging that different people have different gifts given them by God. His desire to seek an education (he went to public schools before the Supreme Court decision that they could have their own schools) overrode all else. Highly recommended if you want to read one person’s experience, and can look beyond the writing style.

 

[Medawlinno]

Just curious - when you refer to “Brethren” are you referring to the United Brethren (a/k/a Moravians) or another sect??

I didn’t know there were close ties between the Moravians and the Menonites/Amish other than that the Moravians were german speakers as well.

I’m more familiar with the Moravians through their missionaries and work with the Lenape people and language in PA.

 

[susanlo]

Just curious - when you refer to “Brethren” are you referring to the United Brethren (a/k/a Moravians) or another sect??

I didn’t know there were close ties between the Moravians and the Menonites/Amish other than that the Moravians were german speakers as well.

I’m more familiar with the Moravians through their missionaries and work with the Lenape people and language in PA.

I don’t know which Brethren the earlier post was referring to, but there are many different types of Brethren Churches (Brethren in Christ, Grace Brethren, United Brethren, Church of the Brethren and many more). Most of the “Brethren” churches I am aware of are part of the Anabaptist movement and would fit into that general umbrella along with Mennonite and Amish churches.

 

[Tommy999]

I have a sister and brother-in-law who live near Wooster, Ohio, close to Amish country. When I visited them one time and asked them to describe the main difference between Amish and Mennonites, my brother-in-law described it this way:

“Mennonites are considered *worldly Amish *by the Amish”.

He went on to say that the Mennonites he knew drove cars, their homes had electricity and phones in them, and they wore more modern clothing (unlike the Amish). But their choice of clothing was usually plain and simple and nothing ostentatious. They value the simple and practical things in life, which I think is admirable in many ways.

 

[spedteacherita]

It does depend on each order for both Amish and Mennonites. Some groups of Mennonites can dress conservatively and the women may have a lace doily for their hair coverings while others use conservative dress but with special fabric designs with head coverings that are larger. Amish do, for the most part, stay away from technology but, depending on their particular order, they might have a telephone at the end of their drive or one in their place of business. There’s such a range it’s hard to begin to typify one group or another.