Formal Mennonite beliefs were codified in the Dordrecht Confession of Faith in 1632, which affirmed "the baptism of believers only, the washing of the feet as a symbol of servanthood, church discipline, the shunning of the excommunicated, the non-swearing of oaths, marriage within the same church", strict pacifistic ...
Basic beliefs of Mennonites are based on Jesus Christ's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount as well as the Anabaptist Confession of Schleitheim. These basic beliefs include strict pacifism, shunning oaths, adult baptisms, foot washing, church discipline (excommunication), and separation from world, among others.
During the last 100 years, the church considered the consumption of alcohol to be a sin. But that “marker” is passing away. While a large majority of us—probably 75 percent by now—accepts some use, we honor those for whom the consumption of alcohol continues to be “always wrong.”
The clothing worn by Mennonites often reflects their religious beliefs, which emphasize humility and service to others. Typical garments include plain-colored dresses, plain suits or shirts, long bonnets, and men's straw hats. Women wear simple, solid-colored head coverings, such as scarves or veils.
The Markham-Waterloo Mennonites, although still dressing in the traditional style, allow car ownership and telephones. Their more progressive attitudes toward technology led to tensions and a split from the Old Order Mennonites. Today, they cautiously use cell phones and computers, but not televisions or radios.
The 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith stated that marriage should be a monogamous, heterosexual lifetime commitment. The Christian home should have regular family worship.
Mennonites do not have any dietary restrictions as exist in some other religious groups. Some conservative Mennonites abstain from alcohol, but other Mennonites do not, with Mennonite distilleries existing as early as the late 16th century.
The use of a mirror is allowed because unlike a picture, it is not a graven image. Women use mirrors to do their hair and men use mirrors to shave. If you take our guided farmhouse tour, you'll spot a few mirrors in the house.
The Amish and Mennonites believe that it is a Biblical command for women to cover their heads while praying. And we must always be ready to pray, therefore they wear a prayer covering all the time. They believe that a woman having her head covered is a sign that she is in submission to her husband.
Cape dresses are traditionally worn by female Anabaptist Christian church members, such as Mennonite, Brethren, Amish and Charity women.
In Australia, there are Nationwide Fellowship Mennonite congregations in Deloraine, Tasmania and also in Canowindra, New South Wales (Lachlan Valley Mennonite Church). The Tasmanian congregation sponsor annual weekend meetings in February of each year.
Mennonites, unlike Mormons, don't wear undergarments designed to confer a special holy feeling. There's no online Mennonite outlet from which we order our modest underduds. But as soon as I turned 10, I was introduced to a hideous, wide-strapped, no-stretch bra that crushed my fantasies of young ladyhood.
Some Mennonites may choose not to attend movies, or not to have television in their homes because of the violence that is shown. Others don't allow dancing. Smoking and drinking are generally not practiced because of the belief that one's body is God's temple. Practices differ widely from community to community.
Since many Mennonites live on farms, they are more likely to eat food grown from the land and the animals on the farm. These animals usually consist of beef, chicken, and pork.
The Mennonites found what they were looking for in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 11: 1-16, which states, among other things, that “… every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head”. The caps also symbolized a woman's submission to her husband, as head of the household.
I know of Mennonites involved in about every recreational activity you can mention—from biking to sailing to motorcycling to fishing to hunting to wine tasting and on and on. Mennonites also are increasingly involved in the arts—writing, music, painting, sculpture, acting, filmmaking, even dancing.
Amish women swim in a different location from men, but because they tend to wear long dresses, the activity would be better characterized as wading. Some Mennonite women might wear shorts and T-shirts or even one-piece swimsuits because their churches are the most modern of the sects, at least in some ways.
According to the Schwartzentruber Amish Ordinance Letter, Amish women are not permitted to shave their legs or underarms. Amish ordinances also forbid women from cutting their hair.
Mennonites believe that they should always tell the truth so they do not need to swear an oath. They also do not want to swear an oath to a government because their first duty is to God.
Feminine Hygiene
Female Amish wash their hair and wear it in a bun. As for makeup, Amish women aren't allowed to wear cosmetics or adornments considered worldly. This includes lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, and jewelry.
Members of the Mennonite Church USA consider themselves neither Catholic nor Protestant, but a separate faith group with roots in both traditions. Mennonites hold much in common with other Christian denominations. The church places emphasis on peacemaking, service to others, and living a holy, Christ-centered life.
The Mennonites have embraced some of the world's technologies. Unlike the Amish, Mennonites can use motorized vehicles as well as electricity and telephones in their homes.
If nothing else, you talk about the coffee.” It's not unusual to see Amish and Mennonites carrying Styrofoam cups of coffee at local auction barns or gracing the area's coffee shops. Since the Amish do not use electricity in their homes, most often they brew their coffee with a french press or a pour-over.
Concerning deodorant, yes, the Amish DO wear deodorant. If they don't, it's their personal choice.
Old Order young people sing 'fast' hymns and country and western songs at their Sunday evening 'singings' (which function primarily as social occasions for courtship purposes), and some engage in folk dances to the music of the mouth organ.