Thursday, October 28, 2010

Canada Gym Mats For Sale

Amish, Hutterites and Mennonites : Living in the past




The history of the Anabaptist movement, persecuted and hated for decades, had not finished in the sixteenth century, there were many groups, as considered in the corresponding chapter, survived in small communities in Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Moravia and especially in Russia. Although already considered in an extensive chapter origins Anabaptist movement, now delve into the evolution of some religious groups have emerged from more direct sources. If someone wants it before knowing the origins of the Anabaptist movement can click here .

in Switzerland and Austria in the late seventeenth century, there would be further divisions within the Mennonite Anabaptists, due in part to the tightening of its rules and customs. A mid-century (between 1644 and 1656, according to different sources), born Jakob Amman, a Mennonite leader with strong convictions and strict character. Amman lived in the area of \u200b\u200bSainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Upper Alsace, until 1696. On 27 February of that year, he signed a petition against compulsory military service. He was probably the leader of that congregation and soon emerged as leader of the Mennonites of Switzerland

In 1693, Jakob Ammann dialectical clashed with some leading Swiss Mennonites, including Hans Reist and Benedict Schneider, who had lowered some standards related to the treatment of the expellees, all those who renounce their faith after baptism, according to custom Mennonite, should be rejected, no treatment was allowed, nor eat with the expelled, the situation was going to call meidung, which were remote for a while and were not accepted back unless they demonstrate long true repentance.
This lack of discipline was observed because they had softened the meidung time, in some cases not being applied, or as was a friend or family member was the person with more kindness. They had left at least this time, which from the point of view of Amman was inconceivable and undermined discipline and could mean the relaxation of the rules of purity they sought.

Furthermore Jakob Ammann, ceremonies instituted within Mennonite practice foot-washing in connection with communion, which had not been practiced by the Swiss Mennonites until then. This led to a division within the group to the extent that others considered to be deported to Amman and his followers.

Later, Jakob Amman to observe the rupture that had succeeded with his hardline stance, he wanted a reconciliation with his former colleagues, coming to offer their own position and step on him and his congregation at the situation to change meidung unit, but because there was no agreement, was formed to continuing its work and hold together with those remaining. They considered themselves Mennonites, but the others were called amanita or Amish, but they would not recognize that title and saw themselves as the Swiss Brethren, soon progressed and were thousands who joined the movement.

In 1710, things had become very difficult in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, so many Mennonite communities were moving north, reaching Moravia. While the followers of Amman decided to head to distant lands and many began to travel to America. Their leader, Jakob Amman, moved up there with hundreds of Amish settling in the land the Quaker William Penn, had succeeded in southern New Jersey, which is now known as the state of Pennsylvania. There were well received and settled, but without mixing with others, formed their own communities, kept their language and customs, but suffered no pressure, or difficulty.

The memory of the harsh persecution suffered and of their strict anti-militarism is maintained until today, when many Amish communities, deny certain outfits, like the mustache, because he had the soldiers of the time, or the use of buttons in others, for the same reason. From the time of the bloody persecution and to avoid imitating the opulence of the great religions, avoid the construction of temples or churches, which typically meet in homes or adjoining rooms, prepared for this, but without any kind of ostentation.

Over time they arrived most Amish in Pennsylvania and Kansas, and this had led to different scattered groups or communities who were called Ordnung, led by a body of elders, who established the various standards or guidelines to follow, but no definitive hierarchical system and general government between the Ordnung, so there is little connection between them. This has led to substantial differences, though not in doctrine, if accepted norms and customs between different Ordnung.

But the rift with his former colleagues, and the effort to remain intact and without outside influence, was a struggle that had for decades, as many Amish began to have a relationship with Baptists, Methodists, Quakers and others who had settled there. Later arrival of Mennonites fleeing Europe also meant another influence that was changing the traditional lifestyle of the Amish, many left the communal life and joined the Mennonites on the other side were also approaching Pentecostal influences positions were emerging within Methodism.

Therefore, from the sixties of the nineteenth century, a general conference of the Amish communities, decided to establish a strict separation and isolation, which made them away from using modern ways and new technologies were emerging, which has meant that today the common vision we have of them. Some communities living in the past, without making use of modern transportation, and modern techniques for cultivation of the field, in some cases rejecting the electricity, the costumes of centuries past and anchored in a system life times away from current.

Living together does not preclude you have made many, but not because they preach or convert to other, that was one of the first customs abandoned by the Amish, they prevailed their struggle to maintain the purity and therefore avoided introducing members from other nations or races, and thus, do not proselytize. But often their families are large and growth has been great, but this has given rise to problems of mixing between close relatives, bringing numerous birth defects, consanguineous marriages.

The practice of voluntary adult baptism, remains the basic rule of the Amish, in fact there is a period of time that young age to decide for baptism, they may choose. It's known for rumspringa , derived from the German term in Pennsylvania for "chase" or jumping. This is a period in adolescence of some members of the Amish, which begins around the age of sixteen and ends when the couple decides their baptism into the Amish church or choose to leave the community. Some choose to mingle with their neighbors that are common to the English calling on cities, drink alcohol, in some cases practice premarital sex, drugs and other things common in young worldly.

However, there is an obligation, nor is an invitation to hac the rumspringa er is simply a personal decision that many parents suffer when their children reach that age. But note that in most cases, these young people return to their community and accept baptism, integrating back into their group. Few definitely leave the simple life of the commune.

That despite the proven life in their communities, where there are no diversions of the big cities where restrictions are placed on even the physical appearance presented because they believe that any member who displays considerable interest in the mundane appearance is in danger, then that interest should concentrate on spiritual matters rather than physical. For this often quoted from the Scriptures, when they say in 1 Samuel 16:7: "J ehová said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or his height above .... The mere man sees what appears to eyes, but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart. also cite Paul's letter: I want women to adorn themselves in neat dress, with modesty and wisdom, not with braided hair styles and gold or pearls or costly attire. " (1 Timothy 2:9.)

can not be doubt that the Amish have taken to the extreme ideas of Menno Simons and Jakob Hutter, but have come to today, after centuries of maintaining high standards and strict moral and mental cleansing. Its simplicity denote villages as the Christians had understood the first time. So at home, do not use light bulbs, but oil lamps, instead of cars, using a horse-drawn carriages, and instead of running water, a well and a windmill. Also often have no television, no radio, sing themselves, but until there are communities where the song is prohibited. No mobile phones, let alone computers. But that decision

to maintain an isolated life, also affected other groups of Mennonites, who still retain their identity, were isolated and formed communities in South America, imitating the simple life of the Amish.

The arrival of the Mennonites to America occurred several decades after the Amish. Russia had taken in the late eighteenth century, many communities, especially Hutterites, Mennonites and later on, that especially in Ukraine, there had been numerous. While in Slovakia the Thirty Years War between Protestants and Catholics, Hutterites decimated communities that could not escape, especially for his efforts to maintain neutrality, were massacred from one side as another. Some fled to Hungary, but as the area was won by the Catholics, many Hutterites, were forced to convert to Catholicism, but it was apparent conversion, they were known as the habans. The Habans were a group of about 230 Hutterites who ceded to the forcible conversion in order to stay on their land and not be bothered.

This name comes from the Hebrew word aha-banim a term used to children, but it also corresponds with the German title Die Haushaben , referring to the tenants of community houses. The main reason why they succeeded was staying and was tolerated in their abilities and diligence in many domains. Rxcelentes they became artisans, artists, therefore, doctors and the lords were happy to use their services. During the seventeenth century the renewed vigor of Roman Catholicism, who distrusted the apparent conversion of these, forced the Moravians Habans groups, seek peace offered by the tolerant Hungary and others crossed into Transylvania.

The community, which was composed mainly of artisans, was famous for its pottery. The shape and decoration of glazed ceramics from the Habans (jars, jugs, plates, bowls, tiles, and even small barrels) had at first Tyrolean and Italian influences, but then developed his own style. Some, mainly from Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands and settled in southern Moravia and western Slovakia territory. But they became over time, rather than a religion, in a community or tribe. They maintained their traditions and customs, however well into the nineteenth century, but were absorbed by society. Unlike

way had to follow those who refused to compromise their ideas, and after wandering like nomads from one place to another, forced by religious hatred in 1788 at the invitation of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, groups Mennonite farmers of Prussia, emigrated to Ukraine in southern Russia. Finally found peace in Ukraine, where they arrived at the beginning just Hutterites, Mennonites but also later. And if the latter lived in cities, drew more attention, which brought them problems.

The Mennonites and Hutterites situation in Ukraine, however, was for several decades and a century of some prosperity, this was to grow to become several hundred thousand. But mid-nineteenth century, changes in Russian laws, put them back in the spotlight. Established the compulsory military service as the pacifism of these made him reject all violence and use of weapons, placed them in the point targeted by the Russian authorities, who soon became the target of threats and persecution for the cause.

why the flight of most of the members of the community was swift. In the case of the Hutterites is said to have sent scouts to North America in 1873, along with a Mennonite delegation. Later another mass migration occurred from 1874 to 1879 when about 18,000 Hutterites came to the New World in response to the new law on military service in Russia. Among them were Schmiedeleut, Dariusleut and Lehrerleut, leut, names based on Hutterite leaders who run these communities. All of these were initially set in the Dakota Territory, then colonies Dariusleut moved to central Montana.


The community collaborates in the construction of houses and barns, part of the collaboration that holds the Amish.





In this case, each group reestablished the traditional Hutterite communal lifestyle, though not as extreme as the Amish, as these if they accept the electricity and motor locomotion, but they are simple and extreme life , for example, reject the use of photographs consider idolatry. They call themselves brothers Hutterites, established in communities in England, Western Canada, and South Dakota, USA.
The most widespread
however has become that of the Mennonites, but has evolved and there is some confusion on the ownership of the name by certain evangelical churches in recent times.

pure Mennonites still living in communes and villages of their own, or in small towns in different countries. Practice like the Amish, an austere and simple life, but do not reach the ends of these in relation to contact with the outside or the use of modernity, in some cases if they use certain technology. Almost everything we consume is produced Mennonites themselves, but sell the surplus in foreign markets, earning substantial revenues. In communities Mennonites, depending on age and sex roles are well defined and all part of the production processes and missions of the Church. They have their own education to teach in old German, which is the language they use to communicate. Each family pays a fee to send their children to school during seasons that do not help in the field.

The cultural isolation of the Mennonite communities is based on a rejection of the concept of nation in an unqualified criticism against war and military service. According to a report published in early 2007 by the Mennonite World Conference, there are approximately 1,480,000 members worldwide, distributed in 82 countries. It must be remembered These statistics do not include children, but only baptized adult members. While those figures have different branches of Mennonites with little in common.

In the first time, the Mennonites were located mainly in the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, where their number has been reduced dramatically in North America, but in recent decades have seen a remarkable growth in other continents, and the early years of Century XXI only 37% live in Europe and North America. There are more Mennonites in Africa than in any other continent.

Since the late eighteenth century, there were divisions within the Anabaptists Mennonites, especially in 1778 when he founded the group known as the Brethren in Christ or River Brethren, which subsequently led to other groups with clear approach to the evangelists and in some cases have appropriated the name Mennonite, without nothing in common with them, subject to certain doctrines and adult baptism.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Mild Alchol Poisoning

Swedenborgians: General Church of New Jerusalem


"Judgement," engraving by William Blake


One of the most ardent supporters of the ideas of Swedenborg, was the English poet and painter William Blake, born in 1757 , when the visionary scientist, had 69, but still had 20 years to live. It is therefore somewhat mysterious relationship with this young painter, who also claims to have had visions and dreams, then usher in drawings and prints of incredible artistic quality.

Blake, came from a family of so-called dissenters, the name given in England to all dissident Anglican church. In fact, his mother, the former husband of it, belonged to the United Fratum or Moravian Brethren, and it is quite possible that her second husband also belonged to that church. William received the education that was consistent with his doctrine, which is not known is how he came into contact with the writings of Swedenborg, you may out through some meetings that some of his early followers remained in London since 1783. Through a writer named William Sharp, with whom she had a close friendship and working partnership, the group presented the study of the works of Swedenborg, among whom was Philip de Loutherbourg, Richard Cosway, John Flaxman and another close friend of Blake.

From this small study group was established over time, what would be called The Church of New Jerusalem. It is considered the year 1787, as an officer for the establishment of the new religion, fifteen years after Swedenborg's death, but in reality, as saw the seeds were those meetings were the work of Swedenborg the basis of his study, without giving up their religions of origin. But since 1787, he realized how distant were the teachings of Emanuel, so they decided to form separate from its previous practice of religion. This new religious movement proposed that a new revelation was about to replace the corrupt beliefs perpetuated by earlier Christian churches. While Swedenborg

not intend to found a new church, but looked in his writings the idea that a new would have to come, according to their calculations during the human epoch on earth had been several stages where a church was replaced by corruption and pollution of their beliefs and doctrines. Thus, he stated that existed in the beginning, the Adamite, then Noah, the Jewish and the Christian Church. According to Swedenborg told the Christian Church was coming to an end, and according to his followers, with William Blake in the lead, thought that this gap would be covered by the Church of New Jerusalem.

Although not directly attributable to Blake the establishment of the new to church, was one of its main proponents, is known for an important meeting on April 14, 1789, where Blake and his wife Catherine participated that was the First Conference General of the New Jerusalem Church, held in a local East End of London and lasted for four days.
Often the works of Blake, referring to spiritual reasons, very close to the images transmitted Swedenborg in his alleged angelic and heavenly visions. On the other hand there were many interested in contact with the spirits, and some founders of the so-called Theosophy, which were also interested in the writings of Swedenborg, but they rather hurt the progress of swendenborgianos true, for because of these often Spiritualists were charged by his detractors, some also relate to the Masonic lodges, which also found interesting writings of the visionary scientist.

William Blake, poet and painter, and one of the originators of the movement called the New Jerusalem Church of


Basically the doctrinal line of the new movement had the following arguments:
"He rejects the creation of nothing human, although it rejects pantheism, the world derives its being from God by contiguity, not continuity.
"The theory of correspondences. The images from the physical to spiritual and physical world of animated things, reflect or correspond to moral and spiritual qualities or ideas.
-Interpretation spirit of the Bible. Based on the correspondence theory, where Swedenborg argued that all Scripture has a literal and spiritual meaning, and claimed that his special mission to reveal the true spiritual meaning of Scripture. For swendenborgianos them, try to give a symbolic interpretation of the Bible.
-A reinterpretation of the doctrine of the Trinity and the Trinity is not three, but three essential principles. Father innermost principle, the ineffable love of God, the Son as the divine wisdom and the Holy Spirit as the divine power. But in reality, are only the beginning of the same divine person, Jesus Christ himself, the understand and take it directly as God.
-Rejection of rescue and teaching the theory of atonement. Thus the death of Christ is a sacrifice to make satisfaction for divine justice, but a triumph over temptation and spiritual evil example of the reconciling power of God by which all men can overcome evil.
-Absolute freedom of personal will in spiritual matters. No one is predetermined to be saved or go to the heavenly life, but each chooses in the land.
-Salvation by faith plus works. Although God is the ultimate source of all the merits and good works, man must choose between cooperating with the power of love and seek God and spiritual health reform through a life of doing good.
-election of all between heaven and hell in the intermediate and transient which is the land, there is a purpose of future life on earth, not the end of the world.
-The continuation of life in the sky, including marital life, the true conjugal love lives in heaven.
"Spiritual realization of the Second Coming and the Last Judgement in 1757, when it is supposed that the doctrine of the New Jerusalem Church was formed. Although this as a church did not become established until decades later. Although Swedenborg actually not see it that way, the thought and spoke of a future distant. In any case members of the General Church of New Jerusalem, awaiting the day that the elimination of all religions today, leaving only the true church, to make way for a new stage.
"Besides not speak of resurrection in the flesh, but always spiritual, but the situation is elected much like a perfect society on earth with beautiful palaces, ideal temperatures, lack of disease, etc.. The liturgy in their churches is based on that of the Anglicans, with reverends, bishops, etc. ..

never have accepted Swedenborgians name, but it is inevitable that identify themselves as such.
The movement came to America in 1784 by James Glen, who is on his way to British Guyana, he stopped in Philadelphia, where he preached the new teaching. A major shipment of Swedenborg's books addressed to him arrived shortly after he was gone and they were sold by auction. Soon, a group of readers was formed in Philadelphia around the family of Francis Bayley, who became the first editor of Swedenborg's Scripture in Latin. In 1792 a society was organized in Baltimore and reorganized by the Rev. John Hargrove in 1798.

albeit slowly due in part to the above reasons, the church was extended by several European countries, even went to African and American land, but in Sweden, a country of origin of Swedenborg, the movement was severely persecuted until the year 1875.
In 1876, at the initiative of a large group of intellectuals who were attracted to the ideas of the visionary scientist, established a teaching academy, where in addition to publicize, translate the writings, secular education for members, ministers are prepared to to become preachers of the New Church.

The problem arose when I had to decide which text had more weight, or the Holy Scriptures, with a story line, which until that time little understood and is needed to understand or " True Christian Religion, "indicating a new path, taking some things and rejecting others.
Or the Bible, reinterpreted, as symbolism, or explanations of " Heaven and Hell "taken literally as an absolute reality eyewitness.
Or the New Testament, which speaks not to add or remove anything, or seek contacts with the Spirits (Galatians 1:6-9) or the "Arcana Caelestia " with its theory of correspondences, longing for a new revelation and open contact with spiritual beings.

In 1890 came a break at the very heart of the Academy, with regard to baptism, consideration as inspired writings of Swedenborg's books and how to lead the new church, a movement that came up today has been the strongest of those arising from the swendenborgianos. So for 1897 under the leadership of Rev. WF Pendleton, formed a new church body that adopted the legal name of General Church of New Jerusalem, is still referred to his organization as "the New Church or the General Church. This led to a new community in Pennsylvania, where more than three thousand people joined the new movement.

Due to the zeal of their leaders and the generous support of leading church members, the Academy grew. Today this includes high school for boys and girls, a primary school and a theological school that trains ministers from every continent and a graduate program in religious studies. During the past decades, the Academy family, including Bryn Athyn College in Pennsylvania as the Academy of the New Church Theological School, has helped turn the movement into a global community. Students from around the world have come to Bryn Athyn to study the arts and sciences in the light of New Church teachings and of course following Swedenborg's texts as sacred.

The church now has a presence in more countries in the world, including Brazil, Japan, Korea, China, Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast Russia, Spain and Czech Republic. Where efforts are aimed at translating the Scriptures of Swedenborg in several other languages \u200b\u200blike English, French, Russian, Chinese, Korean, and Zulu. At the same time, new centers for theological education are being established worldwide. In South Africa the increase has been greater, it is believed that more than half of all members residing there.

Famous writers and philosophers of the world have expressed their fascination with the writings of Swedenborg, including the famous deaf-blind lecturer, Helen Keller, who said, in tribute to the work of Swedish scientist: "True Christianity still flooded the world as the ocean, that overwhelm, submerge and regenerate mankind. No barrier built warships, troops and fortifications remain in bringing these mighty waters. "It was and a recognition of the prophecies of the Swedish lit, with respect to the advent of the new religion, though some say it is already here.

Another striking support came from the famous Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, who often wrote and lectured praising the work of Swedenborg. Borges A striking comment about the figure of Swedenborg was: Emanuel Swedenborg If it had intended to cheat, there would resorted to the anonymous publication of much of his work, as it did in the nine volumes of his Arcana Caelestia, who renounce the authority under a name already distinguished. We know that the dialogue did not seek to proselytize. In the manner of Emerson and Walt Whitman, he believed that the arguments do not persuade anyone and simply stating a truth that will enable partners to accept it. Always shied away from controversy. In his entire work does not find a single syllogism, there is but smooth and quiet claims. I refer, of course, his mystical treatises ...... I have it for me stating that the opinion is certainly unorthodox, a mere man of letters, not a researcher or a theologian Swedenborg, like Spinoza or Francis Bacon, was a thinker on their own (in His own right) who made an awkward mistake when he decided to bring their ideas to the framework of the two Testaments. The same thing had happened to the Jewish Kabbalists, which essentially were Neoplatonists when invoked the authority of the verses, words and even letters and transpositions of letters, from Genesis to justify the system.

This contradiction shows that all are in the person of Emanuel Swedenborg, first praising his way of explaining things, to express their ideas, but also wary of him, for his audacity to present himself as a lighted was privileged to communicate with angels and yet never wanted to become enlightened leader of a group of followers, but their knowledge, even putting everything in writing as stated as being that of a treaty or thesis research. The comparison with the Kabbalists, to give each word to a symbolic interpretation of the Old Testament have anything to do with the method of Swedenborg, to give symbolic to all parts of the Bible that contradict its principles, to make them consistent with these.

Many others have used the beliefs of Swedenborg, but no mention, even some of the new modern religions have taken at face value scientific explanations Swedish about life on other worlds, the theory of correspondences and other beliefs semiesotericas and have taken over.

other hand, has nothing to do with the swendenborgianos, the New Jerusalem Church of Atlanta, an evangelist church seal. Nor is there the call in a Swedenborgian Rite Masonic lodge, it means that this would end. Neither that theosophy, and anthroposophy scientism, citing some ideas of this or drink from his writings misrepresenting the substance and content of your household, this means that they originate from Swedenborg. But the fact is that it itself is attributed to divine inspiration in his writings, sooner or later get mimic many other inspirations and methods.