Throughout history, Christians have faced the persistent temptation of confusing the language we use to talk about God with the essence of Christian faith. This stubborn human tendency to turn doctrine into an idol - to confuse a human creation with the truth itself - can easily lead people to wield doctrinal claims as a weapon against minority or dissenting perspectives. Thus, anyone who does not line up with a certain formulation of Christian faith is not only wrong, but also a heretic and therefore worthy of punishment or death.

~ John D. Roth

John D. Roth Anabaptism Anabaptist Christian Faith Christianity Heresy Mennonites Theology

I respect traditional people - they have the eyes which see value in the tarnished. This is a gift in itself. Tradition requires a wealth of discipline in order to be adhered to, hence it is rarely found in youth.

~ Criss Jami

Criss Jami Age Amish Ancestors Chronological Snobbery Conservative Culture Discipline Elderly Eyes Gift Immaturity Intelligence Knowledge Liberal Maturity Mennonites Old Old Age Past Respect Tarnished Tradition Value Wealth Wisdom Youth

He is the same chap who informed me that there are unusually high numbers of Mennonites who suffer from depression but nobody knows why. I said, Well, thank you for that! As cheerfully as if I was accepting a plate of homemade Christmas cookies from one of my students.

~ Miriam Toews

Miriam Toews Depression Mennonites