Who Are the Anabaptists?

Amish, Brethren, Hutterites and Mennonites

by Donald B. Kraybill
2003
Paper
Pages: 48
ISBN: 0-8361-9242-7
Price: $8.99; in Canada $9.99

The Anabaptists of North America sport an amazing spectrum of religious and cultural diversity—from communal Hutterites to urban Mennonites, from low-tech Amish to acculturated Brethren. New members with Asian, African, and Hispanic cultural roots add spice and color to traditional Anabaptist ways. Counting more than 6,000 congregations and 100 different groups, the Anabaptists are known for their strong commitments to peacemaking, service, and community. In this concise text, a leading scholar of Anabaptist communities provides a sweeping overview of their beliefs and practices as well as their similarities and differences.

Some Interesting Facts on the Four Church Families

The Hutterites. Hutterite life rests on three core values: sharing material goods, surrendering self-will for communal harmony, and separating from an evil world. Communal property, the hallmark of Hutterite culture, distinguishes them from other Anabaptist groups.

The Mennonites. Mennonites are the largest and most complicated family in the Anabaptist world. Historical, religious, and cultural factors have produced more than 60 different Mennonite groups in North America.

The Amish. Amish parents typically raise about seven children, but ten or more is not uncommon. More than half of the population is under 18 years of age. An Amish person will often have 75 or more first cousins.

The Brethren. Except for some 3,000 Brethren in Christ, there are no other Brethren groups in Canada. The Brethren family blends together the legacies of both Anabaptism and Pietism.

About the Author

Donald B. Kraybill is Distinguished College Professor and a Senior Fellow in the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College (Pa.). He is the author of numerous books on Anabaptist communities.

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