I was so surprised when I uncovered the “secret” that current closed communities are rampant grounds for sexual abuse.

dee wrote:

If you ever see any stories, please point us to them.

This one will enrage you and break your heart. One of the saddest stories is of one girl named Anna. When her mother found out that Anna was speaking about her sexual abuse she brought her to a dentist and had all her teeth pulled out.

http://legalaffairs.org/issues/January-February-2005/feature_labi_janfeb05.msp

My writing partner describes the relationship between the various groups this way:
* You have Anabaptists.
* Mennonites are one step beyond Anabaptist.
* Old Order Mennonites are one step beyond Mennonite.
* Amish are one step beyond Old Order Mennonite.
* (And Old Order Amish are (presumably) one step beyond Amish.)

@ Lola:
Yoder is a common surname among Amish and Mennonites. There are a tonmof Yoders in my neck of the wods.

But John Howard Yoder is removed from this kind of life. He is (was) a univerdity professor and influential theologian.

I had some questions about the disclaimer that Herald Press, Yoder’s publisher, was planning to include in his books: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/pilgrimsroadtrip/2013/12/content-trumps-character/. Looking forward to what you’ll have to say about this sad, sad story.

Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:

My writing partner describes the relationship between the various groups this way:
* You have Anabaptists.
* Mennonites are one step beyond Anabaptist.
* Old Order Mennonites are one step beyond Mennonite.
* Amish are one step beyond Old Order Mennonite.
* (And Old Order Amish are (presumably) one step beyond Amish.)

Aside from trivial doctrinal matters, the really important thing that they have in common is an affinity for pie. All kinds of pies, though there may be scattered sects of fruit-pie only or cream-pie only fundamentalists. They may have further fractured into lattice-top pastry tops vs. full-crust pastry tops vs. streusel tops for the fruit pie purists and meringue vs. whipped cream for the cream pie purists.

I suppose it is analogous to southern (small s) Baptists and our doctrines of Potato Salad. There are the mustard vs. no mustard sects, and the boiled egg vs. no boiled egg sects. Sweet relish vs. dill. Bacon vs. no bacon. That is what you get when there is no central authority or creedal statement. Chaos. Pure, delicious, Spanx-exploding chaos.

@ Gram3:
And rhubarb pie, too.

@ Gram3:

Where does the bean casserole fit into their soteriology then?

jonathan wrote:

Where does the bean casserole fit into their soteriology then?

I think you would need to consult Nick on that. I don’t do vegetables with the exception of sweet baked beans with onions, brown sugar, liquid smoke and catsup/ketchup. On that doctrine I am dogmatic. Of course, the Amish might think my bean doctrine is too showy and most likely would be dogmatic about a plain bean doctrine. I really don’t think they would go beyond plain to a casserole, regardless of bean type.

numo wrote:

@ Headless Unicorn Guy:
There are lots of breakaway churches in PA, Ohio and IN, and there are groups of Amish and Old Order Mennonites in places you’d never expect. It sounds like there are indeed some in your area.

They were on the station platforms this morning, speaking among themselves in a form of German. Phoned my writing partner with this development, and he responded “They’re Amish”. Amish in SoCal… I think a bit of Weird Al Yankovic is in order:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOfZLb33uCg

jonathan wrote:

@ Gram3:
Where does the bean casserole fit into their soteriology then?

Orthodox only if topped by Tater Tots

@ Gram3:
Haven’t got time to deal with this now, will have to ketchup with you later …

JeffT wrote:

Orthodox only if topped by Tater Tots

Yet another innovation and corruption of sound doctrine. You have capitulated to Idaho culture, my friend. Do you have any idea where this will lead? The next thing you know, people will be substituting all manner of things for cream of mushroom soup. They may even introduce things like real cream and mushrooms! Repent!

BeenThereDoneThat wrote:

dee wrote:

If you ever see any stories, please point us to them.

This one will enrage you and break your heart. One of the saddest stories is of one girl named Anna. When her mother found out that Anna was speaking about her sexual abuse she brought her to a dentist and had all her teeth pulled out.

http://legalaffairs.org/issues/January-February-2005/feature_labi_janfeb05.msp

Oh that is a litany of horror & woes. I could lost the will to live.

Gram3 wrote:

JeffT wrote:
Orthodox only if topped by Tater Tots
Yet another innovation and corruption of sound doctrine. You have capitulated to Idaho culture, my friend. Do you have any idea where this will lead? The next thing you know, people will be substituting all manner of things for cream of mushroom soup. They may even introduce things like real cream and mushrooms! Repent!

Here in Minnesota we take an anabaptist approach and have established our own community. In fact, using the term “casserole” brands one as an outsider – here it’s a “hot dish”. We do allow for cream of chicken soup, although we look askance at it. Non-canned substitutions are strictly verboten!

numo wrote:

@ Gram3:
Oh for crying out loud – we Dutchies love yummy baked beans, so i think looking up some PA Dutch recipe books is your next mission, should you choose to accept it.

Every time I’m in PA Dutch country, I go on a quest for Roast Pork & Sauerkraut.

@ numo:

So, mustard or no mustard in the baked beans? That is the question.

That pesky mustard question . . .;)

@ Headless Unicorn Guy:
you’re lucky that you can eat sauerkraut. It disagrees with me, so my roast pork is always just that, with mashed potatoes. No “good luck” for me, either on New Year’s day or at any other time.

@ numo:
P.S.: one of my favorite things is dry-bottom shoo fly pie. My grandma made it, but it is quite rare, though (imo) much more fun to eat than the typical wet-bottom pies. It reminds me of gingerbread.

@ numo:
Though some will immediately assume I’m trolling for the apple farmers, here’s an alternative to sauerkraut that I love: Sweet onions and crisp apples in the pork roast pan or in a sauté pan with pork chops. Seems vaguely German to this not-German person.

Xianatty wrote:

@ numo:
Though some will immediately assume I’m trolling for the apple farmers, here’s an alternative to sauerkraut that I love: Sweet onions and crisp apples in the pork roast pan or in a sauté pan with pork chops. Seems vaguely German to this not-German person.

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about fried apples and onions and made it sound delicious. I happen to like apples in German-style red cabbage. But yes, one of my favorite things to do is saute sweet onions in butter until caramelized, put a layer of rinsed sauerkraut and onions down in a Dutch oven, gently lay in pork chops or a pork roast, top with more sauerkraut and onions, cover, and bake slowly until the meat is falling apart.

@ refugee:
That does sound delicious! I wishi could eat sauerkraut…