Easter, 1992

Sitting across the street from a church, eating easter candy.

Easter, 1992.

(L to R: Johanns, me, Jason S., Brother Todd).

Why Must God Damn It?

Why?

In the late 1980s, I found this Christian anti-swearing pamphlet somewhere in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was written by Pastor Jabaay and was #208 in the Silent Evangelist series.

I used to have it posted on my bulletin board in high school, and I've kept it with me ever since. It’s a little hard to believe I still have it today.

I’ve always thought it had a great cover design.

[Originally posted on Rebel Leady Boy, Dec. 21, 2005]

The Presidential Prayer Team

Well, this is stupid. It's a sticker from an organization called the Presidential Prayer Team.  I'm now getting spammed with right wing prayer requests, but receiving this free sticker of George W. Bush praying with the ghosts of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington makes it totally worth it. 

The Presidential Prayer Team.

What a dumb thing.

[Originally posted on I'm Nacho Steppinstone, May 16, 2004]

Hard Work & Satisfaction

I received a fine prize in the mail yesterday from Gooseneck:

20 Most Asked Questions about the Amish and Mennonites

Cover.

I love the cover - big smile from the girl on the left, cautious discomfort from the girl on the right.

It was published in 1979 by a man and his child bride -

The authors.

Question #13 asks - "How are their women and children treated?" and the answer states, "A life of hard work and satisfaction".

The book is packed with facts. For example, some of the more culturally integrated Mennonites who drive cars will paint the chrome black to show separation from worldliness (or did so circa 1979 when this book was published - it sounds like a slippery slope to me, they probably just drive normal cars these days).

"Moustaches are forbidden because of their historical association with the military" (p.28).

While the Amish gladly pay property taxes and income taxes, they refuse to pay social security taxes because they don't believe in collecting the benefits. They got Congress to exempt them from paying into social security (if self-employed) on the condition that they agree to take care of their own elderly members.

Contrary to popular perceptions, Amish weddings are not arranged and Amish are totally into modern healthcare. They will go to modern doctors and modern hospitals if necessary.

Dead Amish are buried in a simple handmade pine box. "There are no eulogies. respect for the deceased is expressed, but not praise. A hymn is spoken but not sung" (p. 68).

While some members leave to join mainstream society, Amish and Mennonite membership was growing (in 1979) as they recruited new members from outside their traditional communities -

"Mennonite church in the south Bronx."

[Originally posted on Rebel Leady Boy, Nov. 2, 2005]

Library Interaction: Kill the Imbeciles

Lady upset about recent terrorist attack:

"It's in their religion. They want to kill all the imbeciles."

I'm sure she meant, "infidels," but whatever.

Amish Tendencies

My family's ancestors were Anabaptists during the protestant reformation. Over time, schisms within the Anabaptist movement gave rise to groups like the Mennonites, Amish, and others. My direct line came from a later Anabaptist splinter group in Switzerland known as the Apostolics. So, I share some common ancestry with Amish folk.

Our family’s lineage can be traced back to Adam Gilliom, who emigrated from Switzerland to Indiana in the 1800s. At that time, we were Apostolic. A few generations later, my father became the first member of our family to leave the church entirely—a decision he made on his own. He’s mentioned that it was a tough time because none of his friends were allowed to talk to him anymore, and he deeply missed hunting and fishing with one of his cousins.

According to my parents, when I was a little kid, I had a memorable encounter with an Amish buggy. One passed by our house, and I took off chasing after it without a word. My mom was frantic when she realized I was missing; she even called the police.

Eventually, someone reported seeing a little kid running down the road after a buggy, yelling, "Horsey! Horsey!" The police found me and brought me home. When my mom asked what I was doing, I told her with great determination that I wanted to be “an Amish” when I grew up.

[Originally posted on I'm Nacho Steppinstone, Feb. 20, 2004]