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Stories: How Mennonites Came to Be
John D. Roth's straightforward, accessible narrative invigorates this contemporary introduction to the Mennonite story. Whether readers are new to the Mennonite community or just yearning for a fresh telling of Anabaptist origins, Stories: How Mennonites Came to Be will serve as a compact digest of the church's history for generations to come.
246 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2006
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About the author
John D. Roth
38 books6 followersDepartment chair, Professor of History, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana
Director, Mennonite Historical Library
Editor, Mennonite Quarterly Review
Education:
BA, Goshen College, 1981
MA, University of Chicago, 1983
PHD, University of Chicago, 1989
Director, Mennonite Historical Library
Editor, Mennonite Quarterly Review
Education:
BA, Goshen College, 1981
MA, University of Chicago, 1983
PHD, University of Chicago, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 11, 2010
The writing in this book is as reader friendly as a history book can be and still be a credible source of information. The word "history" does not appear in the title presumably in an effort to appear more attractive to prospective readers. Avoidance of the word may also deflect some criticism from professional historians who may regard it to be "history light" with inadequate depth.
I haven't come up with a better title to replace the title "Stories," though that title doesn't seem all that descriptive of the contents. Many of the chapters and sections begin with a human interest story to grab the reader's attention prior to moving on to the historical narrative. But most of the book is an overview of Mennonite history starting with the first century Christian church, then covering the Reformation era and continuing on through to the Twenty-first Century.
This book provides an easy way to learn about Mennonite history while illuminating a small segment of history that is often overlooked by broader accounts of history. Presumably the readers most likely to be motivated to read this book will be Mennonites themselves. Nevertheless all readers can learn something from it, whether reading it as refresher course or learning the material for the first time.
I particularly appreciated the author's introductory and closing remarks that discussed the virtues of acquiring knowledge of the past. One of the best ways to know where we're headed is to know where we came from.
I haven't come up with a better title to replace the title "Stories," though that title doesn't seem all that descriptive of the contents. Many of the chapters and sections begin with a human interest story to grab the reader's attention prior to moving on to the historical narrative. But most of the book is an overview of Mennonite history starting with the first century Christian church, then covering the Reformation era and continuing on through to the Twenty-first Century.
This book provides an easy way to learn about Mennonite history while illuminating a small segment of history that is often overlooked by broader accounts of history. Presumably the readers most likely to be motivated to read this book will be Mennonites themselves. Nevertheless all readers can learn something from it, whether reading it as refresher course or learning the material for the first time.
I particularly appreciated the author's introductory and closing remarks that discussed the virtues of acquiring knowledge of the past. One of the best ways to know where we're headed is to know where we came from.
December 23, 2018
I've been dipping into this book between other reading. A good summary of Anabaptist/Menno development from beginnings to around 2010. He does spend time in the broader world, but tends a bit American centric. He doesn't shy away from controversies -- colonial racist tendencies in our mission ets.
January 2, 2013
Stories is a brief account of Mennonite/Anabaptist history beginning with the early church following the death of Christ up until present day (2006, when the book was published). As the title suggests, Roth combines history, narrative, and theology, forming an accessible summary of how Mennonites came to be. History is a collection of stories; by beginning each chapter with a story, Roth demonstrates that indeed stories are what give life to history. He is careful to point out in his introduction his is not a comprehensive history, but rather an outline of several main themes, an outline that tells the story of the Mennonites from long before their humble beginnings, to their current situation in the global community.
Understanding that Anabaptism did not emerge fully formed from a vacuum, Roth begins with the early church and works his way through history. Touching on the important events that set the stage for the emergence of Anabaptism, and subsequently the Mennonites, Roth effectively uses stories of those involved in said history to help it unfold. He begins by establishing a context for the emergence of Anabaptist-Mennonite beginnings in a brief history of the early church and the 1500 years leading up to the Reformation.
Roth then moves onto an overview of the Anabaptist-Mennonite movement, and briefly examines the fragmentation that occurred shortly after its emergence. This fragmentation is defined by the geographic locations from which the various subsets of Anabaptism appeared, and Roth switches from a chronology to a more geographical account. As he moves into a summary of Mennonites in the modern global context, Roth expounds on what it means for the contemporary Mennonite to relate to the secular world and other Christian denominations.
Roth’s description of how Mennonites came to be is practical at its core; he gives a succinct overview without unnecessary details. This approach mirrors his own observation of the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, “that [it] is properly understood only as it is embodied in the practices of daily life.” However, being so concise does present a short-coming of the book. I find coverage of the theology of the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition to be inadequate. An explanation of the cultural roots of how Mennonites came to be is important, but equally important are the foundations of theology from which it grew and how it evolved over the last 500 years. Reading Roth’s account of Mennonites in Europe and Russia, one would think that their beliefs had very little to do with their lives, and that their focus on agriculture was what defined them.
I appreciate Roth’s acknowledgement that church growth is often tightly linked with persecution, a common theme in Anabaptism. This theme certainly shaped the tradition and its beliefs. Even in times of affluence, the spirit of persecution was (and to an extent, still is) kept alive through hymns and texts like the Martyr’s Mirror. When someone is willing to die for their faith, people take notice, their interest piqued; they feel something worth dying for must be something worth believing in.
Roth’s final section on Mennonites in the World is particularly engaging. Roth moves from his straightforward historical account to a more reflective model of discussion. He asks thought-provoking questions about modern Mennonites’ position in the global community. His responses allow the reader to come to his or her own conclusions, while providing a framework of core Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs to guide the process. The committed Mennonite will appreciate Roth’s focus on the maintenance of the faith’s distinctiveness, and separation from what he dubs “generic Christianity.”
Being a brief overview of Mennonite origins, it is understandable that not everything can be covered. I often found myself wanting to know more, particularly in terms of early Anabaptist theology. Frankly, the lack of a bibliography is surprising. This is a great introductory text, but it provides no direction for sources of further study.
Stories presents a solid overview of Mennonite history, and lives up to its claim of explaining how Mennonites came to be. I recommend this book both to those new to the faith, and those “cradle-Mennonites” who grew up within the faith tradition but might not know the full history that provides the foundation of their faith.
Understanding that Anabaptism did not emerge fully formed from a vacuum, Roth begins with the early church and works his way through history. Touching on the important events that set the stage for the emergence of Anabaptism, and subsequently the Mennonites, Roth effectively uses stories of those involved in said history to help it unfold. He begins by establishing a context for the emergence of Anabaptist-Mennonite beginnings in a brief history of the early church and the 1500 years leading up to the Reformation.
Roth then moves onto an overview of the Anabaptist-Mennonite movement, and briefly examines the fragmentation that occurred shortly after its emergence. This fragmentation is defined by the geographic locations from which the various subsets of Anabaptism appeared, and Roth switches from a chronology to a more geographical account. As he moves into a summary of Mennonites in the modern global context, Roth expounds on what it means for the contemporary Mennonite to relate to the secular world and other Christian denominations.
Roth’s description of how Mennonites came to be is practical at its core; he gives a succinct overview without unnecessary details. This approach mirrors his own observation of the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, “that [it] is properly understood only as it is embodied in the practices of daily life.” However, being so concise does present a short-coming of the book. I find coverage of the theology of the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition to be inadequate. An explanation of the cultural roots of how Mennonites came to be is important, but equally important are the foundations of theology from which it grew and how it evolved over the last 500 years. Reading Roth’s account of Mennonites in Europe and Russia, one would think that their beliefs had very little to do with their lives, and that their focus on agriculture was what defined them.
I appreciate Roth’s acknowledgement that church growth is often tightly linked with persecution, a common theme in Anabaptism. This theme certainly shaped the tradition and its beliefs. Even in times of affluence, the spirit of persecution was (and to an extent, still is) kept alive through hymns and texts like the Martyr’s Mirror. When someone is willing to die for their faith, people take notice, their interest piqued; they feel something worth dying for must be something worth believing in.
Roth’s final section on Mennonites in the World is particularly engaging. Roth moves from his straightforward historical account to a more reflective model of discussion. He asks thought-provoking questions about modern Mennonites’ position in the global community. His responses allow the reader to come to his or her own conclusions, while providing a framework of core Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs to guide the process. The committed Mennonite will appreciate Roth’s focus on the maintenance of the faith’s distinctiveness, and separation from what he dubs “generic Christianity.”
Being a brief overview of Mennonite origins, it is understandable that not everything can be covered. I often found myself wanting to know more, particularly in terms of early Anabaptist theology. Frankly, the lack of a bibliography is surprising. This is a great introductory text, but it provides no direction for sources of further study.
Stories presents a solid overview of Mennonite history, and lives up to its claim of explaining how Mennonites came to be. I recommend this book both to those new to the faith, and those “cradle-Mennonites” who grew up within the faith tradition but might not know the full history that provides the foundation of their faith.
July 1, 2007
Written as a non-academic book (and therefore very accessible), but still informative. Needs footnotes and an index, in my opinion. A broad-sweeping history of the Anabaptist/Mennonite movement from the early Church to the modern Mennonite groups around the world. Also includes some helpful thoughts on modern approaches to the Global Mennonite Church.
February 26, 2008
Great reflection on the history of Mennonites in society. Was very interesting. Gives a historical perspective of the rise of anabaptism as well as describes many sects of contemporary Mennonites all around the world.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews