Tag: readers write

Convenient pacifism In response to “Conscientious” (Jan. 30): Wherever religious Mennonites locate in the world, security is usually provided mostly by others. Others suffer and die in their place, while Mennonites denounce their work, reap the benefits and are secretly grateful. If Mennonites acknowledged everyone’s dependence on compromise solutions and participated in those solutions, their…

Complexities of pacifism Below are four responses to “Conscientious” (Jan. 30), which critiqued the Canadian government purchase of fighter jets. Horrors in Ukraine If countries do not stand up to dictators like Putin, Hitler, Mussolini and Napoleon, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy now. Yes, we need the pacifists as well to promote…

Making God manageable I really appreciate what Ryan Dueck is trying to get at, as well as the powerful responses (“To set a soul aflame,” Jan. 30). When Karl Barth visited European Mennonite Bible School near Basel in 1967, a student asked him if groups like the Mennonites have a reason to exist today. Barth…

Tell your story of faith The article “Eyes to see” (Nov. 28, 2022) discussed, “how to help members talk about faith and God’s work in their own lives.” Many of us would rather talk about Mennonites in the past or present, thus evading talking about God in our lives. As followers of Jesus, we are…

Feeling like a pandemic leper I really appreciate the three articles Will Braun wrote regarding the polarization of vaccines (“The sweet solace of polarization,” Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Oct. 31, 2022). I am immunocompromised and was the first member of my church to get COVID-19, back in November 2020. After the two-week quarantine, I got…

Two views on ‘sweet solace’ Re: “The sweet solace of polarization” series, Oct. 3; Oct. 17; and Oct. 31. At the heart of the gospel message is the admonition of Jesus to “love your neighbour as yourself.” It is impossible for me to understand how refusing potentially life-saving precautions, such as vaccines and masks, to…

Protest organizers accused of ‘revisionist history’ Re: “The sweet solace of polarization, Part 2,” Oct. 17, page 20. While the protest organizers may have believed they did a “good job of respecting the rights of others,” and that “honking was controlled,” I’m afraid that’s revisionist history. The protest included honking at all hours and protesters…

Preaching in a ‘maze of postmodern reality’ Say a prayer for pastors, teachers in seminaries and Mennonite schools, bishops and executive ministers, and any others who are tasked with leading the rest of us Anabaptist Christians through the maze of postmodern reality. It’s not so much that the Anabaptist story that should provide a firm,…

Indigenous gifts to the world Re: “Get over being called a ‘settler’ ” letter, June 27, page 7. This letter writer suggests those of us who are descendants of settlers should ask ourselves how we have “benefited from colonialism.” We do indeed need to ask ourselves this question. But the letter writer has inspired me to…

Two editorials lauded Re: “Two things not up for debate” and “Acting ‘a little strange’ ” editorials, May 16 and June 27, respectively. What a great editorial. You are expressing my thoughts completely. When the abortion question was discussed in the 1980s at conference and at our Mennonite Central Committee board, I voiced similar thoughts, and…