Mennonite beliefs, culture converge as Ind. college lifts century-old ban on national anthem

Cox News ^ | 2-20-10 | Carly Everson, Assoc. Press Writer

[cajuncow]

GOSHEN, Ind. (Associated Press) -- For more than a century, there was no playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Goshen College _ a small Christian college with ties to the Mennonite Church.

That's about to change. For the first time in the school's history, Goshen College will play an instrumental version of the national anthem before many campus sporting events.

The decision to reverse the ban on the anthem is aimed at making students and visitors outside the faith feel more welcome, but it has roiled some at the 1,000-student college who feel the song undermines the church's pacifist message and puts love for county above love for God.

[JRochelle]

but it has roiled some at the 1,000-student college who feel the song undermines the church's pacifist message and puts love for county above love for God.

BS. This is about liberalism. Those college students are liberals first and christians second. If they are christian.

[Sherman Logan]

If you think the Mennonites of over a century ago were liberals, you’re not familiar with the group.

There are other reasons for rejecting the Pledge or the Anthem than liberalism.

[JRochelle]

Actually I am very familiar with Goshen College and the type of liberals that are there.

I can assure you they are liberals. Radicals who really don’t like Isreal, hated BUsh and hate all war, no matter what. Now I am not going to say that all those students are like that but most are.

[hellbender]

The roots of the Mennonite faith and pacifist sects like the Quakers are not in today’s context, although they have attracted liberals since then. When those groups were founded, militarism meant supporting the ambitions of some murderous idiotic king like Louis IV and some corrupt established church.

[JRochelle]

It used to be that if you were a Mennonite, you pretty much didn’t vote, didn’t care about politcs and things like that. Not anymore. In fact it was the Mennonite Central Committee who was one of the sponsers who invited that little prick from Iran to some kind of event a few years ago. Because dialouge is the answer! NOT

[JRochelle]

I don’t want to come across as not supporting religious people in the politcal world, it is just that they letting their religion put them on the wrong side.

[hellbender]

I hope and pray the the Amish, who are a branch of the Mennonites, still hold to the original faith. I doubt that any Leftists ware willing to become Amish,

[Gapplega]

Hopefully, they’ll become Catholic.

[JRochelle]

They do still refrain from voting, jury duty, etc. Although most didn’t vote for Bush, they all loved him.

Liberals they aren’t. Due to the fact that they are pro small government. Don’t rely on food stamps, etc. grow your own food. Actually there are many Amish who would qualify for food stamps, since they tend to have big families but 99% would not apply.

It just isn’t done.

[SunkenCiv]

...but it has roiled some at the 1,000-student college who feel the song undermines the church's pacifist message and puts love for county above love for God.

Thanks cajuncow.