Ethnic Mennonites: Real Mennonites?

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  Not long ago I saw a comment made by an ex-Old Colony Mennonite on a Belizean social media platform, "those are not real Mennonites they just dress like that because they go to that church". The persons in question were white North Americans who had grown up in the Beachy Mennonite church and were active members. This led me to do some more research. Below is my discovery:
  While many think of Plautdietsch Mennonites as a distinct race, the truth is they're not. Yes, they are a recognized ethnic group, i.e. "Russian Mennonites" complete with their own dialect, cultural habits and names, but they are not a race nor are they the only real Mennonites. Simply because your name is Friesen and you grew up speaking Dietsch and eating glums and borsch does not make you more Mennonite than a 20 year old Maya who embraces the teachings of Menno Simons for the rest of his life.
  That said, some experts have classified certain groups as ethno-religious, which would include most Russian Mennonites and some conservative Amish groups such as the Old Order Amish because their religion has been the means by which their ethnicity is preserved.
  In Belize, most locals and foreign visitors alike are fascinated by the disciplined communities of the Plautdietsch Mennonites and do not understand the word Mennonite. To them, the word only means someone with white skin who speaks Low German and lives in a colony whether modern or conservative with others of his own kind. But hey, they have kept their beliefs and traditions for centuries so maybe they are real Mennonites, if you're looking at their lifestyle only. Once you do some research though, you'll find that the original word Mennonite refers to any branch of Protestant church that has its roots in the teachings of Menno Simons.
  But just like the word "Asian" is used to label people from the eastern end of Asia, so the word Mennonite over time has been used more and more to label a culture rather than a religion. Above I have placed a video that gives you a look into the lives of the ethnic Mennonites of Belize. The video features both conservative and modern groups.

                                                    A. Mendoza

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