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The Hutterites are another communal Anabaptist group. Their origins date to the Radical Reformation (16th century). They were founded and take their name from their charismatic leader--Jakob Hutter. The first
Hutterite communities were organized in Austria (especially the Tyrol) and southern Germany. King Ferdinand ordered Hutter tortured and burned as a heretic (1536). Their discenting views on baptism resulted in persecution by both other Protestants and Catholics. They also developed a communal society in which labor and goods were shared--using the early church in Jerusalem as their model. Opposition to many taxes and absolute pacifism resulted in persecution by civil authorities. The result was first leaving Austria and later Moravia fleeing Austrian authorities, Their history is a communsl odessey through much of Europe ending up in the Ukraine--than part of the Russian Empire. Here they nearly died out (18th-19th century). A small group found a refugee in North America and while they were not free from repression, their numbers have increased and new colonies have been founded. The Hutterites today live primarily in the upper Great Plains of the United States and in the neighboring Prairie Provinces of Canada. Here they are organized into colonies of 60 to 150 persons which operate collective farms (Bruderhof). One Hutterite source tiday summarizes their belirfs as, "... respect for the authority of God. God has established a hierarchy of relationships, with the lower always obeying the higher—the younger person obeys the older, the woman the man, and man obeys God. They feel that the individual will must be broken—people should accept self-denial rather than self-fulfillment. But individuals are never secure before God—only their daily behavior gives them security, not their baptism or verbal affirmations. Since the will of God is expressed through the decisions of the community, the individual must be obedient to group will. Communal living is God's order, and private possessions express man's greed."
The Hutterites are another communal Anabaptist group. Their origins date to the Radical Reformation (16th century). They were founded and take their name from their charismatic leader--Jakob Hutter. The first
Hutterite communities were organized in Austria (especially the Tyrol) and southern Germany (Bavaria). King Ferdinand ordered Hutter tortured and burned as a heretic (1536). Their discenting views on baptism resulted in persecution by both other Protestants and Catholics.
The Hutterites are a dissenting religious sect with Anabaptist roots. Their theology is similar in many ways to the Amish and Mennonite communities. Opposition to many taxes and absolute pacifism resulted in persecution by civil authorities. One Hutterite source tiday summarizes their beliefs as, "... respect for the authority of God. God has established a hierarchy of relationships, with the lower always obeying the higher—the younger person obeys the older, the woman the man, and man obeys God. They feel that the individual will must be broken—people should accept self-denial rather than self-fulfillment. But individuals are never secure before God—only their daily behavior gives them security, not their baptism or verbal affirmations. Since the will of God is expressed through the decisions of the community, the individual must be obedient to group will. Communal living is God's order, and private possessions express man's greed."
They developed a communal society in which labor and goods were shared--using the early church in Jerusalem as their model. The only Anabaptists to survive European persecution during the Reformation were these communal groups.
The result of the action of authorities in their native Austria led tp the Hutterites first leaving Austria and later Moravia where Austrian authorities also held sway. Their history is a communsl odessey through much of Europe ending up in the Ukraine--than part of the Russian Empire. Here they nearly died out (18th-19th century). A small group found a refugee in North America and while they were not free from repression, their numbers have increased and new colonies have been founded.
The Hutterites today live primarily in the upper Great Plains of the United States (especially in Montana and Washington) and in the neighboring Prairie Provinces of Canada (British Columbia and Saskatchewan). Here they are organized into colonies of 60 to 150 persons which operate collective farms (Bruderhof).
Hutterite children in America and Canada are taught three languages--a
colloquial German dialect native to the sect, High German, and English. We are not sure what they speak most commonly in their homes.
Hutterite schools stress hard work, often farming skills, but tractors and modern mechanical implements are used. Children, if old enough, are taught to drive cars. Basic academic subjects are taught, languages, arthimetic, history, and so forth, but there is an emphasis on the practical. A strict rule of life obtains in Hutterite schools and infractions of rules often result in public punishment, pupils being required to stand up for an hour or so in church as examples of those who, for instance, have talked back to their parents or teachers, have disobeyed their elders, or have been dishonest. Most Hutterite communities have their own primary schools. We notice the Riverview Hutterite Colony School in Saskatchewan near Saskatoon in Canada. It is a residential school for both boys and girls up through the age of 15 years. We don't understand why a Hutterite community would have residential schools rather than the children living at home.
The Hutterites are a little more flexible than the amish when it comes to clothing. Bright colored clothing is allowed for children to some extent (no pastels or pink, however), but dark colors are encouraged for adults,
and there are certain conventions of dress that are strictly observed. Boys must wear hats out of doors and must never wear belts for holding up trousers. Suspenders are worn instead, although the suspenders may be striped. Unlike the Amish, the Hutterite suspenders are supposed to be buttoned to the trousers rather than attached by clips. Many of the
clothes are home made. Jeans are not permitted, and trousers must have straight openings for the pockets rather than slanted. Girls and women must wear head coverings, often kerchiefs.
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