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Social Science General

The Waterloo Mennonites

A Community in Paradox

by (author) J. Winfield Fretz

Publisher
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Initial publish date
Nov 1989
Category
General, Sociology of Religion, Mennonite
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781554586868
    Publish Date
    Oct 2010
    List Price
    $16.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780889209848
    Publish Date
    Nov 1989
    List Price
    $32.95

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Description

The Waterloo Mennonites is truly a communal book: the substance treats the communal aspect of the Mennonite community in all its complexity, while the book itself came about through communal effort from the students and researchers assisting Fretz, the various organizations and individuals providing support, the larger community including the two universities and Wilfrid Laurier University Press, and public funding agencies.
This book seeks to derive a clearer understanding of the sociological characteristics of a single Mennonite community, beginning with the historical and religious background of the Waterloo Mennonites, reviewing their European origins, their ethnic identification, and their immigration experience. It also examines their basic institutions: religion and church, marriage and the family, education and the school, economics and earning a living, government and how they relate to it, their use of leisure time and methods of recreation. It also looks at the way Mennonites interact with the larger society and how that society responds.

About the author

J. Winfield Fretz was the founding President of Conrad Grebel University College. He also introduced the study of Mennonites into the University curriculum and taught many large classes on the Mennonites.

J. Winfield Fretz's profile page