Anabaptist Perspectives and liberalism

[cmbl]

In the usual manner of Anabaptist Perspectives, it's another attempt to worm liberalism into our circles by dressing it up in plain clothes. They really need to stop doing this.

Can you (or others) share what you see as other examples of this?

[Nomad]

In the usual manner of Anabaptist Perspectives, it's another attempt to worm liberalism into our circles by dressing it up in plain clothes. They really need to stop doing this.

Can you (or others) share what you see as other examples of this?

I'm not sure I would label AP as "liberal". I think they at times can tend to lean towards apologetical stances that are pointedly against the "right". But this may be justified since perhaps the majority of Anabaptist might be more influenced by "right-winged" politics due to some commonalities in what the Republican party preaches morally (even if they don't practice what they preach).

However, there have been times where I feel like I would appreciate some teaching against "Left-winged" influence on the Anabaptist...such as "social justice gospel" or warnings against a "Communistic-type" teaching which could equally influence the Anabaptist negatively. Recently I've been encouraged to hear they have been doing a more balanced approach...but previously it seemed like we were getting a steady diet of warnings against "Capitalism=materialism" worked into some of the episodes, or warnings against right winged "Christian Nationalism" agendas...which should also be taught against, of course. I just prefer a more balanced approach.

I will admit...I haven't listened to much AP for awhile though...so I'm not a good judge. Its just that I have yet to see an episode ominously titled "CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM" or "CHRISTIAN LIBERALISM" where it was clearly targeted with a warning against Left-wing political influence. But maybe they are taking it for granted that most Anabaptist would be more powerfully influenced by the Republican platform...

[Soloist]

Wife: so personal pet peeve, they did the Anabaptist Origins episodes video only so it wasted space on my phone and I didn’t really watch it. I just listened to it. I don’t think it’s a big deal that they made it a video documentary, but it is more difficult for a lot of moderate conservative Mennonite churches that don’t do even documentaries, and I prefer how the other channels do both the video and the audio to reach different crowds, and also to save bandwidth. I don’t actually know our current church’s stance on it (probably no), but I was just listening while I was doing stuff because I wasn’t sure. And also because I like getting my step count in with my phone in my pocke.

Otherwise, I suppose it’s a little surprising that they’ve had a few interviews with ladies, although it would be kind of odd of having a man talk about women being persecuted in the reformation, and the other one was Romaine Stauffer on Christians and patriotism and the revolution based off of one of her books. I don’t know that it’s bad. It’s just very unusual, and Strength to Strength had a main channel and a woman’s channel and I don’t know if they ever had women speaking on the main channel. I don’t know if there were any other interviews like that on AP or if those are the only two. And as I said, I’m not sure that it’s a bad thing, especially if there happened to be interviews where they are getting a women’s testimony of how she became a Christian or something.

[joshuabgood]

My sense is that AP is "liberal" in the sense that they dare to challenge the right wing political nationalism that has made significant inroads into the CA movement in the last 50 years.

As for being politically active "liberals," they aren't. I think, were leftist political action a real threat to the CA's, they would be challenging that. But it isn't.

[Soloist]

I met the guy once, he was getting ice cream and I decided his videos were liberal.

Actually I have some observations/objections. His format is video which means I won’t watch it. I’ve heard of some “edge” statements, things that could be innocuous or could be suggestive statements. The majority though I don’t have a fair assessment of because I haven’t listened or watched any.

[ohio jones]

Wife: so personal pet peeve, they did the Anabaptist Origins episodes video only so it wasted space on my phone and I didn’t really watch it. I just listened to it. I don’t think it’s a big deal that they made it a video documentary, but it is more difficult for a lot of moderate conservative Mennonite churches that don’t do even documentaries, and I prefer how the other channels do both the video and the audio to reach different crowds, and also to save bandwidth.

Like you, I generally prefer to download audio and listen offline. But these are not ordinary talking head videos. A major point of the Origins series is the on-location component, discussing the history in the actual places where it happened. Not watching the video deprives the non-viewer of a significant part of the experience. Especially for me since I'm a geographically-oriented learner.

[Ernie]

Wife: so personal pet peeve, they did the Anabaptist Origins episodes video only so it wasted space on my phone and I didn’t really watch it. I just listened to it. I don’t think it’s a big deal that they made it a video documentary, but it is more difficult for a lot of moderate conservative Mennonite churches that don’t do even documentaries, and I prefer how the other channels do both the video and the audio to reach different crowds, and also to save bandwidth.

Like you, I generally prefer to download audio and listen offline. But these are not ordinary talking head videos. A major point of the Origins series is the on-location component, discussing the history in the actual places where it happened. Not watching the video deprives the non-viewer of a significant part of the experience. Especially for me since I'm a geographically-oriented learner.

Anabaptist Origins can be listened to on their Telegram channel, and this would not require downloading as I understand it.

[Soloist]

Wife: so personal pet peeve, they did the Anabaptist Origins episodes video only so it wasted space on my phone and I didn’t really watch it. I just listened to it. I don’t think it’s a big deal that they made it a video documentary, but it is more difficult for a lot of moderate conservative Mennonite churches that don’t do even documentaries, and I prefer how the other channels do both the video and the audio to reach different crowds, and also to save bandwidth.

Like you, I generally prefer to download audio and listen offline. But these are not ordinary talking head videos. A major point of the Origins series is the on-location component, discussing the history in the actual places where it happened. Not watching the video deprives the non-viewer of a significant part of the experience. Especially for me since I'm a geographically-oriented learner.

Anabaptist Origins can be listened to on their Telegram channel, and this would not require downloading as I understand it.

Wife: I was using their telegram/cloudveil channel. Each are like a 500 MB download. it’s also disruptive because I can’t listen to it with the app not on screen without minimizing the video. Which means it’s playing at the bottom while I’m using Google maps, and it’s distracting.

OJ is right, and I can understand the use of video but it’s still isn’t going to be viewed as a valid excuse for those from churches that don’t allow documentaries/videos outside of how to videos. I would say that would be a lot conservative Mennonites. My thought is that, even if they miss some of the interesting geographic references, there should be an option that doesn’t require the video.

That said, I am enjoying the series. I also enjoy a lot of their talks, even if maybe I don’t agree with everything.

[barnhart]

My sense is that AP is "liberal" in the sense that they dare to challenge the right wing political nationalism that has made significant inroads into the CA movement in the last 50 years.

As for being politically active "liberals," they aren't. I think, were leftist political action a real threat to the CA's, they would be challenging that. But it isn't.

Who knows, if there is a big leftward shift in the next couple of years they might get the chance to come from that angle.

[JohnH]

Anabaptist Origins can be listened to on their Telegram channel, and this would not require downloading as I understand it.

Which makes no difference to people who hold a position of "we shouldn't watch videos from the Internet".