Core Mennonite Beliefs * First and foremost: Christians * Specific Mennonite philosophies * Non violence * No circumstances * Mennonites are exempt from going to war * Rejection of the world * Should focus on heaven * Things in real life are distractions * Community * Strong emphasis on doing charity and helping each other * Putting faith into action * Actions reflect inner-self
Religious fundamentalism and the coming-of-age novel * Coming of age * The achievement of maturity * Transition from childhood to adulthood * Fundamentalist religions have strict code for adult behavior …show more content…
I still believe that one day we’ll all be together, the four of us, in New York City.” (Toews 121) * “I used almost the entire length of the driveway to write my favourite quote in chalk. life being what it is, one dreams of revenge. It’s by Gauguin” (Toews 98). * “I never dream of revenge” (Toews 99). * “Life being what it is, one dreams not of revenge. One just dreams” (Toews 321).
Example of close reading
“Imagine the least well-adjusted kid in your school starting a breakaway clique of people whose manifesto includes a ban on the media, dancing, smoking , temperate climates, movies, drinking, rock ’n’ roll, having sex for fun, swimming, makeup, jewellery, playing pool, going to cities, or staying up past nine o’clock. That was Menno all over. Thanks a lot, Menno.” (Toews 7) * Unhappy with her religion rejects pleasures
“Later that day The Mouth came over to talk and pray with Trudie about her fondness for guys like Kristofferson and Billy Joel. He told her that in his dictionary hell comes after rock ‘n’ roll.” (Toews