Series:

Center Books in Anabaptist Studies

1 total work

Cover of Mennonite Entrepreneurs
Until recently, the phrase "Mennonite entrepreneurs" might have seemed a contradiction in terms. But today, many members of the once-closed sect are more likely to ride to church in a BMW than a buggy. How did the Mennonites come to reconcile their religious beliefs with the economic opportunities of the modern era? This book argues that Mennonite successes in the business world are the result of skilful adaptation of the sect's "communal ethic". In response to critics who maintain that entrepreneurial Mennonites have abandoned their faith in pursuit of an individualistic work ethic, it presents evidence to show that even the most financially successful Mennonites are every bit as orthodox and committed to their faith as their less adventurous co-religionists. Based on 100 interviews with Mennonite entrepreneurs, the book offers first-hand insights into the conflicts and tensions that characterise one religious sect's adaptation to the modern world.