Our temporary Privilegium
Our pacifist religious beliefs first took root during Europe's Reformation. As the Catholic Church lost its power over the lands which are now Switzerland and Germany, different religious beliefs could begin to be practiced. Lutherans, Calvinists, and Anabaptists were three of the religious schools of thought that flourished. These beliefs, and the churches that grew around them, are still influential today. Pacifism emerged as a distinct belief among many Anabaptist believers, including Mennonites. Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists had few moral qualms about killing in battle, but Mennonites would simply refuse to kill. Europe had war fever, armies were being recruited, and principalities were fighting for power. To the warring powers, our refusal to kill (and more specifically our refusal to join their side and kill for their power) was seen as a threat. So Mennonites began our long history of moving to countries that temporarily would tolerate our refusal to kill in the...