Chapter 12

In this chapter, Eric gets to know some of the neighbors on a more personal level. Once more this confirms the Menonite’s diversity in beliefs and their intensity. We also get to see a marriage that has issues and one where there is understanding. This goes to show that despite the lack of divorces, there is need for marital counseling, fact that was also mentioned earlier in the book. Digging deeper into their backgrounds, the neighbors may have different reasons for joining, but it seems as though they all had some bad experiences or disappointments with the modern world, which lead them here. For Edward it was the Vietnam war, while for Cornelius it was the futility of the struggle in the modern world. While Edward was a strong believer the group’s interpretation of the Scripture was the only correct one, Harvey’s religious beliefs were more relaxed. Edward’s strictness is further proven by how inflexible and tough he is with Bill, his employee. The meetings with the neighbors reinforce Eric’s perception that they are all in a quest for simplicity, which just makes sense to them. Are they really making things simpler though? Seems to me they are all putting in a tremendous amount of work in order to sustain themselves.