Roll Over Menno

Instead of drumming up their favorite family recipe for borscht, it’s been rumored that some nice Mennonite ladies have been beating their drums loud enough to make Menno roll over in his grave. Here is a picture of the Mennonite Women (USA), having a drumming circle at one of their retreats at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mount Pleasant, Pa. last year:

http://www.mennonitewomenusa.org/WinC2006/Drumming.JPG

The caption beside the picture says:

During the first retreat at Laurelville March 24-26, Louise Ranck led music and worship as well as a drumming workshop, “Holding the Center, Shifting Time.”

(You can find that caption beside the third small picture here: http://www.mennonitewomenusa.org/retreat2006.asp)

Professor Johan Malan from Africa writes about the supernatural/occultic powers of drumming:

“In many Western societies, institutions are adopted from pagan cultures by isolating them from their original cultural context and practising them as social amusement or even to promote a mystical experience. The recipient community regards such institutions, e.g. African drumming, as a form of cultural enrichment without considering the religious compromise that is inevitably involved in the process…”

Read the rest of his article here:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/drummingjohan.htm

Read more about drumming and it’s increasing popularity in spiritual formation and global spirituality here:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/Drumming.htm

It may seem quite surprising to see things like drumming workshops at Mennonite retreats, but it is not surprising to see this happening at Laurelville. Not only do they have a labyrinth (see here), they also have New Age conferences, like this one:

Energy Healers Conference: A gathering of light-workers to provide an open-forum for sharing and discussing the most recent divine wisdom, healing & meditation techniques that are being experienced at this time. Also, a group healing for self and Mother Earth. Walk the labyrinth. Sept. 23 is the Fall Equinox. To be held at the beautiful Laurelville Mennonite Retreat Center (Danzig Cottage) in Mt. Pleasant. 10 am to 5 pm. Only $44 (Includes pizza lunch, water, tea)

(This Energy Healers Conference can be found listed almost half way down the page of classes and worshops for the Energy Connection - Creative Healing Center here:
http://www.theenergyconnection.net/class.html)

The drumming, the labyrinth, the Equinox, and Mother Earth all go with the territory. Be careful Mennonite women…you are walking (or drumming) on dangerous ground.

ROM Index - Booming