Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 6
The Brumbaugh story includes an Anabaptist governor calling out a militia to quiet rebels and treating WWI as a “holy war” with cabinet loyalty oaths; what does that progression suggest about what political power does to people who begin with nonresistant convictions?
Another way to ask: In the Brumbaugh story, an Anabaptist governor used the militia, treated WWI like a “holy war,” and required loyalty oaths. What does this show about what political power can do to people who start with nonresistant beliefs?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The progression suggests that once a person embraces political power, the demands of governing can pressure them to act contrary to nonresistant convictions—using force, enforcing loyalty, and baptizing war with religious language. The speaker presents this as a warning that political office reshapes allegiances and methods.
- Brumbaugh emerges from increased political involvement among Brethren/Mennonites, especially through temperance/prohibition activism.
- The speaker calls his election “inevitable” once political activism grew: “All this increased political involvement… culminated in… Brumbach being elected as governor.”
- Once in office, crisis pushes him to coercion: “a riot broke out in Pittsburgh… he called for a militia to come out and quiet the rebels.”
- During WWI he frames conflict spiritually: he “saw it as a holy war,” contrasting with some evangelicals who questioned WWI.
- He required political conformity: he “required his cabinet to give a loyalty oath or face dismissal.”
- The speaker presents this as a “contradiction” that “caused all kinds of problems,” implying power can override prior kingdom commitments.