SELF-SACRIFICE AND SELF-REALIZATION IN MENNONITE SPIRITUALIT

This is a study of the relationship between the ethic of self-sacrifice and the psychology of self-realization in Mennonite religious experience. The research explores sources of self-sacrifice in sixteenth-century Anabaptism, and traces its presence through strands of North American Mennonite (MC) history into the twentieth century. Attention is given to the tension Mennonites have experienced since World War II as they began to change from a rural, sectarian, ethnic community with a simple lifestyle to becoming more urban, educated, professional and wealthy. During this era of change Mennonites began to use insights from psychology to aid them in their life and mission; initially psychology was used in their mental health programs, then also in the training of pastors (humanistic psychology) and more recently in their Christian education curriculum (developmental psychology).;Since Mennonites have been influenced by developmental and humanistic psychology, this study uses Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow and Erik Erikson, as representatives theorists for the development of a psychology of self-realization. The psychology of self-realization is then correlated with Mennonite theology by comparing underlying philosophical and ethical perspectives held by these two disciplines, particularly in their view of human nature and their understanding of self fulfillment. This correlation serves as a foundation for integrating elements of self-realization with self-sacrifice in Mennonite experience.;Although Mennonites have been heavily influenced by their ethic of self-sacrifice, a case is made for the usefulness of self-realization along with self-sacrifice in Mennonite religious experience. Theological constructs are provided for the integration of self-sacrifice and self-realization with the concept of love which is held to be the ultimate ethic for Christian experience. Finally, there are several proposals for how these insights can be applied to the practice of Mennonite spirituality.