Ask a Hutterite

The blog of a real, live Hutterite.


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Reflection: American Colony (Episode 2: The Shunning)

Photograph by National Geographic Channels/ Collins Avenue Inc.

American Colony: Meet the Hutterites
Episode 3: The Shunning
Aired:June 5, 2012

“Shunning means, we want no part of you.” [Bertha]

“Actually, the main reason we go to school is to play sports.” [Carver]

“I hope the elders are happy for [sic] what they did.” [Claudia]

As I begin my second episode reflection, I am contemplating several responses to the first. I was worried that my perspective would be too far removed from the Dariusleut viewpoint, but as one reader pointed out, anybody who listens with a careful ear to the Hutterite teachings, which all Hutterites share, should see that something doesn’t line up with the American Colony portrayal. Writing this episode’s reflection has been challenging because the show deals with a spiritual concept in a very secular manner. Continue reading →


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Confessions of a Hutterite blogger

Chocolate Cake

May I have my cake and eat it too?

I am very self-conscious that the tone and content of my writing may project the image that I am a super-Hutterite. I am not. I do struggle with some of our communal values, traditions, and beliefs. I occasionally cause problems in my community. I, and those who are acquainted with me, know this to be true: I have my personal demons; I have to guard myself from falling into destructive habits because of my slightly OCD personality; I am a classic conflict avoider; I hurt people too, and sometimes I think being right is more important than being kind.

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Reflection: American Colony (Episode 1: Harvest Party Scandal)

Breaking bread

Photograph by National Geographic Channels/ Collins Avenue Inc.

American Colony: Meet the Hutterites
Episode 1: Harvest Party Scandal
Aired: May 29, 2012

Beginning this series of reflections sounded like such a wonderful idea—an opportunity to respond with thoughtfulness to something many people feel strongly about. I hoped it would be something of a Verbeigeah, that I would be able to do it in passing. Reality has settled in and cleared away all remnants of this delusion. Continue reading →


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Reflection: American Colony

American Colony: Meet the Hutterites

This undated image released by National Geographic Channels shows a Hutterite community near Lewistown, Mont. “American Colony: Meet the Hutterites,” is a National Geographic ‘reality’ series about a small religious community in rural Montana.

I have spent days thinking about it and finally decided to go for it. I will be producing an episode-by-episode personal reflection series based on the ‘reality show,’ American Colony: Meet the Hutterites, directed by Jeff Collins and aired on the National Geographic Channel. When we first learned of the show, I helped put together a general response to be posted on hutterites.org, but it has become evident that a deeper exploration is possible, if not required.
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Interview: Hutterites and Technology

Jen Gerson from the National Post recently interviewed me about Hutterites and our relationship with technology. Her article focused on photography in particular. Ms. Gerson appreciated my response, indicating that she thought it was thoughtful enough to include with the online edition.The experience was a positive one for me because my thoughts were presented in their proper context, in contrast to several other times I have been interviewed. In discussing and editing the text with other people, I realized how much I enjoyed thinking and writing about the ‘Hutterite condition.’ Coupled with my disappointment with the media at large for relying on non-Hutterites for a Hutterite perspective, I decided to take the plunge and launch “Ask a Hutterite.”
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