Mennonites - A hidden world in Argentina | DW Documentary

The Mennonites are members of the oldest Protestant free church. In Argentina, their followers lead an exceptionally strict and unworldly life. They’re fighting a battle against modernity, which threatens the very foundations of their existence.

The community started with a handful of individuals in a German village in the early 16th century. Persecution and marginalization led to the emigration of many of their followers. Today, four centuries later, the religious community numbers over two million people on four continents. While the majority of Mennonites lead a modern and liberal lifestyle, their fellow believers in Argentina are known for their strictness and adherence to tradition.

They are characterized by strong religiosity and a pronounced hostility to technology. While they have largely been able to escape social developments over the centuries, their community is now under existential threat. Their way of life and values are in the process of changing, if not disappearing, under the influence of a modern, globalized world.

The film follows the struggle this community is undergoing - what they see as a struggle between good and evil, which also defines the Mennonite philosophy of life. This conflict takes on concrete form in the 21st century: the clash between a traditional, ascetic lifestyle and the temptations of a modern existence. The struggle of the Mennonites of Argentina asks a big question: can the spiritual still triumph over the material in our time?

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