Russian Mennonites
A Broken Path to Civility
by Walter Braul

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Walter Braul takes readers on a personal and historical journey into his Mennonite roots. He traces his family’s experiences in Europe and later as immigrants in Canada’s West, and he delineates the political and social context in which Christianity, the Church, and Mennonitism evolved. Russian Mennonites: A Broken Path to Civility is a broad exploration of the forces that shaped Christianity and how they acted upon the Church throughout history, and particularly the Mennonite community. Mr. Braul brings to life events and personalities, immersing his readers in the past so that they can see its impact on the values espoused by the community today. Mr. Braul’s thesis is that a new dimension should be added to how Western society thinks: the pursuit of civility in social and public policies, especially in our pluralistic culture. By examining the past and the distinctive practices of his denomination, he investigates whether Mennonites are promoting civility through their presence in the community.

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Walter Braul grew up in the Mennonite community and was a young boy on the homestead. He worked as a prominent lawyer in Edmonton, Alberta for over fifty years and researched and wrote this book over a twenty-year span. Walter Braul and his wife, Erna, passed away within two weeks of one another in October 2024. They are lovingly remembered by their two children, Bryan and Shannon, both of whom reside in Edmonton.

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Walter Braul

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