To outsiders, the Bruderhof share a passing resemblance to the Mennonites and the Amish. Like those groups, the Bruderhof see their communities as refuges from the materialism and inequities of the modern world. They live simply and share their wealth. But after the lockdowns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, the Bruderhof were forced to revisit their longstanding mistrust of digital devices and online communication. It has proved to be a unique challenge that the Bruderhof wrestle with in their families and during community meetings: How does an enclave modeled after Christian communities of the first century engage with the modern world?

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Persons: Bruderhof