"We have no creed except the Bible."
"We ought to live retired and spiritual lives; to keep ourselves separate from the world; to cultivate humility, obedience to God's will, faithfulness, and love to Christ."
"Christ is our head."
Such are some of the expressions of their religious belief which the pious and well-instructed at Amana gave me.
They have published two Catechisms—one for the instruction of children, the other for the use of older persons. From these it appears that they are Trinitarians, believe in "justification by faith," hold to the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, but not to eternal punishment, believing rather that fire will purify the wicked in the course of time, longer or shorter according to their wickedness.
They do not practice baptism, either infant or adult, holding it to be a useless ceremony not commanded in the New Testament. They celebrate the Lord's Supper, not at regular periods, but only when by the words of "inspiration" God orders them to do so; and then with peculiar ceremonies, which I shall describe further on.
As to this word "Inspiration," I quote here from the Catechism their definition of it:
"Question. Is it therefore the Spirit or the witness of Jesus which speaks and bears witness through the truly inspired persons?
"Answer. Yes; the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Jesus, which brings to light the hidden secrets of the heart, and gives witness to our spirits that it is the Spirit of truth.
"Q. When did the work of inspiration begin in the later times?