Amazon.com: Muppie Manual (9780934672313): Emerson L. Lesher: Books

Book Description

Publication Date: December 25, 1985

With tongue in cheek and word processor in hand, Emerson Lesher explains the world of Mennonite Urban Professionals. Though well education and generally affluent, "Muppies" are rooted in "a gentle people living in rural areas."

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } With tongue in cheek and word processor in hand, Emerson Lesher explains the world of Mennonite Urban Professionals. Though well education and generally affluent, "Muppies" are rooted in "a gentle people living in rural areas."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Emerson L. Lesher is a 32-year-old who, for the past 15 years, has lived, studied, or worked in the following cities-Grantham, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He currently lives in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Preface The Mennonites are at it again! As if there aren't already enough Mennonite groups (the Mennonite Yearbook lists dozens of conferences and bodies), a new group known as Muppies (Mennonite Urban Professionals) has begun to emerge. But regrettably Muppies have received little attention from church leaders or institutions. The goal of this book is two-fold: a) to help Muppies be the best Muppies they can be without being proud. b) to expose to the rest of the church (and, in particular, the parents of Muppies) what Muppies have been up to in the last 20 years. I accept this task gratefully and with humility. -Emerson L. Lesher, Ph.D., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June, 1985 Chapter 1 -How to Know If You Are a Muppie Below is a Muppie Scale to help you assess whether you are a Muppie. (If you think your child or sibling might be a Muppie, use this scale to determine their status.) Please answer the questions honestly-don't be humble in giving your responses. _____ pts. 1. How much education do you have? Scoring: One point for every year of education beyond high school and 2 points for every degree. (Most Muppies have at least 2 degrees; for example, if you have a B.A., and an M.B.A., you would have approximately 10 points.) _____ pts. 2. Do you live in an urban metropolitan area? Scoring: 0 to 50,000 people = 0 point; 50,000 to 250,000 people = 5 points; 250,000 to 1,000,000 people = 10 points; 1,000,000 plus = 15 points. _____ pts. 3. Were you born between 1940 and 1960? Scoring: 10 points if yes. _____ pts. 4. What is your annual income? Scoring: 5 points if your income is greater than your parents'; 10 points if your income is double your parents'; 15 points if your income is triple your parents'. _____ pts. 5. Do you use an MCC tote bag to carry your Nike running shoes or L.L. Bean clothes? Scoring: 5 points if yes. _____ pts. 6. Do you own a renovated townhouse or condominium? Scoring: If yes, give yourself 5 points; if you own several, give yourself 10 points; if you don't own, but are looking, give yourself 3 points; if your living space was once a warehouse, store, or originally built as a non-living space; give yourself 15 points. _____ pts. 7. Score the meals you've eaten in the last week: Scoring: 3 points for every time you've eaten out; 2 points for every meal you've cooked from the More-with-Less Cookbook (subtract 3 points if you have cooked more than three meals); 5 additional points if you've eaten out for brunch. _____ pts. 8. Evaluate your neighborhood: Scoring: Give yourself 5 points if your parents are afraid to come to the neighborhood in which you live; 2 points for every Muppie who lives on your street; 1 point for every Yuppie who lives on your street. _____ pts. 9. How many miles do you live from the church in which you grew up? Scoring: 50 to 100 miles = 5 points; 100-plus miles = 10 points. _____ pts. 10. How many Woody Allen films have you seen? Scoring: 10 points if you have seen every film; 5 points if you've seen at least five films; 15 points if you have seen every movie and read every book by Woody Allen. _____ pts. 11. Did you belong to a social action group in college? Scoring: 5 pointes if you attended the May Day demonstration in Washington, D.C.; 5 points if you were arrested for a peace or social activity; 2 points for every demonstration you have attended. _____ pts. 12. Do you wear blue jeans only on weekends? Scoring: If yes, score 5 points. _____ pts. 13. Have you taken a European Anabaptist Tour? Scoring: If yes, score 5 points. If you also backpacked throughout Europe, add 5 additional points. _____ pts. 14. Have you used your vacation days to protest national nuclear weapons policies? Scoring: If yes, score 5 points. _____ pts. 15. Do you have at least three Jewish friends? Scoring: 2 points for each friend; 2 additional points if you have eaten blintz; 5 additional points if you like bagels and lox. _____ pts. 16. Do you secretly listen to albums of Mennonite choruses? Scoring: 2 points for every album you've listened to in the last month (e.g., 500 Kansas Men Sing, The Choraleers, The Hartville Singers, Mennonite Hour groups). _____ pts. 17. Have you seen a psychotherapist in the past two years? Scoring: If you've seen a psychologist, give yourself 10 points; if you've seen a social worker, 5 points; if you've seen a pastoral counselor, 2 points. _____ pts. 18. Do you carry a business card? Scoring: 5 points if yes; add two additional points if it is engraved. _____ pts. 19. Have you served with Mennonite Central Committee? Scoring: If you filed an application, give yourself 3 points, if you actually served, give yourself 5 points; if you served in an urban area, give yourself 10 points. _____ pts. 20. If you are married, how much do you share household duties with your spouse? Scoring: Give yourself 10 points if you split chores 50/50; 5 pointes if you split chores 60/40; 0 points if you split chores 80/20. To determine your Muppie Scale score, simply add the points from each of the 20 questions. 100-plus -Congratulations, you have come out from among them. You are a Muppie! This book will probably be very autobiographical. 70-99 -You are definitely on the track to becoming a humble and successful Mennonite Urban Professional. Go in peace. 40-69 -You are in the Muppie environment, but not of it. 0-39 -Be true to yourself and remember, the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. If you feel guilty about the high score that you received on the Muppie Scale, we recommend the following procedures: 1. Discuss it with your small group and suggest that the group should hold each other more accountable. 2. Spend more time with your fast-track Yuppie friends so that you don't feel as guilty. 3. Go on a silent retreat. 4. Give another $50 to Mennonite Central Committee. 5. Learn how to rationalize better.