Amish are a long-standing religious sect, created in the 17th century after the first Amish broke from the Mennonite Protestant tradition because of "what they perceived as a lack of discipline among the Mennonites" (The Amish: History, belief, practices, 2011, Religious Tolerance). The original Amish were of Swiss and German extraction. Many migrated to the U.S. In the early stages of the sect's formation, settling in Pennsylvania, and gradually branching out into New York, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri Ohio, and other states where they still reside today. No Amish remain in Europe. "The faith group has attempted to preserve the elements of late 17th century European rural culture. They try to avoid many of the features of modern society, by developing practices and behaviors which isolate themselves from American culture" (The Amish: History, belief, practices, 2011, Religious Tolerance).
The Amish used to be farmers, marking the culture as 'pastoral' in nature, although the Amish exist side-by-side with contemporary residents of modernity. However, today, "many Amish earn their living from various types of Amish-owned establishments -- small shops, businesses, carpentry, construction, retail stores, roadside stands -- as well as employment in 'English-owned' factories, restaurants, and shops" (Frequently asked questions, 2011, Amish Studies). Amish often work as carpenters and in other types of trade, since higher education is forbidden (Nolt, Kraybill & Wesner 2010). As self-employed traditional tradespersons and agriculturalists, the Amish could be considered representatives of agrarian states
Beliefs and values
The Amish consider their sect a form of Anabaptism. This means they do not believe in infant baptism. Only after a member has attained a certain age can he or she be baptized and completely accepted into the church. "Both the Mennonites and the Amish believe that humankind is sinful and that adult men and women must seek atonement through Jesus Christ. They believe that children remain in the kingdom of God until they become adults at which point they are capable of freely choosing or rejecting salvation through the grace of faith" (Adult baptism, 2011, Welcome to Lancaster County)....
Amish lives are governed by a set or rules known as the ordnung. The ordnung is not written down, instead, it is a set of community guidelines dictated by church elders.
Social organization
"Separation from the world is a key principle of the Amish way of life. The Amish religion emphasizes self-denial and humility. The outside world is perceived to be corrupted by vanity and vice, greed and violence" (The ordnung, 2011, Welcome to Lancaster County). Because the ordnung is not 'set in stone,' however, different rules may govern the lives of different Amish communities, depending on their location. In general, however, certain rules are common to most Amish communities. All sect members must wear distinctive, old-fashioned clothing. Men must have beards and wear suits with a hat and vests. Women must cover their hair and wear long dresses with a cape and apron. Neither sex can wear any form of adornment, such as jewelry.
The Amish have their own dialect, which varies from region to region. They cannot ride in automobiles, only use horses and buggies and can only farm using traditional methods, like scythes and horse-drawn ploughs. They cannot use electrical appliances although some sects are allowed to use battery-powered devices. Amish do not attend school past the eighth grade and divorce is prohibited (The ordnung, 2011, Welcome to Lancaster County). Some sects allow for the use of gas stoves or other forms of modern appliances, others do not. The ban is not upon electricity per se, but anything that may cause the individual pride or interfere with his or her religious obligation to observe a life of simplicity is banned.
The Amish beliefs have occasionally brought them into conflict with larger 'English' or 'gentile' society, as it is called. For example, the Amish deemphasize education as leading to pride. "In my search for children's literature about the Amish culture, I found a surprisingly small number of books. . . .The Amish are unique from other cultural groups in that those within the culture do not desire to read about themselves or their experiences in literature. (Zehr, Moss & Nichols 2005: 606). The differences in the Amish educational system lead to a…
