Amish People: Who Are They?

Because the are so different from most Americans today, many people wonder if the Amish people from a foreign country? The answer to that question is “Yes and no.” The ancestors of nearly all of the Amish in America were here before the American Revolution. So in one sense, the Amish people are more American than the vast majority of U. S. citizens. After all, how many of us have ancestors who settled in America decades before the American Revolution?

However, in some aspects, the Amish people bear some resemblances to new immigrants from a foreign land. Except for a few American converts, almost all of the Amish are from Switzerland and the Palatinate region of southwest Germany. Although they have been in the for centuries, they still speak low German, referred to in the States as “ Dutch.” To be sure, virtually all Amish are bilingual and can speak fluent English. But their preferred tongue is . This is the language in which they hold their church services and the language they speak among themselves.

In addition, the Amish people only marry among themselves. So instead of becoming part of the great Melting Pot of America, most Amish are still ethnic Swiss or German. Furthermore, some of the customs that make the Amish way of life unique are old customs their ancestors brought over with them from Switzerland and Germany. Why Do Amish Shun Modern Inventions?

One of the things that make Amish people so unique in today’s culture is the fact that they shun most modern inventions. I’m referring to things such as cars, electricity, tractors, telephones, airplanes, and computers. Is this because they think these things are sinful? No, the Amish don’t view most modern inventions and conveniences as sinful. Rather, they reject many modern conveniences because of the impact it will have on their lives.

Donald Kraybill, an authority on Amish culture explains, “Amish communities are organized around church districts that encompass a small geographical area, often only a mile or so in diameter. The community is woven together by face to face interactions and frequent socialization. The circles of social networks overlap so that neighbors who work together also worship and play together. Horse and buggy transportation holds the local community together by restricting travel to distant places and increasing visiting in the immediate locale.” (The Puzzle of the Amish, p. 53)

The Amish Way of Life

What Amish people are seeking is to preserve a way of life that they have maintained for over 400 years. In the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries in Europe, the Amish were forced to seek refuge from cruel persecution by moving to remote, rural mountainous areas of Switzerland. Eventually, seclusion and aloofness from the world became their way of life. In the collective memory of the Amish, the world has always been something that has persecuted them. So they want to maintain a distinct separation from the world to this very day. Furthermore, Amish people look with disapproval on the modern, hurried manner of life. People rush here and there. Families often see little of each other. Both mom and dad are away from home most of the day. In the evenings, parents are often catching up on things from having been gone from home all day. Their children frequently have to rush out after supper to participate in some school activity. This is a type of life Amish people don’t want. So by rejecting many modern conveniences – such as cars – the Amish are able to purposefully slow down their pace of life.

Amish People See Children as a Blessing

Another reason Amish people reject many modern conveniences is that they want a way of life where children are appreciated as a blessing – rather than being seen as a burden. In the modern American lifestyle, children are treasured, but they are also expensive. For that reason, most American parents limit the number of children they have to one or two. In modern society, children contribute little or none to the family income. Instead, they are a financial burden – particularly if their parents put them through college.

However, in the agrarian society of the Amish, children are an asset, not a burden. From a very young age, Amish children help in the family business or family farm. This enables Amish people to maintain farms and family businesses that would otherwise be unfeasible. It’s the old way of life that served our grandparents and great-grandparents so well. Much has been gained in modern society, but much has been lost as well. Amish people observe the two different ways of life – modern and traditional – and they’ve concluded that the traditional way of life is better.

For more information: http://amishpeople.org/

The Amish & The Plain People

The farmlands of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country are among the most productive in the nation. But many of the farmers here are different from most Americans; different by choice. For these are the Old Order Amish and , also known as the "Plain People".

Our Amish neighbors have been employing horse-drawn power since the days when horsepower had a whole different meaning! In comparison to our fast-paced society, the simpler, family-centered Amish way of life holds a special fascination.

These people trace their heritage back hundreds of years, and yet, despite all the time that has passed and the many changes that have taken place in society, they still live and work much as their forefathers did. Their families and their farms are their top priorities, second only to God.

The Amish are very devout in their faith. They believe in the literal interpretation and application of Scripture as the Word of God. They take seriously the Biblical commands to separate themselves from the things of the world. They believe worldliness can keep them from being close to God, and can introduce influences that could be destructive to their communities and to their way of life.

Today there are over 25 different Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren church groups in Lancaster County, all holding to slightly different traditions and their own interpretations of the Bible. The more traditional groups are called 'old order'. They do not permit electricity or telephones in their homes. By restricting access to television, radio, and telephones, the Amish are better able to keep the modern world from intruding into their home life. The Amish have long preferred farming as a way of life. They feel their lifestyle and their families can best be maintained in a rural environment.While they do not permit the use of tractors in their fields, these old order Amish groups do use modern farm equipment pulled by teams of horses or mules.

These old order groups do not own or operate automobiles, believing that cars would provide easier access to the ways of the world. You will often see their horses and buggies on our local roads.

These traditional groups wear plain clothing styles, which has earned them the name "Plain People". It is the simple, peaceful lifestyle of these plain people that attracts such a curiosity today. Many wonder how these people can survive in their supposedly backward ways. Well, they're not only surviving - they're thriving. Since 1960, the Amish population in Lancaster County has almost tripled.

Their separation from the rest of society actually helps to strengthen their community. Amish children attend Amish one-room schoolhouses through the eighth grade. Amish worship services are held every other week in one of the member's homes. Socializing is an important part of Amish life.

The Amish have a strong sense of community spirit, and often come to the aid of those in need. Their barn raisings are a good example. Neighbors freely give of their time and their skills to help one another.

The Amish are generally private people and often find all the attention and curiosity about their lifestyle disturbing. They believe that the taking of photographs where someone is recognizable is forbidden by the Biblical prohibition against making any 'graven image'. Please respect their desire for privacy when visiting here.

With our society's current interest in restoring 'family values', much can be learned from studying the Amish way of life. Their devotion to family and community and their strong work ethic are good examples for our larger society.