The Amish People Theresa O’Donnell ANT101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Instructor: Geoff Wood May 16, 2012

The Amish People “The Amish people are an offshoot of the Mennonites, a religious group that was established in 1525, in Zurich, Switzerland” (Dana, 2007, p.1). These people came to America in 1683 in search of religious freedom and to escape European persecution. The Amish is named after Jakob Ammann, a man who “felt that the Mennonites were straying from a strictly religious background” (Dana, 2007, p.1). The Amish are quite simple people who choose not to let too much technology interfere with their lives, because they are afraid that if they become too modernized, their way of life will be destroyed. Therefore, they choose to remain focused on their families and their farms. In other words, “the Amish try to maintain cultural customs that preserve their identity” (Kraybill, 2000, para. 9), rather than stray away from their beliefs and values. The primary mode of subsistence for people of Amish descent comes from their farming, which is what makes them emerging agriculturalists. However, because of the world in which we live today, many Amish people have had to step outside the box and make slight adjustments to how they live in order to survive. This has an impact on many aspects of their life including their beliefs and values, their economic organizations, and their health care practices. Beliefs and Values One of the most distinguishing beliefs of the Amish people is in their religion. The Amish believe that people should not be baptized as infants, but rather when they are mature enough to decide for themselves whether or not they want to be. This is how they became known as Anabaptists. An Anabaptist, or a re-baptizer, is a person who was baptized as an infant and a Catholic, but because they felt that this should not have occurred before they were adults, they were baptized again. “The Anabaptists beliefs including non violence, refusal to take oaths, and the belief in adult, rather than infant baptism, made them the targets of much abuse that included torture and execution” (Byers, 2008, p.2). The type of torture that the Anabaptists had to endure is what caused them to flee Europe. Their hopes were to find a place that allowed them to be themselves, without being ridiculed for what they value most. Amish people have their own code to live by. This code is “guided by the principle of Gelassenheit or to surrender to God’s will” (Byers, 2008, p.3). The focuses of the Gelassenheit principle include a calm and reserved type of personality, a structured society, and a maintaining of values and rituals. Most Amish people are quite modest. They value their traits of “simplicity, submission, humility, and obedience (to the Lord)” (Byers, 2008, p.3). Their simplistic ways of life are seen in the way they dress, their dialect, and their farming. Rather than using “engine powered farm equipment” (Byers, 2008, p.3), the Amish people choose to use horses as a means to cultivate their fields. This is because they feel as though modern technologies are “a temptation that can cause vanity, create inequality, or lead the Amish away from their close-knit community” (Powell, n.d., p.2). Furthermore, they fear that if they become more modernized, their strong family ties and structures will become weak. Economic Organization While many of the Amish people still rely on their skills of farming for survival, there are others who have had to try other means for support. This is primarily due to an increase in land prices, a growing population, and a decrease in the availability of farmland. In addition, “non-farm work increased after 1975 because economic conditions made it difficult for horse farmers to compete with highly mechanized farm operations. In 2010, over half of Amish households received their primary income from non-farm sources” (Kraybill, Nolt, & Wesner, 2011, p.2). Many of the Amish will become sole-proprietors and others will join with someone to form a partnership. Both options are considered self-employment enterprises. Also, most Amish businesses, because they are small, do not have an excess of employees. Rather, family members work together to make things run smoothly. These small businesses, or microenterprises, “are usually family-related, home-based operations that engage in activities such as small engine repair and sales, greenhouses, cabinet shops, quilt shops, carriage or bicycle shops, auction companies, and small retail stores” (Kraybill, Nolt, & Wesner, 2011, p.2). The people who own and operate the microenterprises are not concerned with large profits. Instead, they just want to be able to live and survive, while at the same time maintain their way of life, keep close family ties, and stay true to their values and beliefs. Many Amish businesses are quite successful, regardless of their “restrictions on education, electricity, internet, and motor vehicles” (Kraybill, Nolt, & Wesner, 2011, p.3), because they do not see the need for modernization or the use of technology to accomplish success. Rather, “they focus their energy on religion, family and work values” (Dana, 2007, p.4). Basically, for the Amish, profit-making is not what makes success, they feel that it is their religious beliefs, their family values, and their love for their land that allows them to flourish. While most Amish people would love nothing more than to maintain their agricultural lifestyle, due to a vast increase in population, farmland has become quite scarce. “There are no longer enough farms for all the young” (Dana, 2007, p.9). Therefore, the younger people must consider other means of employment, such as “woodwork trade, cottage industries, and farm-related activities” (Dana, 2007, p.9). Some of these younger members left their homes in search of other farms, but nowadays, since they value family, the younger Amish people would rather obtain a non-farming job and remain close by. Sickness and Healing With such diversity in the United States of America, there is a high need for doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to understand the differences in health care beliefs of people from different cultures. The Amish is no exception to this need. “The religious and cultural beliefs of the Amish culture have led to variations in health care practices that are different from main stream American culture” (Lemon, 2006, p.1). The Amish people are not completely against the use of modern medical practices and high-tech equipment. However, they would much rather rely on natural home remedies and “they do believe that God is the ultimate healer” (Kraybill, 2000, para. 33). Most Amish people do not carry health insurance. Instead, they rely on their families and their communities when the need for medical care arises. The cultural practices of the Amish, in regards to their medical care, are caused by a variety of different factors. This includes: “conservative rural values, a preference for natural antidotes, a lack of information, a sense of awkwardness in high-tech settings, difficulties accessing health care, and a willingness to suffer and lean on the providence of God” (Kraybill, 2000, para.35). While their reluctance to medical treatment can at times lead to tragedy, their willingness to be somewhat accepting of modern medical care has allowed them to remain a healthy community. “Babies are a welcomed gift in the Amish culture and are viewed as a gift from God” (Lemon, 2006, p.3). Since Amish people are not believers in any form of birth control, because they believe it is not God’s will to prevent conception, they tend to have large families consisting on average about seven children per household. Amish mothers do receive prenatal care, but there is a longer time span between check-ups than American women, and if there were no difficulties with the first pregnancy, the preceding pregnancies require even less prenatal care. Local churches will often provide lamaze classes for pregnant women in Amish communities. All of these accommodations help to alleviate some of the high costs of health care associated with having a baby. In fact, in Indiana, where a majority of Amish people reside, a birthing center was built called the “New Eden Care Center” strictly for Amish women. “This facility is designed to be an alternative for those who prefer not going to the hospital for the delivery of their babies but who recognize the need for skilled care before, during, and after delivery” (Lemon, 2006, p.4). The New Eden Care Center accommodates Amish women and their families by allowing them to remain true to their values and beliefs. More medical practitioners need to take into account the various differences that exist between and amongst cultures in their provision of medical care practices. Conclusion According to Cultural Anthropology by Nowak and Laird, “culture is a web of values, meanings, and behavior that is deeply embedded in our experience of daily life and shared with others who belong to the same group” (2010, p.4). In regards to this definition, the Amish are a true culture, because they follow their beliefs and values, rather then trying to change in order to fit in with American society. The Amish came to America with a dream of remaining true to their lifestyle. All they wanted was the freedom to choose their own religion without being persecuted for it by others. The primary mode of subsistence for the people of Amish communities is agriculture, or farming. The decrease in available farmlands and the growing increase of populations has caused many Amish youngsters to drift away from farming and pursue non-farming vocational activities. However, this has not caused them to lose sight of their culture’s way of life, which primarily focuses on family and religion. While the Amish have “adapted to some change”, they have done so “at their own pace” (Lemon, 2006, p.2). They fear that complete acceptance of high technological devices and total modernization will cause them to become non-existent. In other words, “the Amish are an extreme example of a people who value economic development, through a highly disciplined work ethic and a propensity for small business, while excluding from their lives the necessity to modernize” (Dana, 2007, p.4). Basically, the people of Amish culture choose to live their lives as simple as possible, without ever losing sight of who they are or where they came from, and their loyalties lie within their values and beliefs.

References

Byers, B.D. (2008). Amish Victimization and Offending: A Rural Subcultures Experiences And Responses to Crime and Justice. Souther Rural Sociology: Special Issue: Rural Crime, 23(2), 226-251. Retrieved May 15, 2012, from Proquest Social Journals.

Dana, L.P. (2007). A Humility-Based Enterprising Community: The Amish People in Lancaster County. Journal of Enterprising Communities, 1(2), 142-154. Retrieved May 15, 2012, from ABI / INFORM Global.

Kraybill, D.B. (2000). Amish. Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. Retrieved May 15, 2012, from http://www.encyclopedia.com

Kraybill, D.B., Nolt, S.M., and Wesner, E.J. (2011). Sources of Enterprise Success in Amish Communities. Journal of Enterprising Communities, 5(2), 112-130. Retrieved May 15, 2012, from ABI / INFORM Global.

Lemon, B.S. (2006). Amish Health Care Beliefs and Practices in an Obstetrical Setting. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 12(3), 54-59. Retrieved May 15, 2012, from Research Library.

Nowak, B. and Laird, P. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Powell, A. (n.d.). Amish 101 - Amish Beliefs, Culture & Lifestyle: History of the Amish in America. Retrieved May 15, 2012, from http://pittsburgh.about.com