...American Amish have become popular in American culture due to their bizarre religious practices. The hats, beards, and outdated clothing have caused the Amish to be a household name. After coming to America in the 18th Century, the Amish have seemingly maintained their religious practices. Even though their lifestyle strongly discourages connections with the modern world, the Amish population is still steadily growing. The competitive religious market in the United States is massive. Since the Constitution of the United States allows free entry of any religious denomination into the market, a religion can attract believers only if it offers a commodity as valuable as its competitors. Interestingly, the Amish faith still is growing despite...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...Running head: AMISH COMMUNITY 1 Amish Community Jennie Ong AMISH COMMUNITY 2 Abstract The Amish people are a community of individuals who hold their traditions of simple living, self-labor, and isolation very highly. Eastern parts of the United States as well as Canada are the most common areas where Amish communities are established. The group originated from Switzerland and received their name from their leader Jakob Ammann who, during the 18th century, led their immigration to Pennsylvania. Despite their customary values of seclusion, the Amish still experience the equal degrees of obstacles as any other organization may face. The Amish do not have the merchandises or products of the mainstream society, but they still remain successful in preserving their culture and beliefs by continuing to live with their traditional ways. AMISH COMMUNITY 3 Amish Community In the Western parts of the United States, it is uncommon to come across a person following the Amish culture but in most parts of Eastern America such as Pennsylvania Indiana, or even Canada, it is a norm. The Amish or Amish Mennonites are a group of Anabaptist Christians known for their simplistic living, old-fashioned clothing, and their opposition to modernization such as the use of electric appliances. Also known as “The Plain People” or Old Order Amish, they originated in Switzerland...
Words: 1559 - Pages: 7
...Rites of Passage – Amish and Jewish Cultures Student Name ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Instructor Date Rites of Passage – Amish and Jewish Cultures Many cultures in the world have traditional rites of passage that may seem strange to others. According to Crapo, rites of passages are “ceremonies… [undergone] whenever a member of society undergoes an important change in the status within the lifecycle of the group” (Crapo, 2013, p181). Rites of passage ceremonies are powerful and moving in beliefs that bring each person into his or her own path in life. Both Amish and Jewish cultures hold strong traditional and religious beliefs that are incorporated into every day activities. Traditional rites of passage can be special moments in any individual’s lifecycle, particularly when puberty or adulthood rituals occur. For many centuries the Amish have largely remained separated from the English. The Amish community refers to anyone outside of the Amish culture as English. Most Amish communities do not rely on the use of electricity, television, motorized vehicles and tractors. Women and men in the Amish culture live their lives with humility and submission to God, as well as, their parents and to the community and control their desires and reject luxurious and worldly pleasures (Films Media Group, 2005). The Amish do not believe in baptizing the younger individuals in the community. Rather they believe in allowing the young the opportunity to make...
Words: 1785 - Pages: 8
...THE AMISH The Amish are a society in North America that follow a very strict interpretation of the bible, and are devout Christians. They seek to be more in tune with familial values and religion versus anything else. How they live is quite different from Western culture. Though the Amish are technically a part of Western society, the two cultures are quite diverse. They have chosen to forsake most modern conveniences for a more traditional way of life. Their primary mode of subsistence is horticulturalists and agriculturalists, because they live off of everything hand grown, whether livestock or vegetables. In this paper, we will explore the way of life for the Amish: beliefs and values, gender relation, and social organization. The Amish religion requires them to abide by the rules of their bible, just like many other religions follow the rules of their bibles as well. The Amish culture originated in the early 1600’s in Bern, Switzerland, and southwestern region of Germany. The word "Amish" comes from the name of the man who formed the sect Jakob Ammann. “Amman maintained a stricter interpretation of Anabaptist doctrine and advocated foot washing and Meidung or the strict social avoidance (shunning) of the excommunicated unfaithful. When other Anabaptist leaders refused to agree to the strict interpretation of the Miedung, Amman forced a split, in about 1693, which resulted in the creation of the Amish”(Byers, 2008). Members of the Amish sect migrated to Pennsylvania...
Words: 2392 - Pages: 10
...is evident that religion is important to the Amish through their way of living and the way they dress. During a church service, men and women are separated, but both are sitting through a three or more hour plus service in connecting rooms. The parents set an example for the children on how to practice their faith. Every other Sunday, the Amish would go from one house to another for church. The families attend Sunday School, where there are taught about their religion. (amishnews). The Amish practice foot washing. Religious services were in High German, and Pennsylvanian Dutch. The Old Order of Amish would speak Pennsylvania Dutch. It is a dialect of German, also known as “Platt.” Musical instruments were not allowed in church...
Words: 1320 - Pages: 6
...was a religious movement in the sixteenth century that evolved in Europe. The Puritans wanted religious purity. Anne Bradstreet was one of the most prominent female writers during the Puritan Age. Her selection “Upon the Burning of Our House” contains aspects of Puritan lifestyle. The show “Breaking Amish” deals with the realities and struggles of young Amish people who are undecisive if they want to alter to the English lifestyle. During the Puritan Age, the work by Anne Bradstreet can be compared to todays pop culture show “Breaking Amish.” The Puritans were a varied group of people who stood up for religious purity in Europe. “Puritanism was more than a religious belief, it was a way of life” (Anne Bradstreet’s Use of Religious...
Words: 1040 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 1936 - Pages: 8
...Your name Professor’s name Name of the course 23 November 2015 Intentional Community THE AMISH The Amish are a group of the Christian church fellowship. The Amish movement was founded by Jacob Ammann as an attempt to change some practices of the Mennonites. The history of the Amish takes about three centuries. They started to emigrate to Pennsylvania U.S. in early 18th century after being chased and criticized by the Catholic сhurch. The main idea of their religion is to keep themselves far away from the world and conveniences of modern technology such as follows: electricity, cars, TV, radio, computers, planes, watches, and rings. Moreover, they totally decline to have any relation with the state and are against the individualism. All these are done in order not to let things from outside effect the internal world of the person and its perception of the reality. Rules and the leadership. The Amish are strictly keeping their rules that are called the Ordnung. It is a symbiosis of religious rules and practices concerning how to organize everyday routine, work process, lifestyle, and clothing. The Gelassenheit is the other semi - formal concept that is regulating the life of the Amish. It is a general view of a good person rather than a guide on how to behave. Due to the Gelassenheit, the honorable person should be modest, calm, kind, and quiet one. The nature of the Amish leadership is ministerial, which means they are choosing a minister for each district...
Words: 1281 - Pages: 6
...The Amish Culture: A Blueprint for a Strong Family Unit Sherletrice Spencer ANT101 Dr. Elena Lattarulo May 21, 2012 The Amish Culture: A Blueprint for a Strong Family Unit The Amish are an old religious sect and trace their heritage to the Swiss Anabaptists of sixteenth century Europe (Kraybill, 2001, pg. 3). Their existence both socially and economically revolve around the church, family, and their resistance to many forms of modern technology and conveniences. The Amish choose to live apart from modern society to maintain unity among its members but most important, to shield themselves from the temptations of the modern world. The ways of the Amish are a page out of the past, but they embrace many values that are lacking in modern society today. They continue to survive and thrive because of their commitment to community survival, adherence to a strict social order, and a strong sense of family and values. The Amish, who are also known as “The Plain People” were founded by Jacob Amman. They initially belonged to a group called the Mennonites who believed in infant baptism and the unification of church and state. The Amish believed in separation of church and state and that people should only be baptized as adults because they believed one was old enough to make the decision about their religious choices as adults. With their vast differences, the Amish decided to break away from the Mennonites which made them a target of religious persecution; their beliefs...
Words: 2846 - Pages: 12
...The Amish Instructor Bruce Carruthers ANT 101 Cultural Anthropology Aug 6, 2012 Outline I. Introduction II. History of the Amish a. School b. Church c. Rumspringa III. Social organization d. Children e. Teenage years f. Church membership IV. Beliefs and values g. Church h. Chores i. Socialization V. Kinship j. Nuclear family k. Bands l. Large families VI. Conclusion m. Summary n. Amish throughout time The Amish live a very interesting life involving very hard work and strict religious beliefs. In this essay I will first tell you about the history of the Amish, how they became the Amish we know today, and then tell you what a day in the life of an Amish person is like. I will tell you about their education, church, and the teenage Rumspringa. I will also tell you about how the Amish spend their childhood years, teenage years and when they become an official member of the church. The next subject I will cover is beliefs and values. This will then lead me into telling you about kinship. The Amish get there name from Jakob Ammann, who believed in stronger ties to the church and faster shunning in those not using the church with everyday life. The Amish also known as plane people began to come to America in the eighteenth century. Most Amish settled in Berks County...
Words: 2351 - Pages: 10
...The Amish April 30, 2012 Ant 101 There are more than 250,000 Amish in the United States and Canada, the only places they live today. Most American’s view the Amish as backwards mainly because they shun the modern conveniences that most of us take advantage of on a daily basis. The Amish have a very rigid belief system –they believe that their religious faith and the way they live is inseparable and interdependent they do not consider it to be a lifestyle choice. The Amish was originated in Europe after splitting from Mennonite Swiss Brethren in 1692 over treatment of some of their members who had been found guilty of breaches of doctrine. The first Amish arrived in Pennsylvania in 1730’s to escape persecution in Europe. The Amish believe that community is at the heart of their life and faith and that way to salvation is to live as a loving community apart from the world individualism is avoided. They believe that it is essential to keep themselves separate from the “world” so they live in their own small communities and differ from other American’s in their dress, language, work and travel and education. They are not exclusive as they do associate and have contact with outsiders-non Amish and they refer to them as “English”. Each Amish district is fully independent and lives by its own set of unwritten rules, or Ordnung. The Ordnung is a basic outline that helps define what it means to be Amish. A respected Ordnung generates peace, love, contentment, equality and unity...
Words: 777 - Pages: 4
...Amish people have been in America for many years. Amish people originally settled in Ohio and they began to spread across the country, spanning 30 different states (Discover Landcaster, 2015). Today most of the Amish population reside in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Amish people have been in America for many years, and inhabit most of the country, but their way of life, their cultural values, and their religion is still a mystery to most Americans. The first Amish people arrived in America in the early 18th century to escape religious persecution in Europe and also to find fertile farm land (Holmes, p.g. 372). They first settled in eastern Pennsylvania, where a large portion still remains to this day (Amish, 2015). In the early 21st century...
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
...The Amish are a group of Christians famous for their simple style of living. Membership into the Amish starts with a baptism, which often occurs between 18-25 years of age and the member, is expected to follow the Ordnung, which are guidelines on the Amish way of living Every aspect about the Amish life is conservative; their dressing is conservative, simple, and targets a show of reservation and humility. Technology is shunned by the Amish, and their homes have minimal or no machinery at all. The Amish appear to have a simple life with minimal problems compared to other cultures. This can be attributed to the high level of discipline practised in their communities. There are various aspects of Amish life that make it very attractive. Amish parents spend a lot of time with their children fostering good relationships within the family. Children are taught the value of family from an early age. As a result, there is a very low divorce rate among the Amish people. Over the years, the Amish people have registered one of the lowest depression rates globally. This can be attributed to their simple way of life that is safe from the hustles and bustles of the regular world. The numerous advantages of living an Amish life can be attributed to the strict adherence to their cultural and religious beliefs. However, this lifestyle inhibits their progress in society. The Amish live by the Ordnung, which are the rules that govern their lifestyle. This order differs from group...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...The Amish Culture The Amish are a fascinating people. They live surrounded by cities full of technology. Yet they live without automobiles, electricity, and most modern comforts that are taken for granted by many. Donald Kraybill asks the question “How is it that a tradition-laden people who spurn electricity, computers, automobiles, and higher education are not merely surviving but are, in fact, thriving in the midst of modern life?” Though they do not have all of the technology that we take for granted, they live richer lives than many non-Amish people. because gender relations are accepted amongst others in the community, they have strong beliefs, traditions and values, and kinship is important. In the Amish community, they rely heavily on their agriculture as a mode of subsistence. This is known as being an agrarian society. Though they have other means of sustenance, they recognize the importance of agriculture to the community. Amish culture does not use electricity or other modern conveniences. This makes the farming a longer process, as this is their means of survival. They have other means for livelihood but farming is their main job. Some build furniture to sell to the surrounding communities. Others will farm for non-amish employers. “Some stereotypes of Amish life imply that they reject technology and live in a nineteenth-century cocoon. Such images are false. The Amish adopt technology selectively, hoping that the tools they use will build community rather...
Words: 1090 - Pages: 5
...the Amish culture. A few details regarding the background of the Amish culture is they are most concentrated in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana with 273,700 adults and children and nearly 350 settlements in thirty states of the USA and in Ontario (Kuhnova, 2012) The Amish culture tries to live in nonconformity to the world. This is demonstrated by their dialect, their plain clothing, transportation of horse and buggy, and their housing, functioning to the outside world as distinction and to the inside community as confirmation of a shared identity (Kuhnova, 2012). This clothing style is uniform and leaves little room for individualism, although small differences are perceptible in sewing and cloths. Where for non-Amish this might sound like a limitation of freedom. They fear that owning a car leads to individualism, distinction, social inequality, and too much personal freedom (Vonk, 2012). The above behavior choices of the Amish cultural emphasize togetherness and reinforce group cohesion. According to Vonk (2011), “The community and its welfare are ranked above personal freedom and individual rights, what contradicts modern values such as individualism and self-expression the Amish receive a durable and visible ethnic identity” (pg. 68). The traditional community is quite separate from the outside world, with strong social capital, is known for keeping and sustaining their faith, identity, important beliefs, values, and communal behavior choices (Vonk, 2011). The Amish would...
Words: 6358 - Pages: 26
