The Amish Community Essay Example 2021

ABSTRACT

Many people associate the Amish community with people who have long hair, hand-make goods, have limited technology, and possess a strict devotion to God. While this may remain true, the Amish culture has a long history of unique traditions. Because of their unique way of life, many who see from outside their community frequently create hasty generalizations around the Amish way of life. Some of the most common stereotypes among people outside the Amish community are false. From the way they dress, wedding traditions, education, and their social life, and more, the Amish’s live differently from modern culture today. 

INTRO

Amish origin roots stretch all the way back to 16th century Europe. The Amish distance themselves from society and technology and base their entire lives around Christianity, this is often seen as “strange” by non-Amish people. They are known for their plain clothing, lack of technology, and over-all simplistic lifestyle. They are completely consumed by their devotion to God. They feel that they must live simplistically because they do not want to be remembered because of a lavish life lived, they want to be remembered for their strict devotion to God. The Amish community sticks together while being separated from other non-Amish communities who do not believe in their ways. While they are separated from modern society, Amish still use limited technology in order to keep up with the growing world around them to sell homemade goods in order to support their family. They tend to remain to themselves and follow their routine and traditions day-to-day.

HISTORY

The founder of the Amish community was Mennonite preacher Jakob Ammann and he founded the Amish community in Switzerland in the 17th century. Jakob Ammann closely followed Jesus’ footsteps and implicated ways such as feet washing, shunning, and men not trimming their facial hair as a way to honor their religion and its values. His teachings were often seen as controversial and extreme so he decided to break away and create a community that would follow him. His followers were called Anabaptists, later the name ‘Amish’ emerged. In the early 18th century the Amish began migrating to North America, specifically Pennsylvania, to avoid persecution from Europe. 

Around the 19th century, they split into two groups; the Old Order Amish and the New Order Amish. The Old Order Amish are what most individuals suspect when they hear the word ‘Amish.’ They live with values that are more strict than the New Order Amish. The New Order Amish are now what is known as Pentecostals. They reside similarly to the Old Order Amish, but permit the use of technology and do not distance themselves from non-Amish individuals. 

Because the Amish migrated to the United States, there are now numerous Amish settlements within the country; many of which are located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Iowa. Most Amish settle in northeast America because it is where they settled when they initially migrated to America. Each settlement consists of a few preachers, an elder, and a bishop. Because there are no churches in the communities, they hold meetings and services within each other's homes.

 Each community will consist of about ten to twenty families. In the article titled, ‘Amish Population Boom in US’ the author says, “A new Amish settlement is founded in the United States nearly once a month.” The Amish often possess numerous children per household (usually about six or seven). Because of the number of children constantly being born, each community will split into other smaller communities because one settlement consists of about only 75 baptized members. These children are then raised within the Amish community and usually decide to continue in their parent’s footsteps. Their offspring continue to grow their community, not necessarily other people choosing to join the Amish community. People do choose to join the Amish, however, the main reason their communities grow so rapidly is because of children being born. In these settlements, they continue to live with their traditional values and way of life. Though many non-Amish do not understand their culture and traditions, the Amish continue to live by their out-dated ways while still conforming to some societal advances in order to keep up with the fast-paced world around them.