What do you think about the Amish?

[Barney2.0]

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

In a world which seems to get only more insane and immoral, I think the Amish and that sort of monastic like existence of simple/godly living, are welcome reprieve.

 

[Dave L]

I think the Amish represent the closest thing we have to early Christianity as far as their house meetings, working elders, and community spirit. So I use them as a visual representation or commentary of what church ought to be. On other matters I'm not so sure.

 

[Chris V++]

BTW, do you have to know another language, like Old Dutch, to worship with the Amish?? I dont know.

They are descendants of Germans, not Dutch. They are called "Pennsylvania Dutch' by mistake. It should really have been 'Pennsylvania Deutsch' which is German.

 

[Chris V++]

Amish is maybe a good solution to global warming?

What about horse flatulence?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I can't ask them anything since they don't use the Internet.

Talk to them in person, they are very friendly and the ones in our area are very community oriented. They are good humored, and enjoy a good joke as much as the rest of us. We have a good number that are members at our gun club, and may be the only gun-club in Ontario with a hitching rail for horses.

Their doctrine is a very austere form or Arminian Protestantism which includes a complete separation of Church and state, and while in fellowship with other Amish groups, there is not central governance; each congregation is autonomous, with an elected leader (Bishop) and other preachers and ministers also elected. Some have meeting houses; some meet at each others houses in turn; haling portable benches around on a wagon from farm to farm. Often the only grave markers in their cemeteries are small with only two initials on them.

Theologically, they share little with the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican or Lutheran, with the exception that they continue to use Luther's German Bible with Apocrypha both in Church and in their schools to teach German. This is why their dialect is quite different from continental German as it is very dated and they also use English words where an equivalent can not be found in Luther's Bible.

While we don't share many things theologically, but we do share this world, and we do respect each others faith and traditions.

 

[Chris V++]

I can't ask them anything since they don't use the Internet.

If you want some insight into their culture (at least the Hollywood interpretation) there is a 1980's Harrison Ford movie called Witness set in Amish country. Witness (1985 film) - Wikipedia

I used to work in a town on the edge of a large community so picked up some facts about them. They don't put faces on dolls since the face reflects the soul. They obviously dress modestly and don't wear makeup (sometimes I'd see them sneak into country bars wearing makeup. It was sort of sweet since they wern't that experienced applying it.) They all aren't pacifists. I was told if you mess with one from Ohio they might just push back, and since they are accustomed to manual labor in all likelihood theyll probably come out on top. They stop shaving when they marry. They will shun if you reject their ways but accept you back if you repent. They do pay taxes.(they've been accused of not paying taxes. ) I think they stop school after 8th grade. I heard something about them officially joining the church when they come of age. They are heavy into alternative medicine, herbs. They aren't forced to join and eventually either decide to join or often times leave the community. If society ever collapses and we don't have electricity or fuel, they will be the ones riding around and keeping warm in the winter.

 

[ArmenianJohn]

I consider myself Amish but still on Rumspringa.

 

[devin553344]

What about horse flatulence?

My ex girlfriend had a horse with that problem. Just stay out of the way cause they kick too

 

[Tom 1]

If you want some insight into their culture (at least the Hollywood interpretation) there is a 1980's Harrison Ford movie called Witness set in Amish country. Witness (1985 film) - Wikipedia

I used to work in a town on the edge of a large community so picked up some facts about them. They don't put faces on dolls since the face reflects the soul. They obviously dress modestly and don't wear makeup (sometimes I'd see them sneak into country bars wearing makeup. It was sort of sweet since they wern't that experienced applying it.) They all aren't pacifists. I was told if you mess with one from Ohio they might just push back, and since they are accustomed to manual labor in all likelihood theyll probably come out on top. They stop shaving when they marry. They will shun if you reject their ways but accept you back if you repent. They do pay taxes.(they've been accused of not paying taxes. ) I think they stop school after 8th grade. I heard something about them officially joining the church when they come of age. They are heavy into alternative medicine, herbs. They aren't forced to join and eventually either decide to join or often times leave the community. If society ever collapses and we don't have electricity or fuel, they will be the ones riding around and keeping warm in the winter.

Is 8th grade the minimum legal requirement in the US?

 

[GodLovesCats]

Certainly their lifestyle is better for the planet. I don’t know a great deal about their belief system.

I know this much: it is very inconvenient and boring in its original form. Many Amish people are forced to do things against their beliefs and try to adapt to the modern world. It is like being stuck in the 1800s. They believe in not owning stuff for themselves, especially nothing fancy or bright. I do not know what theirr issue with driving is.

 

[Tone]

Amish is maybe a good solution to global warming?

So is Shabbat keeping and giving the land its Shabbats...I wonder if they do this?

 

[Tone]

They are descendants of Germans, not Dutch. They are called "Pennsylvania Dutch' by mistake. It should really have been 'Pennsylvania Deutsch' which is German.

...Church of Philadelphia...?

 

[Tone]

I consider myself Amish but still on Rumspringa.

There's that word again...what is that..."Rumspringa"?

*Okay...I'll Google...


**"Rumspringa (Pennsylvania German pronunciation: [rʊmˈʃprɪŋə]), also spelled Rumschpringe or Rumshpringa, is a rite of passage during adolescence, translated in English as "jumping/hopping around", used in some Amish and Mennonite communities."

Oh, okay...like spring break...drink a lot of rum...

 

[devin553344]

So is Shabbat keeping and giving the land its Shabbats...I wonder if they do this?

Hi Tone, Maybe?

 

[mmksparbud]

So is Shabbat keeping and giving the land its Shabbats...I wonder if they do this?

We have had some Amish who left their church, but kept the simple way of life but they geared it to SDA teachings, they brought in other Amish. Lovely people.

 

[KernelPanic]

I have had first-hand discussions with Amish about puppy mills. There certainly are some inhumane puppy mills operated by Amish, but they are few and far between. 99% of Amish don't run puppy mills, and of the ones who do, I'd wager that only a handful of them are inhumane. It's definitely not fair to imply that Amish society as a whole is cruel to dogs because of the actions of a few bad apples.

To give some background, I live in Pennsylvania, which has a large percentage of Amish population. Recently, one of my neighbors adopted a dog from a Amish breeder that lives probably within 20 miles of us. The dog was unable to have any more pups and the guy was just going to get rid of her. Fortunately, someone managed to convince him to give it up to a shelter, but apparently his initial response was basically, "Why?". He didn't see any value to the dog whatsoever.

In addition, the biggest dog breeding county in PA is in Lancaster, which, surprise, has large Amish populations. Yeah, it may not be all Amish, but that thought of animals=disposable things is certainly more prevalent even in smaller groups such as where I live. Some people say it's an "old-school" mentality, but quite frankly we have Orthodox saints showing kindness to animals, so I don't buy that as an excuse.

Most Amish don't work on farms and live off the land since there's not enough of it to go around. Most have to seek jobs in the "real world" to get employment. Even still, you're going to be limited to manual labor since you won't have a college education or exposure to technology. Not exactly glamorous work.

Also, there's a darker side to living in a cloistered community. A lot of child abuse and rape tends to get covered up.

Victims of Amish Sexual Abuse | Peaceful Societies

Why I Left The Amish

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Haven't seen them in awhile, amish them.

 

[Foxfyre]

I can't ask them anything since they don't use the Internet.

Mostly good people who wish no harm to anybody, allow everybody else to live and let live in peace, and all they demand from anybody is to be able to live and let live in peace themselves.

We don't have to be or live like the Amish to learn that that is the very best formula that anybody can offer for domestic tranquility and world peace.

 

[Not David]

I kind of like the lifestyle, but not the religious beliefs and convictions they have. Aren't they a split from the Anabaptist? They are an unreached people group, believing in a works-based salvation from what I hear.

I don't believe in rebaptism, so I can't say I approve their theology