Amish Heritage And Customs
The Amish are a conservative group of Christians with an Anabaptist tradition and a Mennonite history
. Their lives revolve around an increasingly difficult-to-main balance of exclusion of and dependence on the outside world as they strive to separate themselves from what they view as the corrupting influence of the modern lifestyle. Amish customs often seem restrictive and unnecessarily difficult to outsiders, but those who live by them find them a comforting affirmation of their calling as God's servants. They are known world-wide for the quality of their furniture, quilts, and agricultural products yet avoid those who disagree with their simple, isolated lives.
Isolation--both geographical and religious--is an important aspect of Amish heritage. Amish usually live within close physical proximity of other Amish families due to their desire to live simple lives in rural areas free from the taint of modernity. They are also required to marry only other Amish and value family as well as community above most other aspects of life, so Amish-only communities help foster those key values. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana all have over 30,000 Amish, while 15 other states have greater than 550 known Amish people. The Amish population is booming, and couples are averaging 7 children per Amish family. This boom creates the need to spread out and form new communities, putting a larger strain on the Amish's bid for isolation.
The everyday lives of the Amish are governed by two types of what is known as the Ordnung. ""Ordnung"" is the German word for ""order,"" and can refer to both the written collection of Amish tenets as well as the local, orally taught set of local rules. Many of these rules place regulations on aspects of technology the Amish can embrace. Most Amish avoid using modern appliances, farm equipment, and transportation, although they make an exception for dairy processing due to national laws about the quality of any milk that is sold commercially. Propane and other types of gas power are allowed in limited measure, although drawing power from the grid is prohibited. Since the Amish do not have a unified church government, the local ordnung addresses the local congregation's perspective on clothing, grooming, possessions, and social conduct. To go against the ordnung is to invite church discipline, the severity of the penalty being defined by the nature of the breach.
In spite of the Amish people's desire for isolation, they are bound by necessity to interact with the outside world via commerce. Amish customs include handed down techniques used to produce high-quality furniture and quilts that are valued the world over, and many people view Amish food products as healthier and more natural. The Amish also welcome tourists in some areas, making a living off of selling to them and tending their needs. This commerce sometimes necessitates dealing with the government, which the Amish try to do as sparingly as possible. They abide by the law because they feel their faith demands that they do so, but they avoid government assistance programs such as Medicare and Social Security. Some feel that the Amish should pay more taxes than they do given that they use public roads and, at times, other facilities, but they generally only pay sales and property taxes.
The Amish women are known for their beautiful, well-made quilts that are stitched using patterns and methods that have been handed down for generations. These quilts are an important part of the Amish heritage, and adept quilters will stitch the pieces of these quilts together either by hand or by a gas or treadle-powered sewing machine. As Amish women are expected to contribute to generating income, these quilts are made at home and are then sold to people around the world.
Amish men who are proficient in wood-working make high-quality
Amish furniture that is valued for its durability and craftsmanship. As with the women, Amish men have to abide by Amish customs prohibiting electricity use and instead power their tools using hydraulic and pneumatic powers run by diesel fuel. Different Amish styles are prevalent, ranging from the simple Quaker and Mission design styles to the ornate and richly carved Queen Anne style. Once completed, the furniture is sold in stores located in either the community itself or in another commercial location handled by a middleman.
The Amish live their lives shying from, yet selling to, the outside world, and the cheapness and availability of technology continues to encroach on their rural, isolated lifestyle the Amish continue to live in spite of its difficulties.
by: Thomas Yoder
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