The Amish
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The Amish are a society in North America. They are dedicated to strict interpretation of the scriptures. They seek to be more in tune with familial values and religion versus anything else. They are an offspring of the Mennonite Church. Jacob Amman split from the original Mennonite group in 1699-1700 and formed the Amish faith.
They have chosen to forsake most modern conveniences for a more traditional way of life. Additionally the Amish have chosen a different manner with regards to medical care and sickness. We will examine what methodology they have chosen for healing and how they address this issue.
Our research will also show the social organization of the Amish people taking a look at how they interact with one another as well as the outside. Furthermore our research will show how the Amish lifestyle as horticulturists, although quite different, may not be quite as strange as we view it as outsiders. We will also show how it reflects an earlier time in traditional America and in many ways parallels our own history.
The Amish came to America from Europe beginning in the eighteenth century. The first documented immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 (Johnson-Weiner, Karen M., 2010, p.14).
There was a second set of Amish arrivals from the French territories. They opted to settle apart from the first wave of settlers. This was due to the fact they viewed the original settlers as too conservative. They instead chose to live in New York, Ohio, Iowa and Ontario. After 1860 migration of the Amish from overseas ceased. (Johnson-Weiner, Karen M., 2010. p.16).
We have identified that the Amish are primarily horticulturalists as they subsist on what they can grow and farm. (McLaughlin, D., 2007). They plant a number of different crops depending on the season.
Today the Old Order Amish engage in crop rotation. They currently employ a four-year rotation schedule. They may plant corn for two years, oats for a year and hay for the forth year.
The Amish believe that as caretakers they are entrusted with care of the land. As such they are responsible for and go through great pains to make sure it is taken care of properly. (Egenes, L, 2009. p.14). They believe in organic fertilization methods using mainly manure. These practices ensure that the land remains fertile and not depleted of one particular mineral or the other.
In recent times agricultural farming as a primary means of support may be rapidly changing. The number of men that farm full time has decreased from 33% to 17% between 1988-2000. This trend has continued downward to below 10%. This has made the Amish more reliant on tourism, commercialism or having a larger manufacturing enterprise. (Hurst, C. ,McConnell, D. 2010 p. 175).
The Amish have an interesting social order in terms of clothing, marriage and interaction.
The rules are set by the “Rules of order or the Ordung. (Powell, A., n.d.). These rules are set by the local Bishop and governs all matters of everyday life. Clothing must be plain with no patterns or jewelry. Mens pants have no zippers and belts are not worn. Instead flaps across the zipper area and suspenders are worn. Women wear long dresses, with perhaps a cape, apron or bonnet.
They are allowed to dye the dresses different colors. This is to portray and show modesty and eschew frivolousness. (Walbert, D., 2002. p.31).
Men must grow their beards only after they are married and mustaches must be trimmed. Women wear no makeup. As far as gender roles are concerned women are subordinate to men.
They have adopted the roles as traditionally known here in the U.S. in the nineteenth and partially the twentieth century. Men take care of providing for the familys daily needs. As such he has a job that provides for them. This may take the form of farming, wagon repair or whatever job they may have chosen outside of their community. Women take care of the domestic work at home and the children may assist in light farming. (BBC-Religions, 2009)
The Amish have chosen to separate themselves from the outside world as a result of their interpretation of the scriptures. The have interpreted Roman12:2 “and be not conformed to this world” to mean they should be apart from it entirely (Johnson-Weiner, Karen M., 2010, p.21). The Amish have also chosen to limit or in some cases dispense with modern technology. This is why they do not drive cars or use electricity in many cases.
There is some fluctuation in the way this particular rule is observed. The Ordung varies from community to community and is driven by consensus hence there is room for interpretation. This being the case you will find that no two Amish communities are exactly the same. (Johnson-Weiner, Karen M., 2010, p.19).
Some Amish believe that using a computer is fine when at work as long as it has no internet connectivity. Other conservative groups feel that this is in violation of the rules.
Courtship and marriage follow a particular pattern in the Amish community.
Once a teenager turns sixteen until their early twenties they are encouraged to begin exploring the world in totality. This time is a youths life is referred to as Rumspringa. Rumspringa is the time in a young persons life when they are encouraged to engage in the dalliances of modern life (Kraybill, D. 2011). Youth are allowed at this point in their lives to engage in activities normally shunned by the Amish.
Activities may include wearing of “English” (non-Amish) clothes, listening to music consorting with English youth. Some youth choose not to engage in these activities but instead participate in gatherings referred to as “singings”. Singings involve the singing of traditional German hymns, having some food and enjoying each others company. They normally take place at a home.
Conversely other youth take more of a typical young persons approach. They engage in the more accepted norms of the English. This could involve parties, bars and clubs and other actions of this nature.
The purpose of Rumspringa is to show the youth that there is another side to life outside of the Amish community. This is done so that should they decide to get baptized and become a full member of the Amish Order they do so with full knowledge of the commitment required. (Kraybill, D. 2011).
When are young person is ready to become married they usually meet their eventual mate at one of the singings. Marriages are usually held on Sunday evenings. The Amish do not date multiple people at a time instead they choose one person. At this point they may engage in what is called bed courtship.
Bed courtship is the process of a