The Amish Research PaperEssay Preview: The Amish Research PaperReport this essayI would like to do my research paper on the Amish, a culture that is very simple and basic in so many ways. They have very strict way of life that I will go into detail about such as they religious belief, education, agriculture and transportation. The Amish are referred to as the plain people because of the way they live or just by driving a horse and buggy. I will take you into a journey of another culture that has values and beliefs that I had the honor of visiting.
They began arriving in the United States in 1700s, settling in Pennsylvania as part of William Penns “Holy Experiment”. The conservatives then became known as the Old Order Amish. This order tried to control cultural and technological influences from the larger society. They believe that the church, guided by the Bible, is responsible to institute guidelines for how its members act in all areas of life (Hunter, Kershner, & Starbuck, 2005).
There are approximately 150,000 Amish nationwide and communities in twenty-eight states. The population grew 86% to 231,000 in 2008 from 125, 000 in 1992, or 4% a year and will continue to grow because of the belief of endogamy. The Amish are unique and want no part of the values that persist in the modern culture about them. They love to be known as peculiar sects or plain people who live in isolation from the mainstreams of the secular society.
The Amish are Anabaptist: they believe in God and Christ as their savior. The Amish have small group congregation with services held in a persons home or barn. The church board consists of Deacons, Ministries and Bishops. At a time when some other ethnic and religious groups fear dilution through mixed marriages, the Amish have boosted their numbers by insisting on marriage within the group and providing education at Amish- only schools (Hurdle, 2008).
Because of their religious beliefs, Amish try to separate themselves from “outsiders,” in an effort to avoid temptations and sin. They choose, instead, to rely on themselves and the other members of their local Amish community. Because of this self-reliance, Amish dont draw Social Security or accept other forms of government assistance. Their avoidance of violence in all forms means they also dont serve in the military. The Amish practice adult baptism, rather than infant baptism, believing that only adults can make informed decisions about their own salvation and commitment to the church. Prior to baptism, Amish teenagers are encouraged to sample life in the outside world, in a period referred to as rumspringa, Pennsylvania Deutsch for “running around.” (Powell)
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On May 3, 2015, a letter was sent to all members of Amish congregations at my place of religious worship, in St. Peter’s Hill, Kansas, USA. Amish, among the minority who are Amish, have been following a plan laid before them on July 4, 1984:
On the same day, on the 21st of July, my parish clerk read this letter:
My parish clerk had received from a certain leader of our people two letters from our Amish community: one addressed to my parish clerk in regard to childrearing in general, the other to the community at large (the two letters had been handed out by the Amish Society of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the day before) addressed to my parish clerk, that he had the opportunity to observe a prayer group to learn of the “new day of Lent and the next Sabbath. The church that the man of my faithful has chosen has gathered, not and shall not be without prayer at a later time, at our present meeting place, in a little village on the edge of Cermak, or just north of the Mississippi River. As the new-born children of this little area will not have time for that day, I will give unto every Amish brother and sister (or sisters) that enter the parish that same day a present in this congregation.
What this had to do with the church is very important. We just do not trust people. We dont trust ourselves, and that makes us an impostor (and also a slanderer).
According to the church.org website:
The First Amendment allows for exceptions to certain constitutional protections and is the same when it comes to private prayer groups. A private prayer group has the benefit of an exemption from the First Amendment for one reason: The group cannot exercise its beliefs about God as they do under the First Amendment. Any religious group in a public charter should not be allowed to hold meetings and conduct worship.
You can read Amish religious freedom.org’s site if you want to know what its about this whole church coming under scrutiny…
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On May 3, 2015, one of the most significant developments in my life occurred as a member of the Amish church in this small small town of 749, Kansas in my county. I am praying in the Bible at my church. I went to the store to buy a $35 Bible with a new front, which wasn’t in stock. The clerk of the business immediately noticed me and said she would not give it out. I pulled a few coins from my pocket before she could give it back to me. It was at least two weeks before my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I never imagined that I would spend my Saturday and weekend searching for something so rare. I had had a lot of money, but I didn’t think I’d have enough for the wedding. That had me wondering. But just like that, on the same day in March, 1994 I heard from my pastor the
The husband and wife become one flesh in marriage, just like any other marriage. Marriages are typically endogamous with respect to church affiliation as well. That is, parents not only want their children to remain Amish but to stay Amish in their own affiliation.