A Look Into The Amish Culture

Amish culture has been an attention grabbing field of study for many anthropologists. Currently, there population is only present in United States due to various historical events. Although Amish community has been living in United States for a considerably long time now which comprises of centuries but despite all the cultural influences from external forces, this community has successfully managed to retain its original character and essence. Where other communities have showed adaptation to sociological and cultural changes, Amish culture is present in its original form because of their closed social system. Their main mode of subsistence of Horticulture. Although this mode is considered to be a derivative of their way of obtaining financial independence but in reality this mode of living defines their Beliefs and values, Economic organization, Gender relations, Kinship Political organization and Social organization.

The aspects of an Amish funeral service are steeped in customs that vary largely from that of an English funeral. Though the ideals and customs of an English funeral service change with the new trends of the region. While the Amish funeral service has changed very little from the Amish deviation from the Quakers. In most branches of the Amish church, the rituals and traditions surrounding death are held in the highest regard. These sacred teachings are known to very few members of the church; generally, by the bishops, or by the Amish funeral director. The funeral, as seen from the English perspective, is a celebration of life or the mourning of a life; while, the funeral seen from an Amish perspective, is a celebration of the gift of God.

Church services are held in houses of the Amish families, rotating every week, rather than in a permanent church building.

The Amish is a group of traditionalist Christians that rely on simple living, plain dress and refuse to adapt to modern technology. The history of the Amish started in Switzerland in 1693 led by Jakob Amman. Today majority of the traditional descendants of the Amish live in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

It’s very easy to find the differences between Amish and American societies and even though it may not seem like it at first glance there are some similarities between the two. Such as religion, yes America has a diverse set of religion, but both societies believe the right to religious freedom. That is why Amish societies are located in America because they are allowed to express their religion. Another similarity in both societies is education. Even though Amish children mostly only go to an eighth grade education, both societies prepare the children for adulthood and teach them skills that will help them in society.

When people think of America, they think of white picketed fences, the American dream, and white people living in suburbs. But most people don’t imagine poor, illiterate “hillbillies” (as they are often labelled as). Their upbringing in the household, thoughts on marriage and the like were divergent compared to the rest of the developed western world. This essay will promote the development of understanding the Appalachian people’s kinship and family life, why they practice certain customs and how it affects them. This essay will also take a closer look into why and how the lack of modern technology, low paying jobs/no jobs, media’s portrayal of how families are supposed to be and drug use has influenced the mountaineers and their families in regards to gender roles ,social life, marriage, divorce ,courtship and so on. In addition to that it will also look at the comparison between modern American households and family life to see what differences and similarities they have between each other.

The thriller film ‘Witness’, directed by Peter Weir in 1985, tells about cultural conflicts between the Amish of Western Pennsylvania and Modern American corruption and violence. Philadelphia Police officer, John Book was obligated to hide from the three brutally and corrupt police officers as they were looking for a little Amish boy, Samuel Lapp. The boy witnessed the brutal killings and identified the killer as the three police officers. The ‘Witness’ strongly displayed many images of people and incorporated several techniques and images in various scenes to portray the contrast between two different worlds.

If the grown ones leave the church they are shunned. The Amish believe that the church and God should be separated from everything else. (Neulip, 2015) This cultural trait distinguishes them from almost everything. Living in an isolated society keeps all of the outside distractions from god of technology, cell phones, and even cars.

The Amish are one subculture that has certain beliefs that separate them from other Christian denominations. The Bible influences their idea of the way they should dress;Therefore they believe that modesty is humility and what they wear helps display their faith. Amish men and boys only wear dark solid color clothing with cut vest jackets. They do not wear belts, buttons, and jewelry because of its flashy appearance and boastfulness it displays. Females of the Amish community are to wear calf-length solid color dresses with either a black or white aprons. On their heads, they have to wear prayer caps.These prayer caps allow the women to pray whenever they want to, because they are not allowed to pray by men without it. Amish women are never to cut their hair and the Amish men do not grow their hair out; however,they can grow facial hair once they get married. There are many rules on what the Amish can and cannot wear . Modesty is great, however to that extent other Christians will disagree. Other Christians believe that no matter what you wear, God will not love you less.

The Amish society first originated in 1962 in Europe and the first Amish arrived in Pennsylvania in the 1730’s to escape persecution in Europe.The Amish church started as a breakaway from the Annabaptists (adult baptizers) in Switzerland in 1693, led by Jakob Ammann. Frater, J. (2012) According to BBC Religions (2009) the Amish believe that the community is at the heart of their life and faith, and that the way to salvation is to live as a loving community apart from the world. Individualism is avoided.

Relevance Statement: Electricity is the heart of our current civilization. Without electricity we would regress into a feudal like stage which will slow down our evolution as a society

In the Amish culture, when a teenager turns sixteen they are given the right to explore the English culture. They are given the freedom to dress how they like, and partake in behaviors that are prohibited by the Amish Church. The church believes that infants should not be baptized when they are born. This idea stems from the appreciation that Jesus

This semester I chose to focus on the Amish religion. Many people assume that the Amish are just people who drive horses and buggies, but there’s so much more to them than that. “The Amish are a church, a community, a spiritual union, a conservative branch of Christianity, a religion, a community whose members practice simple and austere living, a familistic entrepreneuring system, and an adaptive human community” (Hostetler 4). I believe this quote expresses what the Amish religion really is. Amish was founded in Europe over 280 years ago. Eventually, they migrated to the United States. Now they are found in many U.S. states, primarily Northeast Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Amish started as a reform group, before it became a religion. Throughout this semester, I have learned about all the aspects of the Amish religion.

The figures that were shown to the prisoner in the cave could be viewed as idols praised by the prisoners and puppeteers. Religion can be viewed by some as a cave. Being kept in the dark of there religion and forced never to see the light. Some religions brain wash there followers to see things only there way. If you don’t see, act or think how there religion views you should be. they may kill you. The Amish religion can be view like the prisoners in the cave. They are taught from a small age that God is all you need and the everyday life most Americans live is a blasphemy of God. They live a simple life most have no electrical devices and choose to dress modestly and in plain colored clothing. Some Amish travel to towns for supplies but most tend to grow everything there self. Children are shielded from the outside world until there teenage years when they participate in rumspringa. This event is where teenagers are given the choice to stay within the Amish culture or they choose to be an outsider. In summary the Amish are similar to the prisoners in the cave being told what to do and how to act there whole life until the day they can see the world and make their own choices. One important note most Amish teenagers choose to stay within the Amish community. Cults are similar to the Allegory of the cave. Members are kept in the dark, from what

The Amish live a different life style than we do. A lot of people misunderstand the way they live their life in rural communities. They think that the Amish live an old fashioned life and fear the real world. All they want to do is help their community every way they can. Each fellowship is broken down into districts where they live independently by rules their community agrees on. The rules consist of clothing requirements, color of buggies, household items, etc. There are around 200,000 members of the Amish in which come from more than 20 states. In fact, the Amish community has been growing. Every 20 years the population doubles.