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Change In Amish Research Paper

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Sofia Powers
Solis-Cohen
English 8-2
05 May 2015
Change in Amish
The Amish culture thrives on rules and regulations, like many contained within the Ordnung, that have been followed for hundreds of years. However, as the modern world meets with their sheltered group, some standards have been changed. Many Amish, such as teens on Rumspringa sampling the “English” world have been tempted, and also farmers see economic reasons for reform after contact with the customs of this modern society. Despite their extensive efforts to stay isolated and continue their beliefs, many Amish today are struggling to maintain this as the “English” ever-changing society affects them.
Many traditional farming families are struggling to survive with increasing modernization …show more content…

The word Rumspringa is a Pennsylvania-Dutch term which is commonly translated to “running around” but “running outside the bounds” is a more accurate translation. Rumspringa is a period of an Amish youth’s life that begins at about age 16, when they are unbaptized and therefore not subject to the churches judgement. During this time, the Amish youths are usually encouraged to explore the “English” world. While many teens only will participate in youth group activities with chaperones, some go all out “English”; with forbidden haircuts, clothing, technology, and even alcohol. For some communities, incidents of wild teens on Rumspringa have gotten more extreme, such as two Amish youths selling cocaine in 1998 and drunken Amish teenagers vandalizing a farmstead in 1999 (Amish). In 2000, about 12% of firstborns among the Amish were already 9 months old when the woman got married, which means that the mother would have had premarital sex, likely on Rumspringa (Shachtman). Still, Rumspringa is a fun experimentation time for many teens, and about 10-20% of teens leave the faith and set out in the “English” world permanently (Harris). One conflicted Amish teen describes her struggle, “God talks to me in one ear, Satan in the other. Part of me wants to be Amish like my parents, but the other part wants the jeans, the haircut, to do what I want to do.” (Shachtman). At …show more content…

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Works Cited

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Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015
Harris, Joshua. Dug down Deep: Building Your Life on Truths that Last. Waterville, ME. Christian Print, 2011. Print.
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Janofsky, Michael. “Rustic Life Of Amish Is Changing But Slowly.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 05 July 1997. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
“Rumspringa” Amish Studies. N.p., N.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015
Shachtman, Tom. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish. New York. North Point, 2000. Print.
“What Is the Amish Ordnung?” Amish America. N.p., 2010. Web. 14 Apr.

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