Old Order Amish Research Paper

Today I am going to talk about the Amish People, but before I do that I would like to begin by explaining what it means to be Amish

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.

There are more than 250,000 Amish in the United States and Canada, the only places they live today. Most American’s view the Amish as backwards mainly because they shun the modern conveniences that most of us take advantage of on a daily basis. The Amish have a very rigid belief system –they believe that their religious faith and the way they live is inseparable and interdependent they do not consider it to be a lifestyle choice. The Amish was originated in Europe after splitting from Mennonite Swiss Brethren in 1692 over treatment of some of their members who had been found guilty of breaches of doctrine. The first Amish arrived in Pennsylvania in 1730’s to escape persecution in Europe. The Amish

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.

Native American sweat lodge ceremonies are more than just sweating. They are purifying rituals used for many purposes depending on the culture and the occasion. Most sweat lodge ceremonies are used for healing purposes, to give thanks to their spirits or their God, for seeking of wisdom and to clear their mind, body, and soul. According to “aktalakota.stjo.org,” the term sweat lodge means 'to live again’ (Raymond A. Bucko, 1989).

British history from 1600 to 1650 wasn’t the best time of history for british people. Britain had a society from 1600 to 1650. From 1600 to 1650 Britain’s government had kings, queens, laws and punishments for outlaws. Britain also had wars religiously, politically and militarily during that time too.

The Amish people are a subculture group. This culture is one of the more distinctive and colorful cultural groups across America. Their rejection of modern technology is what has kept them apart of the high tech culture. They start back in the sixteenth-century Europe when a rebaptism of adults was then a crime punishable by death. Anabaptists or rebaptizers were groups’ that threatened civil and religious authorities. The Swiss Anabaptists followed a Jesus life were they loved their enemies, forgiving insults, and turning the other cheek. While other groups we’re more into violence. The Amish came in 1693 when the Swiss and the South Germans Anabaptists split into two groups: Amish and Mennonites. Looking for political stability and religious freedom they moved to North America where they first settled in southern Pennsylvania then to Ohio, Indiana, and to other Midwestern states. Were they have been able to maintain a distinctive subculture. They try to maintain cultural customs to preserve their identity. Amish speak a dialect of German known as Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch. This language is not a written language. Amish use the English when conversing with non-Amish individuals. When talking in Pennsylvania German to each other they tend to switch to English

The Amish culture in general try to withhold the same traditions, values, and language as the original Amish. This individual Amish subculture in Indiana displayed in the Devil's Playground goes to show just how culturally diverse society can be. Though the ultimate desire of the Amish is to be a good example of Christ, the community encourages a positive deviance of their teenagers called Runspringa. Starting at age sixteen Amish teens are allowed the opportunity to explore the English world to better educate their decision to commit their life to the church and the simple way of living or leave the community turning to a life of relative deviance. This value contradiction often results in role conflict within the young people.

The Documentary “The Devils Playground” follows the lives of a few Amish youths as they go on a journey called rumspringa and attempt and decide whether or not to devote their lives to the Amish church. This documentary clarifies that the Amish religion is in fact a branch of Catholicism in which the members do not get baptized until they are adults. The reasoning behind this difference is that the Amish live a very minimal and secluded lifestyle and they feel that before committing one’s life to the church and to Christ a person must be old enough to know what exactly that promise entails. The Amish community is one that values work; they take pride in living life without many of the advantages available to them, including electricity and cars. When an Amish youth turns sixteen they are able to go on what is called rumspringa, which is a time when they are able to abandon their core values and live like a normal American for the first time. This journey, in a way, exposes these kids to a sociological imagination, which allows them to, “Understand the larger historical meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals.” (Mills 1959). This means that these Amish kids are able to see how their life’s play into the bigger picture of society and how a majority of non-Amish people live. The point of rumspringa is to push these kids right in the mix of the world with no previous exposure in order to scare them into thinking the real world is too

As we know today Amish are very to themselves and refuse to accept any modern technologies. Just like the Mennonites the Amish refuse to be a part of any military because they are pacifist. Even still today, they do not reach their children about what modern technologies exist today. They some of the few religions that have remained completely traditional with a few exceptions. The come from Swiss origins and have faced many obstacles that made keeping their faith a true test in history.

The old order Amish worship in individual homes compared to the New Order Amish. Old Amish send their children to elementary school but do not believe in them attending high school. The Old Order Amish are descendants of the colonial Amish who came to Lancaster and Berks counties Pennsylvania from 1738 to 1756 from Switzerland, Palatinate, Waldeck, Hesse- Cassel, Alsace, Bavaria, and Montbeliard ("Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online," 2012).

In this paper I will be talking about the Amish religion and the aspects of it that make it such an interesting religion. This paper will discuss the origins and beliefs of the proud and dignified Amish people. This paper will discuss things like the history of the religion, its beliefs, how many people practice it, where it’s popular today, and closing remarks/thoughts on the research process.

Amish life is often looked at as plain or simple, but there is a lot more to Amish life than farming and dressing plain. In this paper you will find out some of the history between the Amish and other groups, along with some events that the Amish take part in. You will also learn how the Amish live their life without the modern conveniences you and I have.

The Amish are a small group of people that live in a secluded area of the eastern United States of America. The cultural group known as the Amish has constituted themselves as a unique entity in America's diverse landscape. Amish life is centered on religion, agriculture, and the family. For most people who live outside of the Amish culture, this group seems out of touch with the present time; a culture of another era. This belief is primarily attributable to the Amish belief in simplicity and their rejection of modern technologies (The Amish 2011). One of the most important aspects of Amish life and livelihood is agriculture; the Amish focus much of their life on the growth and harvest of food and other crops. The various factors that affect the culture are based upon agriculture; including the Amish beliefs and values, economic organization, gender relations, kinship, political organization, sickness, social change, and social organization.

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