30th April, 2005

TONY TOWNSEND

Origins

Founded in Europe in 1693, the Amish have their origins in the Anabaptist movement and were born out of a schism that developed in another Anabaptist offshoot known as the Mennonites.

The forefathers of today's Amish communities initially attempted reform within the Mennonite movement itself, aiming to re-establish early practices they felt had been neglected. Division, however, would eventually prove inevitable. Leading this separation was Jacob Ammann (1644-1720) from whose surname the Amish derive their name. A few years after the split, attempts were made to reconcile - these attempts, however, proved unfruitful.

PICTURE: Jim Campbell (www.sxc.hu) "Working simply as farmers and woodworkers, their life revolves around church, family and the community which they live. At home, the Amish communicate in a version of German known as 'Pennsylvania German'. They are people known for their quality of quilts and for their farming efficiency."

Migration to the United States took place in the 18th century after economic and political conditions combined with religious persecution, causing many of the Amish to leave Europe. Many initially settled in Pennsylvania in 1736.

A second wave of Amish arrived between 1817 and 1860.This group were more progressive in nature, discarding some of the traditions of their predecessors.
 
While enjoying a sense of unity and togetherness in the first part of the nineteenth century, the Amish movement would eventually find itself subject to its own divisions. In 1849, a conservative group broke away and it was ironically during a series of national meetings between 1862 and 1878 aimed at consolidating the movement that further divisions broke out between conservatives (Old Order Amish) and the liberals (Amish Mennonites).
 
Characteristics and practices 
The Amish adhere to the basic guidelines of the Schleitheim Articles which were developed in the 16th century during the rise of Anabaptism. They cover issues such as believer’s baptism, church leadership and separation from the outside world, as well as advocating for the separation of church and state and pacifism.
 
Details concerning practices and characteristics, however, can vary significantly between Amish communities, thus commonly held beliefs about the movement may not be applicable to certain groups of Amish.
 
The Old Order Amish are the largest Amish group. Steven Gertz, assistant editor of Christian History and Biography notes that the Old Order Amish "spurn motor vehicles, refuse public utilities, educate youth only up to eighth grade and meet in homes for worship”. In addition, their dress is plain, modest and conservative, with the men expected to grow beards and the women to cover their heads.
 
Among other branches of the Amish there is more of an acceptance and even an embracing of the modern world. This includes, according to Gertz, the use of public electricty, cars and corporate worship in meeting houses.

Ultimately each church district or individual congregation is autonomous in determining what it will and won’t accept.

Working simply as farmers and woodworkers, their life revolves around church, family and the community which they live. At home, the Amish communicate in a version of German known as 'Pennsylvania German'. They are people known for their quality of quilts and for their farming efficiency.
 
Worth noting is the practice by some Amish called “rumspringa” (running around). The term is used to describe a rite of passage which occurs when Amish children turn 16 and are given the option of experiencing the lifestyle of the outside world with the idea that they can make an informed choice to eventually be baptized and join the church of their own free will. It's been suggested that only around 10 per cent choose not to join the church but live the rest of their lives in society at large.
 
The Amish typically do not believe in insurance policies but instead rather rely on church and community support.They do not generally accept government welfare.
 
The Amish also don’t evangelize, with the majority of Amish being born into and raised in the faith. Recruiting is seen as consorting with the outside world. 
 
The Amish and contemporary culture
Separation from the outside world has created both tension and fascination between outsiders and the Amish. These tensions include those which have arisen with the US government over issues such as compulsory education, military service and payment of specific taxes. In all such instances, the Amish have been granted legal exemptions.
 
Despite the tensions, however, the Amish way of life has proved popular with the outside world and spawned an economically beneficial tourist trade. People are fascinated by such things as the special parking bays at a supermarket in Illinois which have been earmarked for the horse and buggies that the Amish travel in and there's even been a reality television program called Amish in the City which sought to highlight lifestyle distinctions between city children and Amish children.

 
Today's 180,000 Amish adults reside in communities in 22 states of America, with the largest contingent located in the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. A further 1,500 hundred who live in Canada.
 

Sources and where to go for further information:

• Kuiper, B.K. The Church in History. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reprinted 2002.

• Gertz, Steven. Outsider’s Guide to America’s Anabaptists. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/2004/004/2.22.html  

• www.religioustolerance.org/amish.htm

• www.answers.com/topic/amish