Ep. 69 The Amish -

The Amish (Pennsylvania German: Amisch; German: Amische), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German and Alsatian (French) origins.

Anabaptist

The Anabaptist movement, from which the Amish later emerged, started in circles around Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) who led the early Reformation in Switzerland.

In Zürich on January 21, 1525, Conrad Grebel and George Blaurock practiced believer’s baptism to each other and then to others.

This Swiss movement, part of the Radical Reformation, later became known as Swiss Brethren.

The term Amish was first used as a Schandename (a term of disgrace) in 1710 by opponents of Jakob Amman, an Anabaptist leader.

The early Anabaptists formulated their beliefs in a confession of faith called the Schleitheim Confession. In 1527, Michael Sattler presided over a meeting at Schleitheim (in the Canton of Schaffhausen, on the Swiss-German border), where Anabaptist leaders drew up the Schleitheim Confession of Faith (doc. 29).

Sattler was arrested and executed soon afterwards. Anabaptist groups varied widely in their specific beliefs, but the Schleitheim Confession represents foundational Anabaptist beliefs as well as any single document can.

Anabaptists believe that baptism is valid only when candidates freely confess their faith in Christ and request to be baptized.

This believer’s baptism is opposed to baptism of infants, who are not able to make a conscious decision to be baptized. Anabaptists trace their heritage to the Radical Reformation of the 16th century.

Anabaptism was never established by any state and therefore never enjoyed any associated privileges. Most Anabaptists adhere to a literal interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7, which teaches against hate, killing, violence, taking oaths, participating in use of force or any military actions, and against participation in civil government.

Anabaptists view themselves as primarily citizens of the kingdom of God, not of earthly governments.

The Beginnings of Amish People

In 1536, a young Catholic priest from Holland named Menno Simons joined the Anabaptist movement.

His writings and leadership united many of the Anabaptist groups, who were nicknamed “Mennonites.” In 1693, a Swiss bishop named Jacob Amman broke from the Mennonite church.

His followers were called the “Amish.” Although the two groups have split several times, the Amish and Mennonite churches still share the same beliefs concerning baptism, non-resistance, and basic Bible doctrines.

The Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Mennonite Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann.

Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish. In the second half of the 19th century, the Amish divided into Old Order Amish and Amish Mennonites; the latter do not abstain from using motor cars, whereas the Old Order Amish retained much of their traditional culture.

When people refer to the Amish today, they normally refer to the Old Order Amish, though there are other subgroups of Amish.

There were only about 5000 Amish in the year 1900. As of 2021, over 350,000 Old Order Amish lived in the United States, and about 6,000 lived in Canada: a population that is rapidly growing, as the Amish generally do not use birth control.

The first informal division between Swiss Brethren was recorded in the 17th century between Oberländers (those living in the hills) and Emmentalers (those living in the Emmental ).

The Oberländers were a more extreme congregation; their zeal pushed them into more remote areas.

Swiss Anabaptism developed, from this point, in two parallel streams, most clearly marked by disagreement over the preferred treatment of “fallen” believers.

The Emmentalers (sometimes referred to as Reistians, after bishop Hans Reist, a leader among the Emmentalers) argued that fallen believers should only be withheld from communion, and not regular meals.

The Amish argued that those who had been banned should be avoided even in common meals. The Reistian side eventually formed the basis of the Swiss Mennonite Conference.

Coming To America

Amish began migrating to Pennsylvania, then-regarded favorably due to the lack of religious persecution and attractive land offers, in the early 18th century as part of a larger migration from the Palatinate and neighboring areas.

Between 1717 and 1750, approximately 500 Amish migrated to North America, mainly to the region that became Berks County, Pennsylvania, but later moved, motivated by land issues and by security concerns tied to the French and Indian War.

Many eventually settled in Lancaster County. A second wave of around 1,500 arrived around the mid 19th century and settled mostly in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and southern Ontario.

Most of these late immigrants eventually did not join the Old Order Amish but more liberal groups.

The Amish and Mennonites both settled in Pennsylvania as part of William Penn’s “holy experiment” of religious tolerance. The first sizable group of Amish arrived in Lancaster County in the 1720s or 1730s.

There are actually three families, or Anabaptist-related groups, found in Lancaster County: the Amish, Mennonites and Brethren.

All three groups share the Anabaptist belief that calls for making a conscious choice to accept God. (Accordingly, only adults are baptized.)

The three groups also share the same basic values concerning the all-encompassing authority of the Bible, a philosophy of brotherhood and non-resistance and the importance of family and community.

The Amish have their roots in the Mennonite community. Both were part of the early Anabaptist movement in Europe, which took place at the time of the Reformation.

The Anabaptists believed that only adults who had confessed their faith should be baptized, and that they should remain separate from the larger society.

Many early Anabaptists were put to death as heretics by both Catholics and Protestants, and many others fled to the mountains of Switzerland and southern Germany.

Here began the Amish tradition of farming and holding worship services in homes rather than churches.

In the years after 1850, tensions rose within individual Amish congregations and between different Amish congregations.

Between 1862 and 1878, yearly Dienerversammlungen (ministerial conferences) were held at different places, concerning how the Amish should deal with the tensions caused by the pressures of modern society.

The meetings themselves were a progressive idea; for bishops to assemble to discuss uniformity was an unprecedented notion in the Amish church.

By the first several meetings, the more traditionally minded bishops agreed to boycott the conferences.

^{Religious Practices}

Two key concepts for understanding Amish practices are their rejection of Hochmut (pride, arrogance, haughtiness) and the high value they place on Demut (humility) and Gelassenheit (calmness, composure, placidity), often translated as “submission” or “letting be”.

The Amish’s willingness to submit to the “Will of Jesus“, expressed through group norms, is at odds with the individualism so central to the wider American culture.

The Amish anti-individualist orientation is the motive for rejecting labor-saving technologies that might make one less dependent on the community.

Modern innovations such as electricity might spark a competition for status goods, or photographs might cultivate personal vanity.

Electric power lines would be going against the Bible, which says that you shall not be “conformed to the world”

One of the teachings of the Amish faith is called the ban or shunning. This is based on the New Testament command not to associate with a church member who does not repent of his sinful conduct.

The purpose of this discipline is to help the member realize the error of his ways and to encourage his repentance, after which he would be restored to church fellowship.

This excommunication was at first only applied at the communion table. However, the followers of Jacob Amman felt the unrepentant individual should be completely shunned or avoided by all church members.

This belief, along with other differences, led to Amman’s split with the Mennonites in 1693. Where do the Amish get their name? Jacob Amman’s followers were later called “Amish“.

Pennsylvania Amish

Humility, family, community, and separation from the world are the mainstays of the Amish. Everyday life and custom are governed by an unwritten code of behaviour called the Ordnung, and shunning (Meidung) remains an integral way in which the community deals with disobedient members.

In formal religious doctrine, the Amish differ little from the Mennonites. Holy Communion is celebrated twice each year, and foot washing is practiced by both groups.

Persons are baptized when they are admitted to formal membership in the church, about the age of 17 to 20 years.

Religious services are conducted in High German, and Pennsylvania Dutch (see Pennsylvania German)—an admixture of High German, various German dialects, and English—is spoken at home and is common in daily discourse.

The services are held on a rotating basis in family homes and barns.

A large wagon, filled with benches for the service and dishes and food for the meal that follows, will often be pulled to the host’s property.

In most Amish homes a special place is reserved alongside the Bible for the Martyr’s Mirror, a book chronicling Amish history and honouring the many Amish, Mennonite, and Anabaptist forebears who died for their faith.

The Buggy

Although the buggies are traditional boxlike vehicles, they are not always black, as commonly thought; some of them are white, gray, or even yellow, and many Amish and Mennonite groups can be distinguished by their chosen colour of buggy.

The buggies may also be equipped with such modern conveniences as heaters, windshield wipers, and upholstered seats.

The Amish pay for the upkeep on the roads because the horse shoes that are on the horses pound into the pavement in a way that car tires do not. The communities that live adjacent to the Amish lobbied for them to start pitching in and they do.

School

Amish children typically attend one-room schools run by the community, and they attend school only through the eighth grade; this eighth-grade limit in the United States was deemed acceptable by a 1972 Supreme Court ruling.

Instruction is in English and concentrates on the basics of reading, writing, and math. Amish history and practical farming and homemaking skills are also taught.

Rumspringa

Rumspringa, (Pennsylvania Dutch: “running around”) a rite of passage and period of growth in adolescence for some Amish youths, during which time they face fewer restrictions on their behaviour and are not subject to the Ordnung (German: “order”), the specific system of unwritten community norms that governs their sect.

Not all Amish communities have the practice of rumspringa, but, among those that do, it usually starts at age 16.

It is not always as TV tells it. A lot of Amish kids will remain at their parents house on the farm and just be allowed to use electricity and buy a car if they want.

The length of rumspringa is indeterminate, a matter of personal choice. It continues until the adolescent decides to join the church and be baptized as an adult member, accepting the responsibilities that entails.

Most young adults make their decisions before age 23, the majority deciding within two years.

The Furniture

Amish furniture is furniture manufactured by the Amish, primarily of Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. It is generally known as being made completely out of wood, usually without particle board or laminate.

Amish furniture first gained attention in the 1920s, when early American folk art was “discovered”, and dealers and historians placed great value upon the beauty and quality of the pieces. Many different styles of Amish furniture emerged.

The Jonestown School began in the late 18th century in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The Jonestown School is most widely known for painted blanket chests decorated with flowers on three panels.

Examples of these chests are on display at both the Smithsonian Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Because Amish beliefs prevent the use of electricity, many woodworking tools in Amish shops are powered by hydraulic and pneumatic power that is run on diesel compressors.

Most communities permit some technology, and allowances can be made in the case of woodworking, as the craft often supports multiple families within the community.

The Language

Pennsylvania Dutch

The Outfits

I never knew that the clothes that Amish women wear signify their place in life. Each one of the new pieces of clothes gives the women more respect and responsibility.

Long apron for little girls.

When girls get to be 10-12 they switch from the long apron to a distinct cape and apron.

Black prayer hats for the women who are single and then white when they are married.

Black Amish?

There are several Amish groups that allow some form of racial diversity including the Beachy Amish, the New Order Amish, and the Old Order River Brethren.

The Old Order Amish however do not allow any form of racial diversity. The Amish believe that all humans are equal in God’s eyes and that there should be no discrimination on the basis of race.

While the exact number is unknown it is estimated that there are around 20 black Amish families in Ohio. The black Amish families are believed to be descended from formerly enslaved people who converted to the Amish faith.

Vacation Like The Amish

Directly from the Lancaster, PA tourism website

Good morning from Amish Country! Before you dive into the Amish culture that Lancaster County is known for, start off with a traditional breakfast that will sustain you until lunchtime. Both Hershey Farm Restaurant and Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord offer delicious breakfast options, and are ideally located near the places you’ll explore.

After breakfast, it’s time to learn. Start your Amish experience at one of Lancaster’s Amish house and farm experiences, hop on a bus tour of the countryside, or stop by the Mennonite Information Center to get some knowledge of who the Amish and Mennonites are.

Amish Village and Backroads Bus Tour is a 12-acre village featuring a guided house tour, a lesson in a traditional one-room schoolhouse, farm animals, and the chance to tour the countryside and see Amish working in the fields. After the tour, wander the village for a peaceful morning experience.
Estimated Time: 1-3 hours

Amish Farm & House offers a living heritage experience where guests can learn about the Amish through a farm tour, ride on the “scooter run,” tour of an authentic schoolhouse, and even a 90-minute bus tour. After the tour, wander the peaceful 15-acre farm and be sure to ask penty of questions!
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours

Mennonite Life Visitors Center provides information and insight into the life and beliefs of Amish and Mennonites in Lancaster, PA. For even more knowledge from a local guide, your family can request a step-on guide to take you on a tour around the county in your own car. They’ll take you to places of interest that go beyond the living heritage attractions.
Estimated Time: 2-3 hours for a tour plus visit to the Visitors Center

For lunch, you can choose from a variety of spots specializing in PA Dutch classics: Dienner’s Country Restaurant (PA Dutch classics served buffet-style), or Dutch Country Soft Pretzels (hand-twisted soft pretzels, pretzel wraps, and sandwiches served on freshly baked pretzel rolls).

After lunch it’s time to dive back into the Amish culture with an in-depth tour, buggy ride, or even a ride through Amish Country on a scooter.

How does dessert first sound? Make Lapp Valley Farm your go-to ice cream spot when in Lancaster, PA. They’re making their ice cream from dairy straight from the farm. Enjoy a tasty treat – possibly a freshly made waffle cone – then explore the farm. You can catch a glimpse into the milking process and even visit with baby cows.

Wrap up the day at Shady Maple Smorgasbord where there is two-hundred feet of deliciously authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. Or stop by Yoder’s Restaurant for a more intimate experience, but with the same great PA Dutch dishes. While you’re in the area be sure to swing by Country Crafts for locally made items.

As the evening fades, consider staying on the farm for an extra glimpse into Lancaster County life.

Stay on the farm for an extra glimpse into Lancaster County life.

Beacon Hollow Farm Amish Guest House is open for visitors to stay on a working Amish dairy farm in the heart of Amish Country. A stay on this farm provides the chance to unwind, unplug, and refresh after a day of learning. Relax by the creek as you watch the Amish work in their farms.

Neffdale Farm of Paradise gives guests the chance to relax in the country, while still being close to the Lancaster County action. A stay at this farm gives you a real life look into life on the farm, while offering a comfortable stay.

Verdant View Farm Bed & Breakfast welcomes guests to rise and shine, put on their boots, and take part in the morning chores. While staying at Verdant View, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep followed by a family-style, farm-to-table breakfast with fresh eggs, Amish-made yogurt, and breads with home-made jam.

Work Cited:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish