Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, entrückt vom rasenden Fortschritt des 21. Jahrhunderts, in der Pferdekutschen das Straßenbild prägen und das Gemeinschaftsleben über allem steht. Dieses Buch entführt Sie in die faszinierende und oft missverstandene Welt der Amish, einer Glaubensgemeinschaft, die seit Jahrhunderten an ihren Traditionen festhält. Tauchen Sie ein in die Geschichte dieser einzigartigen Gemeinschaft, von ihren Wurzeln in der europäischen Reformationszeit und der Verfolgung, die sie zur Auswanderung in die Neue Welt zwang, bis hin zu ihrer heutigen Existenz in den Vereinigten Staaten. Erfahren Sie mehr über ihren Glauben, der auf den Prinzipien der "Gelassenheit" und "Ordnung" basiert, und wie dieser ihr tägliches Leben bestimmt, von der einfachen Kleidung und der Ablehnung moderner Technologie bis hin zur Bedeutung von Familie und Gemeinde. Entdecken Sie die Herausforderungen, mit denen die Amish konfrontiert sind, von Konflikten mit staatlichen Gesetzen über Bildung bis hin zu den genetischen Konsequenzen ihrer abgeschiedenen Lebensweise. Doch jenseits der Klischees und Vorurteile offenbart sich eine Gemeinschaft mit einer tiefen spirituellen Überzeugung, einem starken Zusammenhalt und einer bemerkenswerten Fähigkeit, ihre Identität in einer sich ständig verändernden Welt zu bewahren. Dieses Buch bietet einen aufschlussreichen und unvoreingenommenen Einblick in die Lebensweise, die Überzeugungen und die Zukunft der Amish, einer Gemeinschaft, die uns lehrt, über den wahren Wert von Einfachheit, Glauben und Gemeinschaft nachzudenken. Es ist eine Reise in eine andere Zeit, ein anderes Wertesystem, die den Leser dazu anregt, die eigene Lebensweise zu hinterfragen und die Schönheit des langsamen Lebens zu entdecken. Die Amish sind mehr als nur eine Glaubensgemeinschaft; sie sind ein lebendiges Beispiel für Widerstandsfähigkeit, Tradition und die Kraft der Gemeinschaft, Werte, die in der modernen Welt oft verloren gehen. Lassen Sie sich von ihrer Geschichte inspirieren und entdecken Sie die Weisheit, die in ihrer einfachen Lebensweise verborgen liegt.
THE AMISH
1.History of the Amish people
- roots in Mennonite community, a part of the Anabaptist movement in Europe at the time of Reformation
- 1693 Jacob Amman, a Swiss bishop, broke from the Mennonite church, his followers were called “Amish“
- persecution in Switzerland and the Netherlands made the Amish scatter into many countries in order to find religious freedom
- the Amish settled in Pennsylvania as a part of William Penn’s “holy experiment“ of religious tolerance
- the most famous Amish group are the Pennsylvania Dutch, other groups are in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio
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photo from the film “Whitness“
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a horse buggy with warning triangle
2.Amish life and customs
-men usually dress in a plain, dark colorod suit,
women wear a plain colored dress with long sleeves, bonnet and apron
- they speak a German dialect (Pennsylvania Dutch) usually, during worship they use Standard German, children learn English at school
- Amish children visit schools run by Amish, formal education beyond grade eight is discouraged
- the father is the head of the household, his wife is subordinate, children grow up with identifying the parent of their sex
- they do not use electricity, they use gas
- religious services take place in the homes of members biweekly on Sunday
- they do not collect social security benefits, unemployment insurance or welfare
- the Supreme Court ruled that Amish who are self-employed don’t have to pay Social Security tax
- they don't take photographs based on The Second Commandment:
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that...is in the earth...“
- funerals are conducted in the home without an eulogy, flower decorations, or other display, the casket is plain, a simple tombstone is errected
- they have horse-buggies instead of cars
- most Amish are farmers
-·Amish women are famous for making quilts
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Amish farm
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Amish school-building
3. Amish beliefs
- two basic principles: Gelassenheit (e.g. work satisfies more than consumption) and Ordnung (e.g. hierarchical structures in family)
- 1527 some Anabaptist leaders held a secret conference, where a declaration of “brotherly union“ was made, The Schleitheim Articles, which captured the Swiss Anabaptist’s view of a Christian life in community
- still a basic guideline for the Amish today
-follow a strict and literal interpretation of the bible (e.g. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.“ this explains why they choose to live simply and without fanfare)
consequences:
-they remain separate from the rest of the world
-they reject involvement with military or warfare
-a member who falls into sinful action is to be excommunicated, other Amish should avoid him, they call this shunning or Meidung an excommunicated person must leave the community, he can only try to join another Amish community
-baptism of adults(between twelve and sixteen years), children visit worship with their parents
-vow of obedience to god
-closeness to nature(e. g. they refuse to use electricity or cars)
-life should be as simple as possible
-everything they do must make sense(e.g. Amish children don’t learn geography or physics at school because this is abstract thinking)
- their central aim in life is to serve god and to get as much children as possible
4. Amish problems and conflicts
- education: Amish are against formal schooling after 8th grade, this conflicted with many state laws 1972 Supreme Court ruled that the states could not constitutionally force Amish to send their children to public high schools
- inherited disorders because of their limited gen pool(e.g. metabolic disorders)
- accidents between horse buggies and cars on highways
- there are some prejudices about the Amish, they are thought to be “archaic“
5.Developement and changes of the Amish situation
- from the oldest group the Old Order Amish split two other groups:
- the more liberal Beachy Amish Church and the New Order Amish
- nowadays, Amish people seem to become a "tourist attraction“, so for some groups it has already become their main income€commercialization of the Amish; economic advantages, decreasing the gap between the Amish and the outside world
6.Amish“Verhoodled“ English Phrases
-Go throw the cows over the fence some hay.
-Take this road till it gets all, then turn the corner around left.
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McCarrick, Judith: Exploring the United States, 1985,
Frequently asked questions
What is the history of the Amish people?
The Amish originated from the Mennonite community, a part of the Anabaptist movement during the Reformation in Europe. In 1693, Jacob Amman, a Swiss bishop, broke away from the Mennonite church, and his followers became known as "Amish." Due to persecution in Switzerland and the Netherlands, the Amish dispersed to various countries seeking religious freedom. They settled in Pennsylvania as part of William Penn's "holy experiment" of religious tolerance. The most well-known group is the Pennsylvania Dutch, with other communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio.
What are some Amish customs and aspects of their life?
Amish men typically wear plain, dark-colored suits, while women wear plain colored dresses with long sleeves, bonnets, and aprons. They primarily speak a German dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch and use Standard German during worship. Children learn English at school, which are often run by Amish. Formal education beyond grade eight is generally discouraged. The father is the head of the household, and the family structure is patriarchal. They avoid using electricity, using gas instead. Religious services are held biweekly on Sundays in members' homes. They do not collect social security benefits, unemployment insurance, or welfare. They abstain from taking photographs based on a strict interpretation of The Second Commandment. Funerals are simple and without elaborate displays. They use horse-buggies instead of cars, and many are farmers. Amish women are also known for their quilting.
What are the core beliefs of the Amish?
The Amish follow two main principles: Gelassenheit, emphasizing contentment with work over consumption, and Ordnung, which governs hierarchical structures in the family and community. The Schleitheim Articles of 1527, a declaration of "brotherly union" made by Anabaptist leaders, still serves as a guideline for community living. They adhere to a strict and literal interpretation of the bible, such as the teaching "Love not the world," which explains their simple lifestyle.
What are the consequences of their beliefs?
They remain separate from the rest of the world, reject involvement in military or warfare. A member who commits a sinful act is excommunicated, and other Amish shun or Meidung him. Excommunicated persons must leave the community and can only try to join another Amish community. They practice adult baptism (between twelve and sixteen years of age), and children attend worship with their parents. They vow obedience to God, maintain a closeness to nature (refusing electricity and cars), lead simple lives, and prioritize practicality. Their main life goal is to serve God and have as many children as possible.
What are some of the problems and conflicts faced by the Amish?
Education beyond the 8th grade has been a conflict with state laws, though the Supreme Court ruled in 1972 that states cannot force Amish children to attend public high schools. They face inherited disorders due to a limited gene pool. Accidents involving horse buggies and cars on highways are an issue. There are some prejudices about the Amish, who are sometimes considered "archaic".
How has the Amish situation developed and changed?
From the oldest group, the Old Order Amish, two other groups split off: the more liberal Beachy Amish Church and the New Order Amish. Nowadays, Amish people seem to be becoming a "tourist attraction," and for some groups, this has become their primary income, leading to the commercialization of the Amish. This offers economic advantages, but may decrease the gap between the Amish and the outside world.
- Quote paper
- Kerstin Benedikt (Author), 2001, The Amish. History, Life and Customs, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/101371
