...Cultural Research: The Amish Culture Nilaja Gardner ANT 101 Cultural Anthropology Prof. Bethany Heywood July 2nd, 2012 The Amish Culture Introduction The Amish people are the epitome of what one would consider plain, ordinary, boring, and prude (perhaps next to the modern day view of Muslims). Their name is often synonymous with quality furniture, crafts, and food items. Originating from Switzerland, the Amish have managed to maintain a safe distance from the rest of the world’s influence and immorality, strengthening family ties and maintaining subsistence through agrarianism. This essay serves to explore the kinship, beliefs and social organization of the Amish Culture. Agrarianism, and Freundschaft (Kinship) The Amish maintain a strong sense of community and kinship by way of agrarian lifestyle. Agriculture is a form of adherence to spiritual and manmade (Biblical and Ordung) laws that The Amish follow. Agrarianism is compatible with the doctrine of separation to the world (Hostetler, J., 1964). By isolating themselves from the city, Amish communities avoid what they believe to be sinfulness, sloth, and frivolousness. Man occupies his right place in “the garden”; the plants and animals created by God (Hostetler, J., 1964). Agrarianism separates Amish families from worldliness. By farming their own land and raising their own livestock, this creates self-sufficiency. The need to exit the community for food is alleviated. The hands-on labor creates...
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...The Amish Culture The Amish are a fascinating people. They live surrounded by cities full of technology. Yet they live without automobiles, electricity, and most modern comforts that are taken for granted by many. Donald Kraybill asks the question “How is it that a tradition-laden people who spurn electricity, computers, automobiles, and higher education are not merely surviving but are, in fact, thriving in the midst of modern life?” Though they do not have all of the technology that we take for granted, they live richer lives than many non-Amish people. because gender relations are accepted amongst others in the community, they have strong beliefs, traditions and values, and kinship is important. In the Amish community, they rely heavily on their agriculture as a mode of subsistence. This is known as being an agrarian society. Though they have other means of sustenance, they recognize the importance of agriculture to the community. Amish culture does not use electricity or other modern conveniences. This makes the farming a longer process, as this is their means of survival. They have other means for livelihood but farming is their main job. Some build furniture to sell to the surrounding communities. Others will farm for non-amish employers. “Some stereotypes of Amish life imply that they reject technology and live in a nineteenth-century cocoon. Such images are false. The Amish adopt technology selectively, hoping that the tools they use will build community...
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...The Amish Culture: A Blueprint for a Strong Family Unit Sherletrice Spencer ANT101 Dr. Elena Lattarulo May 21, 2012 The Amish Culture: A Blueprint for a Strong Family Unit The Amish are an old religious sect and trace their heritage to the Swiss Anabaptists of sixteenth century Europe (Kraybill, 2001, pg. 3). Their existence both socially and economically revolve around the church, family, and their resistance to many forms of modern technology and conveniences. The Amish choose to live apart from modern society to maintain unity among its members but most important, to shield themselves from the temptations of the modern world. The ways of the Amish are a page out of the past, but they embrace many values that are lacking in modern society today. They continue to survive and thrive because of their commitment to community survival, adherence to a strict social order, and a strong sense of family and values. The Amish, who are also known as “The Plain People” were founded by Jacob Amman. They initially belonged to a group called the Mennonites who believed in infant baptism and the unification of church and state. The Amish believed in separation of church and state and that people should only be baptized as adults because they believed one was old enough to make the decision about their religious choices as adults. With their vast differences, the Amish decided to break away from the Mennonites which made them a target of religious persecution; their beliefs...
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...First off, I would gain a better sense of community. Amish culture is all about depending on each other to survive. Also, you do everything with everyone. For example, you go to church with your community, you go to school with your community and you do all of your daily socialization with your community. I would enjoy becoming close with my neighbors and becoming like one big family. Another thing I would gain in the Amish culture is common sense. Common sense in modern society is outdated. We have technology that does everything for us. In Amish community’s, people have to rely on each other and think for themselves. For instance, if they wanted to know common information they could not just google it, they would have to either ask around or look it up in a book. An additional thing that I would gain from an Amish society is hope in the religion they provide. Through their religion, there is hope for the present time and hope for the afterlife. Furthermore, in Amish culture people are not lazy. I would become more active if I was a part of an Amish society. The Amish have to work for themselves and they have to walk many of the places they go. Children are raised up doing multiple daily chores in order to teach them obedience to the will of God. Lastly, there is a lot of equality in the Amish culture. Nobody is better than anyone else. Everyone dresses the same and nobody wears makeup. Everyone only has one goal and...
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...It is evident that religion is important to the Amish through their way of living and the way they dress. During a church service, men and women are separated, but both are sitting through a three or more hour plus service in connecting rooms. The parents set an example for the children on how to practice their faith. Every other Sunday, the Amish would go from one house to another for church. The families attend Sunday School, where there are taught about their religion. (amishnews). The Amish practice foot washing. Religious services were in High German, and Pennsylvanian Dutch. The Old Order of Amish would speak Pennsylvania Dutch. It is a dialect of German, also known as “Platt.” Musical instruments were not allowed in church...
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...Amish the Untouched Culture 2 The Amish are considered emerging agriculturalist because they continue to show signs of adapting to their surroundings. Amish culture revolves around agriculture. Farm life is practiced and passed on through ancestry. Farming is extremely important to the Amish culture because it is their primary source of subsistence. It is also a big part of what it means to be part of the Amish culture. Working on the farms helps the Amish community foster unity, family and self-reliance (Knight, 1980). Although the Amish are very skeptical about technology, they have adapted to technology that helps them conduct their daily farming activities. Farming includes raising livestock, cultivating soil, and producing many crops throughout the year. Some Amish order’s carry on a diversified agricultural program. They follow a four-year crop rotation system, typically planting corn for two years, oats for one year, and a hay crop for the fourth year (Schwieder & Schwieder, 2009). In keeping with the philosophy of stewardship, few Amish farmers use commercial fertilizer; instead they use large amounts of manure because they feel this is a superior method and a more natural one. Many Amish orders have this belief about using commercial products on their farm because they believe it to be possibly harmful to the body upon consumption (Weaver- Zercher, 2005). Amish life is rooted in the soil, which creates somewhat of a burden to some Amish families that completely...
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...Introduction: In America, the Amish religion began in the early 1700s--its small following has been growing in America ever since. Scientology has roots in the 1950s, and has significantly grown in popularity due to endorsements from very influential celebrity followers. The Branch Davidian once held a considerable following; however, in 1993, that came to a fiery end. In the United States, there is a growing interest in smaller religious groups; groups, that when looked further into, are at the center of much adversity. With growing popularity, juxtaposed with growing controversy, what is it that compels society to join these almost secular groups, instead of the traditional ideologies the nation was founded upon? At the arrival of this...
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...Rites of Passage – Amish and Jewish Cultures Student Name ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Instructor Date Rites of Passage – Amish and Jewish Cultures Many cultures in the world have traditional rites of passage that may seem strange to others. According to Crapo, rites of passages are “ceremonies… [undergone] whenever a member of society undergoes an important change in the status within the lifecycle of the group” (Crapo, 2013, p181). Rites of passage ceremonies are powerful and moving in beliefs that bring each person into his or her own path in life. Both Amish and Jewish cultures hold strong traditional and religious beliefs that are incorporated into every day activities. Traditional rites of passage can be special moments in any individual’s lifecycle, particularly when puberty or adulthood rituals occur. For many centuries the Amish have largely remained separated from the English. The Amish community refers to anyone outside of the Amish culture as English. Most Amish communities do not rely on the use of electricity, television, motorized vehicles and tractors. Women and men in the Amish culture live their lives with humility and submission to God, as well as, their parents and to the community and control their desires and reject luxurious and worldly pleasures (Films Media Group, 2005). The Amish do not believe in baptizing the younger individuals in the community. Rather they believe in allowing the young the opportunity to make...
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...The history of the Amish began in Switzerland. Amish live in various regions of the United States, but the largest and oldest Amish settlement is in Wisconsin. Sixty- Four percent Amish in Wisconsin have dairy herds on their farms. The religion the Amish practice is Anabaptist. William Fischel (2012) explains the Amish religion by stating, “Adult baptism must be freely chosen by both men and women, and the choice is usually made in their late teens. Baptism is not just a covenant between the deity and the person who chooses it. Those who accept baptism agree to submit to the congregation’s ordinances and understandings that are collectively known as the ordnung”. (p.110) This explains how Anabaptist is different than Baptist. According to Fischel (2012), the ordnung is what states “Amish may not own automobiles but may ride in vehicles operated by a non-Amish drives” (p.110). This also helps to...
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...their Anabaptist beliefs. The Amish, whose name is derived from that of Jacob Amman, a Swiss-German Mennonite, are among the most easily recognizable microcultures in America (Shachtman, 2006). Amish customs like dressing in a different manner, adorning beards, restricting the use of electricity, and utilizing the horse and buggy instead of automobiles definitely makes a bold statement that the Amish culture is drastically different than the mainstream macroculture. The film, Devil’s Playground, documents the struggle that Amish youth face when deciding whether or not to join the Amish church. The documentary provides an in-depth look into a muted group microculture that embraces privacy and collectivism much tighter than that of the dominant group within the United States. Devil’s Playground is a documentary focusing on Amish youth and a tradition within the Amish community called rumspringa. The film follows several teens from LaGrange County, Indiana, as they experience rumspringa and debate whether or not to join the church and become Amish. 18-year-old Faron is...
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...Running head: AMISH COMMUNITY 1 Amish Community Jennie Ong AMISH COMMUNITY 2 Abstract The Amish people are a community of individuals who hold their traditions of simple living, self-labor, and isolation very highly. Eastern parts of the United States as well as Canada are the most common areas where Amish communities are established. The group originated from Switzerland and received their name from their leader Jakob Ammann who, during the 18th century, led their immigration to Pennsylvania. Despite their customary values of seclusion, the Amish still experience the equal degrees of obstacles as any other organization may face. The Amish do not have the merchandises or products of the mainstream society, but they still remain successful in preserving their culture and beliefs by continuing to live with their traditional ways. AMISH COMMUNITY 3 Amish Community In the Western parts of the United States, it is uncommon to come across a person following the Amish culture but in most parts of Eastern America such as Pennsylvania Indiana, or even Canada, it is a norm. The Amish or Amish Mennonites are a group of Anabaptist Christians known for their simplistic living, old-fashioned clothing, and their opposition to modernization such as the use of electric appliances. Also known as “The Plain People” or Old Order Amish, they originated in Switzerland...
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...Paul Meister University of Phoenix Masters of Human Service Culture and Psychology February 16, 2014 Final Project I have chosen a collectivistic culture which is the Amish culture. A few details regarding the background of the Amish culture is they are most concentrated in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana with 273,700 adults and children and nearly 350 settlements in thirty states of the USA and in Ontario (Kuhnova, 2012) The Amish culture tries to live in nonconformity to the world. This is demonstrated by their dialect, their plain clothing, transportation of horse and buggy, and their housing, functioning to the outside world as distinction and to the inside community as confirmation of a shared identity (Kuhnova, 2012). This clothing style is uniform and leaves little room for individualism, although small differences are perceptible in sewing and cloths. Where for non-Amish this might sound like a limitation of freedom. They fear that owning a car leads to individualism, distinction, social inequality, and too much personal freedom (Vonk, 2012). The above behavior choices of the Amish cultural emphasize togetherness and reinforce group cohesion. According to Vonk (2011), “The community and its welfare are ranked above personal freedom and individual rights, what contradicts modern values such as individualism and self-expression the Amish receive a durable and visible ethnic identity” (pg. 68). The traditional community is quite separate from the outside world,...
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...Name: Course: Date: Amish Life Introduction The Amish are a group of Christians famous for their simple style of living. They originated from a group of Christians that followed Jakob Amman during the religious schism in Switzerland of the Alsatian Anabaptist. Membership into the Amish starts with a baptism, which often occurs between 18-25 years of age and the member, is expected to follow the Ordnung, which are guidelines on the Amish way of living (Clark 97). Every aspect about the Amish life is conservative; their dressing is conservative, simple, and targets a show of reservation and humility (Clark 107). Technology is shunned by the Amish, and their homes have minimal or no machinery at all (Kraybill and Oishal 19). The Amish appear to have a simple life with minimal problems compared to other cultures. This can be attributed to the high level of discipline practised in their communities. There are various aspects of Amish life that make it very attractive. For instance, Amish parents spend a lot of time with their children fostering good relationships within the family. Children are taught the value of family from an early age. As a result, there is a very low divorce rate among the Amish people. Over the years, the Amish people have registered one of the lowest depression rates globally. This can be attributed to their simple way of life that is safe from the hustles and bustles of the regular world. The numerous advantages of living an Amish life can be attributed...
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...The Amish People Theresa O’Donnell ANT101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Instructor: Geoff Wood May 16, 2012 The Amish People “The Amish people are an offshoot of the Mennonites, a religious group that was established in 1525, in Zurich, Switzerland” (Dana, 2007, p.1). These people came to America in 1683 in search of religious freedom and to escape European persecution. The Amish is named after Jakob Ammann, a man who “felt that the Mennonites were straying from a strictly religious background” (Dana, 2007, p.1). The Amish are quite simple people who choose not to let too much technology interfere with their lives, because they are afraid that if they become too modernized, their way of life will be destroyed. Therefore, they choose to remain focused on their families and their farms. In other words, “the Amish try to maintain cultural customs that preserve their identity” (Kraybill, 2000, para. 9), rather than stray away from their beliefs and values. The primary mode of subsistence for people of Amish descent comes from their farming, which is what makes them emerging agriculturalists. However, because of the world in which we live today, many Amish people have had to step outside the box and make slight adjustments to how they live in order to survive. This has an impact on many aspects of their life including their beliefs and values, their economic organizations, and their health care practices. Beliefs and Values One of the...
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...Amish Cultural Research Paper Amish Cultural Research Paper Imagine living in a society where the members socialize exclusively with each other and not with the outside world. The men of this society dress conservatively in dark colors sporting clean-shave until married when they switch to beards. The women, wearing only full skirts, wear their hair up in a bun and covered with a simple white cap or bonnet. The community, called an ordnung, decides how the community will be run from state to state. The culture itself keeps an arms distance from technology because they believe that it weakens the structure of the family. Planting and sowing of the fields is done by using horse drawn machinery and very rarely does the hum of anything fuel powered echo from the farms. Intermarriages are kept within the genetically isolated society to include first cousins and divorce is not tolerated. The Amish are a horticultural-based culture that consists of a society that is very conservative and strong on religion. The intent of this paper is to focus on the Amish culture, their primary mode of subsistence, and to identify three aspects of it impacted by this mode. History The Amish are a peace-loving, upright, religious group of people, settled happily in different parts of the United States and Canada. They disregard the modern way of life and are content to live their lives preparing for death and heavenly rewards by going without modern conveniences, such as electricity...
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