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Amish BackgroundSECTION ONE – THE AMISH
In the 16th Century a group called the Swiss Anabaptists broke away from the Catholic Church. These Anabaptists were followers of Menno Simmons of Holland. They are the forerunners of today’s Mennonites and are the root of today’s Amish traditions. The Anabaptists received their name because they believed that children should not be baptized until a young man or woman is ready to join the church out of their own free will, whether it be at age 16 or as late as 26.
The Anabaptists were reformers who criticized the priests of the day for corrupt teaching and loose living. . They also objected to the formal ritual of the holy mass. As a result of their clash with the Church they were persecuted and some were burned. In February of 1527, several Anabaptist leaders, including Jacob Amman, an Anabaptist elder and spokesman from whom the Amish derive their name, met in a secret conference from which they issued a declaration of brotherly union called The Schleitheim Articles. These Articles defined a Christian brotherhood living together in a community and is still a cornerstone of Amish living. In order to worship they had to go underground, thus starting the current Amish tradition of worshipping in homes. The source of the Amish split from Anabaptism is in their acceptance and observance of the Dordrecht Confession of 1632. This document, in addition to excommunication, also endorses the practices of social avoidance (Meidung), which we know as shunning, and footwashing.
As a result of continuing persecution, the Amish began to emigrate to North America. More specifically, they went to Pennsylvania that under William Penn’s charter had become a haven for those suffering from religious persecution. Amish migration in the 18th century was highest between 1727 and 1770. The ship that carried the most Amish passengers was the Charming Nancy which arrived in Philadelphia in 1737. Most Amish groups in Pennsylvania settled in Lancaster county. Others continued to move farther west. Two sizeable communities are in Ohio and Indiana and there are Amish groups in over thirty states and Canada.
In most segments of American society the emphasis is on the individual and on individual success. In the Amish culture all emphasis is on the community. Many of the important differences in the Amish way of life are defined by the Amish Charter. The Amish Charter is an unwritten set of customs, rules and beliefs that all Amish people strive to uphold and use as a guide in their daily lives.The basic concepts of Amish culture can best be described by the German word and concept Gelassenheit: which includes personality, symbols, structure, ritual, and values Gelassenheit teaches Amish to be reserved, modest, calm, and quiet. It is a way of thinking about one's relationship with God and to become completely submissive to God's authority. It also has a great emphasis on serving and respecting others in the community. It includes the ideas of a modest way of acting, talking, dressing, and walking. And it is also a way of stucturing social life so that communities remain small and simple.
The Amish are totally dedicated to the way of life which they defined for themselves in the 16th century. Just as it did then, it continues to be a way of life that is separate form the outside world. The Amish are constantly striving to keep their lives simple and focused on the Christian morals, traditions, and customs which have been theirs since they were founded. They are intent on adopting only those technologies which help to keep their lives simple and permit only limited technologies to enter their homes. They make their choices carefully. They don’t permit commercial electricity in their homes but they will use generators to make their own for specific uses such as carpentry. They don’t own telephones but will use nearby telephones in telephone huts. They don’t own automobiles but will accept a ride in an automobile when it is necessary to cover longer distances. Maintaining the proper balance of the use of technology within their customs and traditions requires constant vigilance. Farming is a source of income that integrates well with their striving for a simple life and centuries of traditions. Carpentry is another that fits well even though it requires a little more use of technology.
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