Amish Beliefs
What are the beliefs of the Amish?
The Amish believe that:
The Bible is the inspired word of God
There is one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Romans
8:1-17).
God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, Jesus, to die on the
cross for the sins of the world.
Through faith in the shed blood of Jesus we are reconciled to God.
Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, a free gift bestowed by God on
those who repent and believe.
As Christians, we should live as brothers
The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, and also empowers believers for service and
holy living.
The church is separate from the State
We are committed to peace.
Faith calls for a lifestyle of discipleship and good works service and holy
living.
Do the Amish practice shunning fellow church members?
The term church members means those who are baptized as adults and voluntarily
commit themselves to a life of obedience to
God and the church. Yes, those who break their baptismal vows are shunned by
the Old Order Amish. Belonging is important
and shunning is meant to be redemptive. It is not an attempt to harm or ruin
the individual and in most cases it does bring that
member back into the fellowship again. Actually, the number of members
excommunicated and shunned by the Amish is small.
The Biblical basis for shunning is found in these two verses:
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called
a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or
an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat
with such a one (I Corinthians 5:11)
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and of fences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17)
The families of a shunned member are expected to also shun them. Families shun
the person by not eating at the same table with
them. The practice of shunning makes family gatherings especially awkward.
Do the Amish look upon the rest of society, those who are
not of an Anabaptist tradition, as heathen?
The Amish have deliberately made decisions as to what will or will not be
allowed among members of the Amish community.
The Amish do not pass judgment on outsiders.
The Amish and The Modern World
Why don't the Amish use electricity?
Amish people interpret linking with electrical wires as a connection with the
world - and the Bible tells them they are not to be
conformed to the world. (Romans 12:2) In 1919 the Amish leaders agreed that
connecting to power lines would not be in the
best interest of the Amish community. They did not make this decision because
they thought electricity was evil in itself, but
because easy access to it could lead to many temptations and the deterioration
of church and family life.
Most of us today would think it impossible to live without the modern
conveniences such as electricity and cars. What makes
the Old Order Amish unique is not that they get along without modernity, but
that they choose to do without it when it would be
readily available. The Amish value simplicity and self-denial over comfort,
convenience and leisure. Their lifestyle is a deliberate
way of separating from the world and maintaining self-sufficiency. (Amish are
less threatened by power shortages caused by
storm, disaster, or war.) As a result there is a bonding that unites the Amish
community and protects it from outside influences
such as television, radios, and other influences.
Do the Amish believe in gas power?
Yes, the Amish use gas. Bottled gas is used to operate water heaters, modern
stoves and refrigerators. Gas-pressured lanterns
and lamps are used to light homes, barns, and shops.
The Amish don't own automobiles, but it is common to see
them riding in other peoples' vehicles. Why will Amish ride in automobiles if
they will not own them?
Maintaining Amish standards, but accepting some modernization to meet needs of
living, requires compromise that must not
disrupt the social structure. By rejecting certain types of modernity and
accepting others, some Amish appear to the outside
world to be contradicting themselves - hypocrites. However, from the viewpoint
of Amish culture, there is no contradiction.
One of the more pronounced inconsistencies is the use of an
automobile...although he may not own a car, a member may
accept rides and willingly hires an automobile with a driver to transport him
from place to place. There was little hesitation when
the Amish decided no to car ownership. It would separate the community in
various ways. If only wealthy members could
afford it, the car would bring inequality. Proud individuals would use it to
show off their status, power and wealth. Cars would
speed things up dramatically, disrupting the slow pace of Amish living. So,
they will use them but not own them, for then things
will surely get out of control.
Do the Amish use modern medicine and doctors?
Most Amish and Mennonite groups to not oppose modern medicine. Their readiness
to seek health services varies from family
to family. Nothing in the Amish understanding of the Bible forbids them from
using modern medical services, including surgery,
hospitalization, dental work, anesthesia, blood transfusions, etc. They do
believe, however, that good health, both physical and
mental, is a gift from God and requires careful stewardship on the part of the
individual. With few exceptions, physicians rate
the Amish as desirable patients: they are stable, appreciative, and their bills
will be paid. They do not have hospitalization
insurance, but they band together to help pay medical expenses for anyone of
their group who needs financial assistance. A
designated leader in the Amish community is given responsibility for their
mutual aid fund.
Why do Old Order Amish not like having their pictures
taken?
Old Order Amish and Mennonites forbid photography of their people, and their
objection is based on the second commandment,
Exodus 20:4: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
The Amish and the Government
Do the Amish pay taxes?
Self-employed Amish do not pay Social Security tax. Those employed by non-
Amish employers do pay Social Security tax.
The Amish do pay real estate, state and federal income taxes, county taxes,
sales tax, etc.
The Amish do not collect Social Security benefits, nor would they collect
unemployment or welfare funds. Self sufficiency is the
Amish community's answer to government aid programs. Section 310 of the
Medicare section of the Social Security act has a
sub-section that permits individuals to apply for exemption from the
self-employment tax if he is a member of a religious body
that is conscientiously opposed to Social Security benefits but that makes
reasonable provision of taking care of their own
elderly or dependent members. The Amish have a long history of taking care of
their own members. They do not have
retirement communities or nursing homes; in most cases, each family takes care
of their own, and the Amish community gives
assistance as needed.
Is it true the Amish are exempt from Medicare and Medicaid
withholding? What legal basis is used for this?
Medicare and Medicaid are a part of the Social Security system. Old Order Amish
believe that if the church is faithful to its
calling, many government programs and commercial insurance are not needed. That
conviction forced them to testify before
Congress because they did not want to receive Social Security benefits. What
they wanted instead was the right to look after
their own elderly. They were finally given approval, if self-employed, to be
exempt from paying the tax. Seldom do Old Order
Amish individuals accept Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.
Amish Life
Why do Amish men have beards, but not mustaches?
There are quite a few scriptures that mention beards in the Bible. An example
would be Psalm 133:1,2. An Amishman does not
shave his beard after he becomes married. A long beard is the mark of an adult
Amishman. Mustaches, on the other hand, have
a long history of being associated with the military, and therefore are
forbidden among the Amish people.
What is the
Ordnung
that the Amish live by?
Donald B. Kraybill in his book, The Riddle of Amish Culture, writes: "The Amish
blueprint for expected behavior, called the
Ordnung, regulates private, public, and ceremonial life. Ordnung does not
translate readily into English. Sometimes rendered as
ordnance or discipline, the Ordnung is best thought of as an ordering of the
whole way of life... a code of conduct which the
church maintains by tradition rather than by systematic or explicit rules. A
member noted: The order is not written down. The
people just know it, that's all. Rather than a packet or rules to memorize, the
Ordnung is the understood behavior by which the
Amish are expected to live. In the same way that the rules of grammar are
learned by children, so the Ordnung, the grammar of
order, is learned by Amish youth. The Ordnung evolved gradually over the
decades as the church sought to strike a delicate
balance between tradition and change. Specific details of the Ordnung vary
across church districts and settlements."
Why are all the buggies black?
Throughout the United States and in Canada not all buggies are black. The
similarity of Amish carriages in any given area
allows little for status, but speaks of all being equal. Therefore, members of
a particular group can be identified by the buggies
they drive. In Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, for example, there are five
distinct groups of Old Order Amish living in the
Kishacoquillas Valley. The two most conservative groups drive white-topped
buggies, another has yellow tops, and two others
use black buggies. In Lancaster County, PA, the Old Order Amish drive gray
buggies and the Old Order Mennonites drive
black buggies.
What language do the Amish speak?
In their homes and in conversations with each other, the Old Order Amish speak
Pennsylvania Dutch, which is a dialect of
German. We understand that it is similar to Platt that is spoken in parts of
northern Germany. When children go to school they
learn English. In their worship services the sermons are given in German. The
German language, Deitch, is also taught in Amish
schools.
How does a barn raising work?
A barn-raising is a community endeavor for the Amish. At daybreak, the Amish
buggies arrive at the farm where the barn is to
be erected. An experienced Amish carpenter/contractor is in charge and men are
assigned to various areas of work. Often the
framing is completed before the noon meal and in the afternoon the roofing is
installed. Meanwhile, the women are preparing a
delicious noon meal, sometimes served outdoors. There is always prayer before a
meal is served. The children play games and
are available to run errands. But they also have a most exciting day as
spectators at a truly amazing project of brotherly
love---building a barn in one day.
Do the Amish still milk their cows by hand?
Very few Amish, if any, do their milking by hand. Today they have modern
milking equipment -- not electric, but operated by
alternate sources of power. In order to ship milk, the Amish must have modern
refrigerated milk tanks. They also have modern
barn-cleaning equipment. Children get involved in daily chores at a very early
age -- even before they start school. However,
the chores are suited to the age of the child.
What crops are grown on an Amish farm?
The main crops raised by Amish in order of acreage, are corn, hay, wheat,
tobacco, soybeans, barley, potatoes, and other
vegetables. Farmers also grow various grasses for grazing. Corn, grain, and hay
crops usually stay on the farm for feeding
livestock. Tobacco, potatoes, some grain and hay plus vegetables are raised for
marketing. Farming is done using horsedrawn
equipment with metal wheels. Rubber tires are not used.
What are the Amish courting rituals?
For many of the Old Order Amish young people, pairing up begins at Sunday
evening singings, The boy will take the girl home
in his buggy. The couple is secretive about their friendship and courtship.
Several days to two weeks before the wedding, the
couple is published in church and their intentions to marry are made known.
Weddings are held in November, or at the very
latest in early December. That's after the busy fall harvesting season is over.
Weddings are on Tuesdays or Thursdays-the least
busy days of the week on an Amish farm. The wedding is held at the home of the
bride and the sermon and ceremony will last
about four hours. Weddings usually begin at 8:30 a.m. There are no kisses,
rings, photography, flowers or caterers. There are
usually 200 or more guests. After the wedding there will be a delicious dinner
of chicken, filling, mashed potatoes, gravy, ham,
relishes, canned fruit, plus many kinds of cookies, cakes and pies.
Do Amish women still use midwives for childbirth?
Some Amish women go to English doctors and have their babies in local
hospitals; others go to birthing centers; and some
choose to have midwives who will deliver the babies at home. It is a matter of
preference.
Why are Amish schools different?
School for Old Order Amish and Mennonites is only a part of the learning
necessary for preparation for the adult world.
Children have formal schooling in one-room schools to 8th grade and then have a
structured learning program supervised by
their parents. Classes in the one-room Amish schools are conducted in English,
and the children learn English when they go to
school. The teachers are Amish and they have no more than an eighth grade
education themselves. When the landmark United
States Supreme Court decision of 1972 gave exemption for Amish and related
groups from state compulsory attendance laws
beyond the eighth grade, Chief Justice Burger wrote: “It is neither fair nor
correct to suggest that the Amish are opposed to
education beyond the eighth grade level. What this record shows is that they
are opposed to conventional formal education of
the type provided by a certified high school because it comes at the child's
crucial adolescent period of religious development.”
Do Amish families play games?
Yes, Amish families do play games and read together in the evenings. Parents
are involved in their children's activities.
However, there are not long evenings in an Amish family. When the children get
home from school, there are chores that must
be done. At an early age, children have responsibilities assigned to them.
After the evening meal, the school homework must be
tackled, and before long it is bedtime. Amish are early risers and therefore go
to bed early.
How do the Amish hold a funeral?
In Lancaster County, funeral and burial usually takes place three days after
death. A funeral director from the local area assists
in a minimal way, which usually includes embalming, and sometimes includes
supplying the coffin and the hearse. In death, as in
life the simplicity is evident. A plain wooden coffin is built. Often it is
six-sided with a split lie - the upper part is hinged so it can
be opened for viewing the body. It is very simple - no ornate carving or fine
fabrics. Traditionally a woman will wear the white
apron she wore on her wedding day. In some Amish communities both men and women
wear white for burial. The tone of the
two-hour Amish funeral service is hopeful, yet full of admonition for the
living. There are no eulogies. Respect for the deceased
is expressed, but not praise. A hymn is spoken but not sung. There are no
flowers. The grave is hand dug in an Amish church
district cemetery. There will be only a simple tombstone to mark the spot, much
like all the other tombstones in the cemetery -
in death as in life, we are all equal and do not elevate one person above
another.
What holidays do the Amish celebrate and why?
Holidays observed by the Amish are the religious holidays: Thanksgiving,
Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day,
Pentecost, and Whit Monday (the day after Pentecost). The reasons for these
observances are to fast and meditate on
scriptures related to these days. We should also mention that December 25 is a
solemn celebration of Christ's birth and second
Christmas on December 26 is a time for visiting and family dinners.
Do the Amish play any form of musical instrument?
No. Musical instruments are forbidden by the Old 0rder Amish community. Playing
an instrument would be worldly. It is
contrary to the spirit of Glassenheit (humility), and would stir up the
emotions of those who are involved.
Other Questions
Can an outsider join the Amish church / community?
An Amishman remarked that you do not need to move to adopt a lifestyle of
simplicity and discipleship. You can begin
wherever you are. Yes, it is possible for outsiders, through conversion and
convincement, to join the Amish community, but it
seldom happens. First, the Amish do not evangelize and do not seek to add
outsiders to their church. Second, outsiders would
need to live among the Amish and demonstrate a genuine conversion experience
and faith that results in a changed lifestyle.
Third, it is extremely difficult for anyone who has not been raised without
electricity, automobiles, and other modern
conveniences to adjust to the austere lifestyle of the Amish. Also, one would
need to learn the Amish dialect in order to be a
true part of the Amish community.
What do the Amish think of tourists visiting their
area?
Amish people want nothing more than to simply be left alone. However, for the
most part they have accepted the influx of
tourism as something they cannot change. So far as their lifestyle, tourists
have not changed the Amish. It is true that some have
moved away, partly because of tourism, but also because of the high cost of
land. Others have opened small shops and are
now realizing profits from the tourists.