In the U.S., there are large settlements of Amish people in Lancaster County, PA; Homes County, OH and LaGrange, IN. Old Order Amish are the people who come to mind when most if us hear the word "Amish". These Amish are the strictest of Amish groups and are the least likely to make any sort of accommodation for the outside world. There is an unwritten guiding principle which governs Amish culture, known as the Ordnung. This is passed down from generation to generation. The Ordnung differs from one Amish settlement to the next and these rules govern dress, gender roles, the manner of dress, courtship and everything else. The Amish believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God and that all things which we do should be done for the glorification of God.
Anything which smacks of ego or vanity is avoided. This is the reason for the modest dress, plain homes and stringent work ethic. The family is the essential unit of their society. New children are welcomed and seen as gifts from God. Elderly Amish persons are cared for by their families and the custom is to build a separate apartment onto the family home for them so that they can live independently, yet be surrounded by family. The strength of their community is evident from their communal barn raisings and form of co-op insurance, where the co-op comes together to help and provide for members in need. Fathers will also invest in the future of their family by buying or helping to buy farms for their sons or start small businesses. The youngest son, however, generally will inherit the family farm or business.
The Amish are self identified primarily as a religious group. Their pedigree dates back to the Protestant Reformation in 1517, begun by Martin Luther. Soon after this, various groups sprang up calling themselves Anabaptists. In comparison to the Catholic Church, Anabaptists believed that infant baptism alone was not sufficient to guarantee salvation. Instead, they believed that believers needed to commit their entire beings to God and to be reborn by baptism into the faith. A Catholic priest from the Netherlands, Menno Simons joined the Anabaptist movement in 1536. Simons was a natural leader who brought together the diverse Anabaptist communities - these groups came to be known as Mennonites, after him.
Mennonites later underwent a schism over the church disciplinary method called shunning. Jacob Amman, a later leader, decided that shunning should extend beyond the communion to every aspect of life and formed a splinter group who came to be known as the Amish. While all of this was going on, all reformation groups were being persecuted by the Catholic Church, with the Mennonites and the Amish fleeing to Switzerland and Bavaria where they held their religious services in secret. They came to America at the instigation of William Penn, who extended an invitation to people of all religions to come to the Pennsylvania colony. All of these events were instrumental in shaping Amish culture and the practice of their faith.
Another well known fact about the Amish is that they shun modern technologies. The Amish are protective of their community and every decision is made based on the effects which it will have on the community as well as the individual. Will it harm the community? Will it lead individuals to pride and separate them from the community? Electric and motorized farm equipment, telephones and cell phones, computers and cars have all received skeptical examination by Amish communities. The amount of compromise with regard to technology and the outside world varies from community to community, something which outsiders should understand about Amish culture. Learn more about the Amish
- Amish Furniture
- Our furniture is made by Amish craftsmen with years, sometimes decades, of experience that's been handed down for generations. Each piece of lumber is cut, shaped, sanded and stained by hand until all imperfections are eliminated
- Handmade Furniture
- Looking for furniture that exactly reflects your unique style and needs? Then have Amish furniture makers craft solid wood custom handmade. Master craftsmen will bring your creation to life.
- Amish Country
- Upon arrival in the United States, the Amish settled in Pennsylvania in Berks County. The valleys located in Berks County were perfect for farming; however, due to the French and Indian war, they were forced to migrate into safer lands and settled into Lancaster County
- Amish History
- The Amish are primarily a religious based community, which was formed from a combination of views from the Catholic and protestant faiths...
- The Amish Family
- In the heart of the Amish, community is the Amish family. Children are considered to be a blessing from above and those that are in the twilight years of their lives are treated with respect and shown every allowable comfort...
- Amish Communities
- The Amish just like any other religion, community and culture has variations. These variations usually appear within the Ordnung's interpretation
- Amish Customs
- Most of us recognize the Amish images that come from communities of Old Order Amish. This community is the strictest of any Amish settlement when it comes to adherence to the Ordnung...
Books on the Amish...
Amish Society
Amazon Price: $15.64 (as of 12/04/2009) 
The Gentle People: An Inside View of Amish Life
Amazon Price: (as of 12/04/2009)
Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish
Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 12/04/2009)
Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/04/2009)
The Amish in Their Own Words: Amish Writings from 25 Years of Family Life Magazine
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/04/2009)
by BarnFurnitureMart
We've helped people furnish their homes for over 60 years
and we understand the importance of creat... (more)
and we understand the importance of creat... (more)
Explore related pages
USMC- Semper Fi! This site is dedicated to all, who have ...
Saint Sebastian- Saint Sebastian has been depicted in numerous paintings and sculptures throughou...
Are You Destroying Your Tribe?- Think of each one of your customers as a member of a tribe, the tribe you lead....
Life on Planet Earth: The Way We Live It- The way we live our life, imprints its bitter marks on our soul. We lose our inn...
