Amish Culture SOCL 1430 By Charlotte Wright Courtney

Amish Culture SOCL 1430 By: Charlotte Wright, Courtney Nadon, Will Janetos, & Brandon Caputo Canada Amish. . Amish America Canada Amish Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http: //amishamerica. com/canada-amish/>

Agenda �History of the Amish �Amish in Canada �Family Structure �Family Responsibilities �Government and Social Organization �Government �Social Control and Institutions �Religion �Material and Ideal Cultural Components �Knowledge and Science

History of the Amish � Began in early 16 th century with the Protestant � � � � Reformation lead by Martin Luther He was dissatisfied with the Catholic church because of traditional policies of the intertwined church and government, he was excommunicated and became the leader of Protestant Reformation In Switzerland, the Anabaptist movement was then created for those who believed you should only be baptized after you are able to recognize sin Catholics and Protestants saw this movement as a threat, so they aimed to eliminate them. Within mere months Anabaptists were being murdered for having different beliefs Many fled for their lives, at risk of being imprisoned, tortured, dismembered, drowned, hung, beheaded or burned at the stake As the movement spread to Northern Germany and Netherlands region, they were able to retaliate Turning the tables they persecuted anyone who refused to be baptized Canada Amish America Canada Amish Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http: //amishamerica. com/canada-amish/>. � Within a year they were crushed by Catholic � � � and Protestant forces In 1563, Menno Simons, a Catholic priest from Netherlands became the leader of the Anabaptists Through his work, many of the Anabaptists came to be known as Mennonites In 1693, a Swiss leader named Jacob Amman, disagreed with many of the choices of the Anabaptists and a division occurred The followers of Jacob Amman became known as the Amish Because of continues persecutions in Europe, both Mennonites and Amish moved to the New World

Amish in Canada � Amish have had a presence in Canada since � � � the 1800’s Canada is the only location outside of the United States where Amish are found With the twin institutions of Pathway Publishers and the Heritage Historical Library, Ontario remains an important area of Amish settlement Canada experienced a significant influx of Amish post-World War ll who were seeking to avoid military conscription Today the Amish population in Canada stands at nearly 5, 000 Canada’s largest Amish settlement is found in Perth County, near the communities of Milverton and Millbank � The Milverton Amish settlement was � � founded in 1824 and is the oldest in Canada lasting 190 years The Milverton Amish are considered to hold to older dress and buggy-style traditions Contact between the older Milverton Amish and the newer Canadian Amish groups has been described as minimal Since the mid 1990 s the Milverton settlement has held an Amish School Auction, open to the public selling items such as furniture, tools, animals and food Proceeds from their auction are primarily a source of funding for Amish schools https: //maps. google. ca/maps? q=perth+county&ie=UTF 8&hq=&hnear=0 x 8829497 d 1 dbab 563: 0 xd 9215 b 0293 b 6 f 319, Perth+County, +ON&gl=ca&ei=Sj Em. U 9 e. DMISMq. QHyx. YHQDg&ved=0 CHo. Qtg. M. [Last Accessed March 16 2014].

Family Structure Extended families, church districts, the settlement and subgroup affiliations are key aspects of the Amish society It is common for an Amish person to have 75 first cousins and for grandparents to have 50 or more grandchildren Amish society is organized into selfgoverning local church districts, with geographic boundaries such as roads and streams There are usually 20 -40 households in each district They gather every Sunday for religious practices in members’ homes, transitioning from home to home around the district which encourages face-to face interaction with others in the settlement Noriminniss, B. (2013, September 20). The Old Orders: Amish and Hutterites. Noriminniss Blog. Retrieved February 6, 2014, from http: //noriminnis. wordpress. com/2010/04/16/the-old-orders-amish-andhutterites/ A settlement is a cluster of districts in a particular region and can vary from one to as much as one hundred districts in some instances The traditional Amish family depends on having both parents available to supervise and train the children There is an average of 6 children per household, their early years and spent playing and interacting with their siblings

Family Responsibilities The home shop, such as the farm, becomes a classroom where the children observe and learn while helping contribute to the family The mother is in charge of running everything that needs to be done at the household Children as responsible for simple chores and helping with the farm by the age of 5 and they’re workload increases as they get older and develop more skills A young Amish girl is expected to help her mother, and hone her skills at running the household so she till will be prepared when she has to maintain her own family Grandparents pass the farm down to one of their children and usually continue to live on the farm in a house that is attached or in a nearby house. They still contribute to the family through sharing wisdom and selling food and crafts on road side stands The man plays a key role in the Amish family, responsible for providing for his family with businesses such as farming, bakery cabinet shop furniture manufacturing shop engine repair shop greenhouse bookstore dry goods store harness and leather goods shop clock and repair shop or sawmill Canada Amish America Canada Amish Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http: //amishamerica. com/canada-amish/>.

Government and Social Organization � The Amish follow provincial laws but refuse government/military aid � When caught in conflict between their conscience and civic law, they cite the scripture verse “Obey God rather than men” (Acts 5: 29) � Women are lower class citizens and have fewer rights then men � Women are expected to stay home to be a mother/caregiver � Women are never ministers or bishops � Men work in the fields or church Baxter, P. (2013, August 8). I’m Mennonite, Not Amish: 7 Common Questions. The Femonite Musings from a Mennonite Feminist. Retrieved March 11, 2014, from http: //www. femonite. com/2012/04/30/im-mennonite-not-amish-7 common-questions/

Government � The way the Amish view the state heavily relies on traditions passed down from the origins of the Anabaptists of the sixteenth century � A document called The Dordrecht Confession of Faith from 1632 after talking with the Anabaptists is still known today as the correct matters of faith and conduct with minor changes due to present day advancements � All discussions on the Amish view of the state must attend to the pronouncements from the passed down centuries while they have no true definition of the state � Although the Amish believe that God instituted government for the good to deliver them from the evil, they believe that as citizens of the heavenly kingdom they cannot participate or be employed in any government activities or measures. � Amish believe that the proper function of the government is to restrain people who are considered evil to be punished or the fear of it Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 March 2014, from http: //gameo. org/index. php? title=Dordrecht_Confession_of _Faith_(Mennonite, _1632)&oldid=91587 � The Amish try to stay away from participating in affairs and issues of the state and try to keep distance between themselves and government. Although they are willing to co-operate as long as the request doesn’t violate their religious beliefs. � Amish pay taxes even those imposed by welfare state, even though they receive little to no benefit from it. The Amish still do not allow themselves to vote, hold public office, or perform jury duty.

Social Control and Institutions � The Hierarchy of the church is a bishop, two � � ministers, and a deacon A bishop preaches, teaches, and administers the rites of baptism, communion, marriage, discipline as well as excommunication During courtship, youth may only date those of Amish fate or risk excommunication (social control) The Ordnung articulates the moral order of the community (social control) The Ordnung has hundreds of strict rules that prohibit many aspects of daily life. Some examples include: � colour and style of clothing � high school education � use of electricity � wedding rings � watches � filling for a lawsuit � entering military services � owning computers or televisions � divorce � Watch this Haper, J. (2013, September 9). Thread: News of the Weird. The Org RSS. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http: //forums. totalwar. org/vb/showthread. php? 80840 -News-of-the. Weird/page 206 http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v =t. KOMw. F-Mzv. E David Johansen Talks About Amish Clothing. Retrieved March 17 t 2014. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=t. KOMw. F-Mzv. E

Religion � Believe that planting and harvesting are sacred � � � in their own ways as singing and praying Have retained most of the customs and small technologies that were common in rural areas and societies back in the nineteenth century Religious values have been merged with early periods of simple country living when people farmed with horses and scales with no technological advances or devices Tend to speak English very well with people of other cultures or what they call outsiders, but they also speak a German dialect when talking amongst themselves and other Amish folk Mandatory that religion and custom blend into their way of life. The core values the Amish live by are their religious beliefs. They worship through the revelation of Jesus Christ and the Bible but their behaviour has a religious aspect to it Commitment to religion and culture combine to produce what the Amish believe to be a stable human existence Canada Amish America Canada Amish Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http: //amishamerica. com/canada-amish/>. � Although the Bible plays an important role in their personal outlook on the world, life and death, those beliefs have been merged with centuries and centuries of constant struggle to survive while staying within the concept of what they value and feel stays within their religion � Through in-depth religious experience and social interactions and conflict the Amish have developed a mentality that accepts the old rather than the new � By living in a closed community where strong senses of togetherness have been prominent, the Amish have formed an integrated and secluded way of life and folk like culture

Material and Ideal Cultural Components Amish Beliefs • The Amish follow simple customs and refuse to take oaths, vote, or perform military service • They shun modern technology and do not have electricity or telephones in their homes • One of their key beliefs is to isolate themselves from society. • They think materialistic culture has a polluting effect so they rather segregate themselves from the world that uses these modern technology like TV’s, radios and computers Canada Amish America Canada Amish Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http: //amishamerica. com/canada-amish/>

Material and Ideal Cultural Components Amish Dress Code � Symbolic of their faith, Amish clothing styles encourage humility and separation from the world � Amish Men � wear straight-cut suits and coats without collars, lapels or pockets � Young men are clean-shaven prior to marriage, while married men are required to let their beards grow � Mustaches are forbidden � Amish Women � wear solid-color dresses with long sleeves and a full skirt, covered with a cape and an apron � never cut their hair, and wear it in a braid or bun on the back of the head concealed with a small white cap or black bonnet Albrecht Powell. Amish 101 -Amish Culture, Beliefs and lifestyle. About. com Retrieved from - http: //pittsburgh. about. com/cs/pennsylvania/a/amish_2. ht m

Knowledge and Science � Amish believe practical knowledge is � � more important than science Only educate their children up to the eighth grade � Believe this is the basic knowledge that they should need to prepare one for the Amish lifestyle Very few Amish go to high school, much less to college In many Amish communities the Amish operate their own schools, � Schools are typically one-room school houses The goal of Amish education is to teach children the appreciation of hard work, ethical living, and how to be a valuable member of the Amish community Make your trip to Amish country more fun. Exploring Amish Country. com. Retrieved from http: //www. exploring-amish-country. com/amisheducation. html

References � Make your trip to Amish country more fun. Exploring Amish Country. com. Retrieved from http: //www. exploring-amish- country. com/amish-education. html � Albrecht Powell. Amish 101 -Amish Culture, Beliefs and lifestyle. About. com Retrieved from http: //pittsburgh. about. com/cs/pennsylvania/a/amish_2. htm � Who are the amish and what are their beliefs. Got Questions. org retrieved from http: //www. gotquestions. org/Amish-beliefs. html � Canada Amish America Canada Amish Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http: //amishamerica. com/canada-amish/>. � www. Amish. Direct. Playsets. com. "Who are the Amish? . N. p. , n. d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. <http: //www. amishdirectplaysets. com/amish -mennonite. html> � Organization. Amish Studies. N. p. , n. d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. <http: //www 2. etown. edu/amishstudies/Organization � Inside The Amish Family. Exploring the Amish Family. N. p. , n. d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. <http: //www. exploring-amishcountry. com/amish-family. html � Johansen, D. (2013, October 20). David Johansen Talks About Amish Clothing. You. Tube. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=t. KOMw. F-Mzv. E � Kraybill, D. B. , & Kopko, K. (2013, August 9). Government. Amish Studies. Retrieved February 6, 2014, from http: //www 2. etown. edu/amishstudies/Gove � Lande, B. (2012, September 17). Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Cultural Change and Survival in Amish Society. Retrieved February 6, 2014, from http: //www. windycreek. com/Brian/amish-cultural-dynamics. html � Hostetler, John, A. (1993). Amish Society. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press � Kraybill, Donald, B. (2001). The Riddle of Amish Culture. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press � Kraybill, Donald, B. (2003). The Amish and the State. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press