Amish+-+FA11

__The Amish__ By: Kelston H. and Austin W.

__Culture:__ Culture has many different aspects to it, especially when talking about a single group.. The culture of the amish is as diverse as the people of america, with different beliefs on what is right and wrong. Artworks and books are a big part of their culture and so are the hand made items they create. A groups language is one of the key factors to their cultural identity because without it how would they communicate. The way people travel is important to their culture and how they get around to one another. __Beliefs:__ Beliefs and religious views are apart of pretty much every culture. They have derived their own religion from a division of either Anabaptist or Menonites. They practice adult baptisms and want the person to be raised in the church then he or she can decide if they will be baptized in their faith. Church services were held in different houses back before they moved to the New World. They kept this tradition for the most part and only meet in a church on special occasions. Communion is more of a laid back tradition among them and practice it in the spring and fall and not necessarily in a regular service. They follow the bible and two other main books that teach humility to their elders and not be prideful of their work. When someone breaks one of these rules they are given a chance at redemption but if they refuse then he or she will be shunned by the community. If a person is shunned then they must be unanimously voted back in and spend several hours with the priest or bishop. The amish beliefs are a much more strict aspect of their culture and controls most of their daily life. __Language:__ Older Amish speak a distinctive German dialect called Pennsylvania German. The more common language that they speak is Pennsylvania Dutch. Pennsylvania German is closely related to the Palatinate German of the 18th century. Their language has been greatly influenced by American English. __Technology:__ Transportation is important to any culture because of it’s ability to bring people together and go farther then ever before. The amish have many forms of transportation but the most iconic is the the very classic horse and buggy. They take these buggies everywhere from back roads to places like Wal-Mart parking lots. Even though in some sects of the amish cars are not allowed but in others they are looked upon as a useful tool. Cars aren’t very popular even if they are not frowned upon. Some people hire drivers or vans to take them farther then their horse and buggy can go without becoming exhausted. The amish are very big on going green nowadays so having a car is becoming even less popular, except for the youth. There has been a rise in the past few years with the amish buying cars and using them. They have been relinquishing more and more traditions not just their classic way of transportation. Is this a sign of cultural change? __Education:__ The amish educate their youth up until the 8th grade. There was a big case about not having the amish go to high school or any other form of higher education. They believe all they need to know about their way of life and how they’ll thrive is taught to them in the 8 years of schooling. In Wisconsin v. Yoder the state of Wisconsin tried to sue and force amish teenagers to go on to high school. It was deemed unconstitutional because it violated their religous freedoms. Their schools are usually one room schoolhouses and their teachers are unmarried women from the area. They score high in the areas of spelling and arithmetic but lag in vocabulary, partly due to their semi-sheltered life. __Lifestyle:__ The most common theme for the amish is clothing that is plainness, their clothing should not call attention to them by their clothings cut, color, or any other features. Hook-and-eye closures or straight pins are usually used for fasteners on dress clothing instead of using buttons, zippers, or velcro. Snaps are used for everyday clothes, and plain buttons on work shirts and trousers. The Old Order Amish usually sew their own clothing work clothing can become quite worn and patched with use. Amish music is primarily German in origin, and includes styles of singing that is not found anywhere in Europe. Modern hymns come from the Pennsylvania German culture. __How they are impacted:__ Technology has changed many cultures and you might be asking yourself, have the amish been affected? The Amish have been faced with the problem of electronics and other technological advances since the late 19th century. In the 1920s a bishop decreed it to be agaisnt their religion to use anything that required high voltage. Different communities have different ideals of what is appropriate and what isn’t. Some say you may only use appliances if there is a medical need or a job requires the use. They have made appliances like refrigerators to run off kerosene. When it comes to transportation some prefer to use the old fashion buggies, while others may use cars. To go even deeper some groups say you can’t drive so they hire drivers or ask for a lift from a trusted neighbor. Most amish farmers stick to a couple horses and plows but again it is up to that community’s choice. Technology has changed the Amish’s culture through things like farming, trade, and travel.

[|Wisconsin v. Yoder]

[|Life in the modern world]

[|Holy Cross]

[|Way of Life]