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__**Amish Culture **__ **Language: **As part of the Amish Ordnung, all Amish are expected to speak either German or Swiss, most commonly the Pennsylvania German (Pennsylvania Dutch) language. It is spoken by more than 250,000 people in North America. The Amish Ordnung is passed down orally from parents to children.


 * Beliefs: **The Amish people, located in Lancaster, PA, interpret the Bible very literally. The Amish believe in humility and self-discipline, while denouncing the rest of the world, which they believe is corrupt with greed and violence. They believe that their religion is a way of life, and they will not let government and the laws it makes interfere with their way of life. Their beliefs evolved from the Anabaptists in the 1500s, who believed that the practices of the Protestants and Catholics were corrupt. They believe that idolizing Christian figures is a distraction from community service.


 * Values: **The Amish value obedience, as in listening to elders and the rest of your family. They also value simplicity, that Christians should be able to solve problems in a simple and organized manner. They condemn violence and force. Community service is one of their biggest values. They believe helping a neighbor is more important than taking part in rituals.


 * Other values are: **
 * Godliness: that one’s obligation to God is more important than anything else
 * Work Ethic: recognized as a way to honor God.
 * Communalism: sharing is caring!


 * Behaviors: **The Amish Ordnung is the main reference for Amish behaviors. The Ordnung is a collection of unwritten rules which are based of off the Amish people’s interpretation of the New Testament. These moral guidelines are what the Amish live by. The Amish tend to segregate themselves from the rest of the world.


 * Among other things, the Ordnung state that: **
 * Men who are married should grow a beard and wear a vest and hat. Women should wear a head covering and a three-piece dress, which includes an apron and a cape.
 * Members travel by horse and buggy only. No automobiles are allowed.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No televisions, radios, cameras, or computers are allowed either.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">High school and college education is generally not accepted.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Divorce is prohibited.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Joining the military is prohibited.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jewelry and other garments are looked down upon.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amish members are forbidden from suing anyone.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It is forbidden to use any type of electricity. Farm machines must be self propelled.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rumspringa- When Amish children turn 16, they have an option to continue with their Amish lifestyle or go out into the "real" world. They have one year to explore the "real" world. However, if they choose the "real" world, they will be shunned from all of their Amish connections forever.

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Technology- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Most Amish congregations only allow their people to use self-propelled tools in the farms and the house. Some congregations permit their people to use propane gas stoves and refrigerators, a little variation in clothing, or battery-operated appliances. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Commercialization- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amish do not often buy products from the rest of the world. They harvest their own crops, eat their own food and make their own clothing. Many Amish are carpenters, and they help to build houses and tools for other people to use as well as themselves. Some congregations of Amish allow certain products from the outside world. Other, more conservative congregations allow no contact with the public. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Travel- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Amish mainly travel by horse and buggy. Every Amish household owns at least one buggy. Automobile travel is hardly ever used. They are prohibited from owning or operating an automobile. However, for trips that are longer than a horse and buggy can take them, they are allowed to be passengers. Bicycle is the second main way to travel. Many areas on Lancaster are bicycle friendly so that makes things easier for the Amish. A popular way for children to travel is by the use of rollerblades. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Secondary Source: **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">__Cultural__ __Changes__ **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"How do Amish travel?." Amish America. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://amishamerica.com/how-do-amish-travel/>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The Ordnung." Ordnung. Lancaster County, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/ordnung.html>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Primary Sources: **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Beachy, Loren. "Amish-made Products." Tales from Loren Beachy : An Amish Letter to President Obama. Amish Workshops, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.amishworkshops.com/loren-beachy/>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Amish-made Products." Among the Amish: Tales from the English Perspective. Amish Workshops, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.amishworkshops.com/among-the-amish/>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Print Source: **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lehman, Jeffrey. "Amish." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit, MI: Gale Group, 1999. 79-95. Print. **