This is the final installment of my comments on an
article I
recently came across online entitled “25 Facts About the Amish That Everyone
Should Know”—a well-meaning article filled with the typical misinformation
about the Amish which is constantly floating around the internet...
7. The Population In Amish Communities Is
Steadily Growing.
Because Amish get married so young and have so many children, their communities
actually see a yearly growth rate of 3.6%!
The Amish don’t get married that young, but they do have a
lot of children—and in Northern Indiana, 90% of them remain in the Amish faith. Experts agree that the Amish population is
doubling about every twenty years.
6. Their Modesty Extends To Their Opinions Of Others.
The Amish are not arrogant people, as they see that as a sin. This being so,
they do not judge or condemn people of the modern world for their lifestyle
choices.
I would think that Amish opinions about those of us in the
modern world would vary widely from person to person. I know that my own Amish friends seem to
accept my faith and lifestyle as being okay for me, at least. They sometimes close their letters to me with
“Love” or “God Bless You.” It seems that
they feel that if a person is born Amish, then God probably wants him or her to
be Amish; but if a person is born something else, then they wouldn’t really
expect us to convert.
The photo? These
girls in their printed dresses, one with long braids, are not Amish, but
perhaps they are German Baptists or another conservative group.
5. They Wait Until A Person Is Old Enough To Make
The Decision To Be Baptized.
Unlike some Christian branches, the Amish believe in waiting until a person is
old enough, typically around age 16-24, before accepting the religion.
This is true.
“Joining church” is a serious and lifelong commitment, so they want
their young people to count the cost, so to speak, and be sure of their
decision. In Amish Indiana, I believe
the typical age is more like 18-19 to 24.
Interesting photo, but certainly not Amish. The Amish are baptized by “sprinkling,” not
immersion.
4. There Are More Amish People Than You Would
Guess To Be Living In America.
There are reportedly over 300,000 Amish people living in America! It would be
hard for anyone not familiar with Amish communities to know just how many
people actually reside in these communities.
The Young Center’s Amish Studies project and other reliable
sources agree with the 300,000 number.
Since so many live in rural areas, it does make them less visible to the
outside world.
3. The Amish Are Pacifists Who Will Never Serve
In The Military.
Not only are the Amish soft-spoken, but they are also against violence in any
form. Because of this, no men are allowed to join the military. If they do
join, they are banned from the community.
The Amish are conscientious objectors who will not serve in
the military, although, historically, they have accepted forms of peaceful “alternative
service” in times of war. They are
against violence in any form, including self-defense; they call this belief
“non-resistance.”
2. Building Barns Is A Form Of Fun And
Socialization In Communities.
Building barns is one way the men in Amish communities pass the time and
socialize in large groups.
Barn-raisings are still an important part of the Amish
community. During one recent visit with
some Amish friends, the husband told me he had spent most of the previous week
at a barn-raising. Ten or twenty years
ago, which was few years after I first met him and his wife, the ancient barn
on their own farm was torn down and replaced with a newer, better one by a
barn-raising group of local Amishmen.
The photo accompanying the article looks extremely fake,
however; no one would build a barn like that!
1. Contrary To Popular Belief, The Amish Don’t
Mind Having Their Photos Taken By Others.
While the Amish aren’t opposed to allowing people to take their pictures, they
do not take photographs themselves or keep them in their homes.
This is totally untrue.
Most Amish very much object to having their pictures taken by
others. As an example: In 2007, six of my Amish friends came to my
Presbyterian wedding. One of them walked
over to the wedding photographer before the service started, and he asked him
not to take any photos of them. When I
visit Amish friends, I have, on occasion, asked if I could take a picture of
the farm, or the woods, or a garden, or some such thing, and they were fine
with that. One time recently I was looking
at a brand-new bench wagon, and they even asked me if I wanted to take any
photos, which I did! (I am saving the
pictures for a future blog post on bench wagons.)
******************
I would guess that the author of this article meant no
harm… But it is harmful to spread this kind of disinformation. The Amish are misunderstood enough as it
is! I don’t know everything there is to
know about the Amish, and customs do differ somewhat from one Amish community
to another—but I hope this helps.
For further information on the Amish, try these reliable
sources: