Lecture on Amish Culture

Introduction

• Amish travel by horseback, have their own education system.
• No electricity, TVs, or smartphones in their homes.
• Amish origins and beliefs: originated in Switzerland during the Protestant Reformation.
  • Mennonites split from the Catholic Church.
  • Jacob Amann advocated for a simpler life, less technology.
• Interview conducted in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
  • Amish don't usually give interviews; faces not shown to avoid vanity.

Historical Background

• Protestant Reformation: Doubts about the Catholic Church led to the Mennonites and later the Amish.
• Amish beliefs: simple living, limited technology.

Amish Lifestyle

• Horse and buggy transportation.
  • Use taxi drivers (non-Amish) for longer distances.
• Typical workday: 6 AM to 4 PM, use of wood or coal stoves.
• Limited technology: Some have line phones, no smartphones.
  • Solar panels are used for lighting.

Rumspringa

• A period starting at age 16 where Amish youth can experience the outside world.
• No set end date, typically ends in their 20s.
• Personal choice to join the church after Rumspringa.
  • 85-95% decide to join the Amish church.

Church and Community

• Excommunication (shunning) if you leave after joining the church.
  • Some families maintain contact with ex-members.
• Community decisions on technology use are made by bishops.

Education and Work

• Education only up to the 8th grade.
• Technical training possible for work (e.g., solar energy).
• No university education within the Amish community.

Religion and Equality

• Avoidance of technology to maintain a slow-paced lifestyle.
• No use of musical instruments to avoid secular influence.
• Emphasis on equality within the community.

Health and Finances

• No Medicare, but community-based healthcare support.
  • Pay monthly for hospital aid, managed within church district.
• Use of banks but prefer paying cash.

Social Interaction

• Limited use of modern technology to maintain lifestyle.
• Open to visitors but maintain privacy and cultural norms.
• Interact with non-Amish (referred to as "English") frequently.

Conclusion

• Interview provides insight into the Amish way of life.
• Emphasis on personal choice within cultural bounds.
• Amish maintain a unique, self-sufficient lifestyle.