What Is Amish?

Amish are a group of conservative Christian Anabaptist churches in the United States, Canada and parts of Europe. The Amish are best known for their strong beliefs in tradition, rural communal ways of life, and technology-free lifestyle. Amish people are highly devout, pious, and religious individuals with a deep reverence for the Bible. The Amish religion is rooted in the Christian denomination called the Mennonites.

Origin and History of the Amish

The Amish people come from a long line of Germanic Anabaptists and Swiss Mennonites. The Anabaptists were a small denomination of Protestants back in 16th century Europe that believed in the rebaptism of adult converts, rather than infant baptism. The Mennonites were part of this core group of believers who did not believe in warfare and sought solace in the rural countryside of Europe.

In the 1700s, Mennonite families from the continent of Europe continued to cross the Atlantic and settle in Pennsylvania. This group of German and Swiss settlers went on to form the Amish churches and their communities. Initially, the colony was composed of Mennonites and Protestant refugees from the German Palatinate region. As the Amish communities grew, more Anabaptist families joined the church.

Amish Beliefs and Lifestyle

The Amish embody a traditionalist and conservative lifestyle which puts an emphasis on plain dress, hard work, and worship without technological distractions. This includes shunning electricity, telephones, and televisions. A belief in non-conformity is at the heart of Amish life. Many aspects of the Amish lifestyle revolve around the theology they preach and practice, leading many to be frequently referred to as “Plain People”.

In the Amish culture, there is an emphasis on tradition and maintaining a distinct identity as “a people set apart”. This can be felt in their worship services which are quite long – sometimes lasting up to three hours at a time. Services are conducted entirely in German, from the singing to the sermon. One should also note that the Amish do not believe in participating in the political process or voting in any elections.

Conclusion

Given their many deeply-held religious beliefs and lifestyle practices, the Amish have managed to keep their Anabaptist culture intact for centuries. To this day, the Amish community remains a distinct part of the American landscape. They have become something of an icon among fundamentalist Christians, often held up as an example of a lifestyle that is devoted to the Bible. Whether they will remain this way in modern times remains to be seen.