What is your opinion about the Amish? I don't mean purely religious, because they don't belong to the Catholic Church, but the way they live, primarily their relationship to family, tradition, and finally God and God's laws? At the beginning of the 20th century, there were only about 6,000 of them, today there are approximately 400,000 of them. With the fact that 20 years ago, their population was twice as small and they are growing at a terrible speed. On average, they had 6 to 9 children, and the most strict communities had up to 11, which is fascinating and puts them far at the top with some tribes. To me, the most fascinating thing is that they do not take the social state, but place all their hopes in their family and children. When you get old, it is the children who take care of the oldest members, as it has been the tradition for all these thousands of years all over the world that we have all abandoned for the sake of easy life, technology and hedonism. On the other hand, I know that they have numerous disorders, especially genetic ones due to "breeding" within small communities.
I can answer your questions. I live in Amish country. We have friends who are Amish and I've had an opportunity to talk to them. I also have friends who are Mennonite, the first cousins to Amish. I also have a friend who was raised Amish and left. They are hard working God fearing simple people. They are close knit and understand the issues of marrying to close to the family. So young folks will go from Indiana to Pennsylvania etc to marry. They have their problems like all of us and sin. They have their own schools so the kids can maintain Values. Worship is critical to them. Thursday's are wedding days and you will see a farm filled with buggies on some Thursday's, so you know it is a wedding. They came to the US due to religious persecution from Germany like many immigrants ...like my Irish ancestors. They speak an old version of German and they are bi lingual. Every community has its own Bishop and they make the rules. There is no head of the church like a pope. They are very generous and live close to the earth. Some day we will wish we had their survival skills, there is much to learn from them. They don't use birth control so have large families and the children learn different jobs of the community. They have recreation like us and much socializing, a skill our young people are not getting. Divorce is extremely rare, they do their own counseling. If you have any specific questions I can probably help you out with that. We had a new roof put on our house by an Amish crew last summer, they do great work.
there are some amish communes\communities in Patagonia, they stay away from mainstream Argentina society (no politics involvement, no trade union etc) but I think there are no murders or drugs in their communes, and I guess any good-will christian would be welcome. they're all german or dutch, so it may be true they have some genetic defect, since each group is all from same region
The Amish are relatively new to our area, only about 10 years. The original group migrated from Ohio where available land for new farms was maxed out. Our area north of Rte.104 (runs east/west) has a lot of vacant farmland since small dairy farms which had been prevalent 2 generations ago, are no longer economically sustainable. The original 3 Amish farms are situated about 2 miles from us as the crow flies. I can't tell you how many Amish farms there are now in Northern Oswego County, but I'm sure it's pushing on 100. Come June and running through September, Geralyn and I purchase our vegetables and eggs from them. The food is fresh and the prices lower than store-bought. They even have a bulk food store nearby, where we buy our flour (50 lbs. bags) and other select items. Geralyn has her favorite farm for veggies: she and the Dad get along famously: lots of laughs. The Dad of a another local farm, Daniel, has cornered a market for his sheds- as soon as he builds one, it's sold! The last time our daughter, Rachel visited us, I took our grandkids to Daniel's farm to gather scrap wood for starting fires in the wood-burning stove for this winter finishing up. The cost- $10.
One other unique feature of Amish life is that the families tend to live close to one another. So once you see a cluster of 5 or 6 farms, invariably a schoolhouse will crop up. A teenage daughter will gather the young-ins and instruct them in what we would consider a K-6 curriculum. On the back-roads to the parish in Mexico, NY, there are 3 schoolhouses. Though a Mom might take her kids to school via buggy, the children living just down the road will walk (often barefoot). Most schooling takes place from post-harvest until Christmas. That is one educational system the State of New York is mostly hands-off on.
We have seen an influx of Amish families here too. So many abandoned farms brought to life by these diligent people. We have bought lumber from them and at their Saturday market I've gotten wonderful corn( we don't grow it anymore. The raccoons eat it) and bread and quilts. Wondetful things. I am glad they have come here.
Thank you for the information...I expected positive answers and impressions. A community of hard-working people who strive to follow God's laws, worship God, love their family, community and raise their children with hard work. I know that such a life is not easy at times, especially today when we are all used to technology, pleasure and self-promotion without any responsibility towards the community and family. However, people often think that they need to get away from all that overwhelming information that scares us, burdens us and brings us restlessness. For their psychological and spiritual state, they live a much nicer and more comfortable life than many of those who have fat bank accounts, numerous houses, but an empty home with a pet and spend their time alone, resentful of themselves and everything around them.
Ooh, ooh! This is my kind of thread, ha ha! I used to be quite obsessed with the Amish some years ago. This documentary in particular made me wish I lived in a community like theirs: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hvn34 I do acknowledge that, unfortunately, like in every community, there has been documented abuse among the Amish. However, their positive qualities far outweigh the negativity of those bad apples (although I do feel they obviously must acknowledge and deal with the underlying causes there). Their simplicity and child-like love for God is very attractive!
I understand after all the tribulations life will be like the Amish life. I am ready to live that simplistic style. We are already planning our garden. Our kids think we are crazy to have s garden. QUOTE="Memorare, post: 444879, member: 9344"]Ooh, ooh! This is my kind of thread, ha ha! I used to be quite obsessed with the Amish some years ago. This documentary in particular made me wish I lived in a community like theirs: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hvn34 I do acknowledge that, unfortunately, like in every community, there has been documented abuse among the Amish. However, their positive qualities far outweigh the negativity of those bad apples (although I do feel they obviously must acknowledge and deal with the underlying causes there). Their simplicity and child-like love for God is very attractive![/QUOTE]
The thing that strikes me about the Amish is how perfectly placed to survive the coming Tribulation. I wish more Catholics might m8ght imitate them in their lifestyles. For instance no Internet, greatly reduced pornography and gossip in social media. No drugs. No drunks. No Papa Frankie A taking back of education from the woke nuts. An end to LGBq+++ The list goes on and on.
Yes I am blessed to live near them. One click of a button and the govt could shut down all our cars by disabling the computers. But we have one bike, could get us to an Amish farm if needed. We might really need them in the future. QUOTE="padraig, post: 444927, member: 2"]The thing that strikes me about the Amish is how perfectly placed to survive the coming Tribulation. I wish more Catholics might m8ght imitate them in their lifestyles. For instance no Internet, greatly reduced pornography and gossip in social media. No drugs. No drunks. No Papa Frankie A taking back of education from the woke nuts. An end to LGBq+++ The list goes on and on.[/QUOTE]
Jesus said that not a cup of water that someone gave to one of his disciples would go unrewarded, so I think that perhaps these people have a very special calling during the great tribulation.
[/QUOTE] If we are ever blessed enough to own a home, the first thing I'm doing is planting a huge vegetable/herb garden, and getting chickens!
I love the Amish and live close enough to Amish country in Ohio to see them from time to time. What I wonder is could a group of Catholics in this modern world ever form a community like that of the Amish or would that not be allowed. It seems to me the business side of the faith would not allow a group to ever be set up like the Amish but boy wouldn't it be wonderful.
