Amish

The Amish are a traditionalist Anabaptist Christian group.

Some scholars describe them as an ethnoreligious group. This means they combine a specific Christian denomination with a shared ethnicity. They are closely related to Old Order and Conservative Mennonites. The Amish prioritize simple living and plain dress. They also value Christian pacifism, which is the belief in nonresistance.

This means they will not perform any type of military service. They often choose to live slowly to avoid modern technological interruptions. This helps them maintain face-to-face conversations and self-sufficiency.

Daily life is guided by a set of rules called the Ordnung.

The Ordnung is reviewed twice a year by all church members. These rules differ slightly between different church districts. The Ordnung covers many aspects of day-to-day living. It includes regulations on clothing and specific limitations on technology. For example, it may prohibit power-line electricity, telephones, or automobiles. These rules help the community maintain a degree of separation from the "worldly" or "English" people.

This separation helps them focus on family and church relationships.

There are three main subgroups within the Amish community today.

The first group is the Old Order Amish. They are very traditional and use horse-drawn buggies for transportation. They also speak Pennsylvania Dutch and conduct worship in German. The second group is the New Order Amish. They also speak Pennsylvania Dutch and use buggies. However, they differ from the Old Order regarding salvation and some agricultural methods. The third group is the Beachy Amish. They use modern technology, including motor cars. They also conduct worship in the local language of their area.

The history of the Amish began with a schism in Switzerland.

In 1693, a leader named Jakob Ammann led a split from the Mennonite Anabaptists. Those who followed Ammann became known as the Amish. This split was partly due to disagreements over how to treat "fallen" believers. One side argued that banned members should be avoided even during common meals. In the early 18th century, many Amish emigrated to Pennsylvania. They sought religious freedom and attractive land. Between 1717 and 1750, about 500 Amish arrived in North America. A second wave of 1,500 people arrived in the mid-19th century.

During the 19th century, the Amish experienced further divisions.

Between 1862 and 1878, yearly ministerial conferences were held to discuss modern pressures. The more progressive members became known as Amish Mennonites. They eventually joined other Mennonite denominations. The more traditional members became the Old Order Amish. In the late 1920s, the Beachy Amish broke away from the Old Order. They wanted to adopt the use of the car. During World War I, the suppression of the German language in the United States created a new language barrier for many groups.

The Amish population is currently growing very rapidly.

There are more than 405,000 Old Order Amish living in the United States. Additionally, over 6,000 Amish live in Canada. Most church districts are relatively small. A single district typically contains between 20 and 40 families. Worship services for Old Order and New Order groups are held every other Sunday. These services often take place in a member's home or a barn. In contrast, the Beachy Amish worship every Sunday in dedicated churches.

Education and social systems also reflect Amish values.

Most Amish children attend small, one-room schools. They typically discontinue formal education after the eighth grade. In 1972, the United States Supreme Court exempted Amish pupils from compulsory education laws. This allows them to focus on community and manual labor. Most Amish do not participate in Social Security. They also generally do not buy commercial insurance. These choices support their goal of maintaining a self-sufficient and separate way of life.