What is the Amish religious movement? Amish: way of life and traditions. Who are the Amish

Many of you have probably never even heard of the Amish.

The Amish are a unique people living primarily in the United States. Unlike the Mormons, who can be said to belong to the state of Utah, the Amish do not have their own country as such, although they own lands. Amish Country is a figurative expression referring to areas where the Amish live. This is a full-fledged people - with its own culture, its own customs and traditions.

Amish- Christian movement of Mennonite origin. The founder is Jacob Ammann, a priest from Switzerland who emigrated to Alsace. Amish church doctrine can be characterized as the most conservative version of Mennoniteism.

A significant part of modern Amish (more than 200 thousand) live in the USA and Canada. The most conservative Amish groups in the United States retain the Pennsylvania German language (Pennsylvania Dutch, distorted deutsch) in everyday life.

After long and widespread persecution to which the Amish suffered in their homeland for the custom of baptism in adulthood and opposition to the union of church and state, they finally found a safe haven in America thanks to the prominent Quaker William Penn. The Amish, radical Mennonites from Switzerland and the Palatinate, have repeatedly accepted martyrdom in their homeland at the hands of intolerant opponents, they were often put in sacks and drowned in rivers. With the very lives of the Amish at risk, they moved en masse to Pennsylvania at the invitation of William Penn, as part of his “holy experiment” in religious tolerance. 1727 Empire Total War game (Sega 2009)

Main feature their creed is a stricter adherence to the Holy Scriptures. The Amish attach primary importance to the provision contained in the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans on the separation of church and state. The majority of them, if possible, refuse any technical means connecting them with the outside world: electricity, running water, central heating, telephone, etc.

The Amish are adherents of an old traditional way of life. Most of them wear clothes and hats of certain colors and styles, ride in ancient horse-drawn carts, use only steel wheels, and plow the land with a horse-drawn plow. Children and women walk barefoot in the warm season. The Amish are prohibited from serving in the army, taking photographs, driving cars and flying airplanes, owning computers, televisions, radios, wearing wrist watch And wedding rings. The Amish marry only with their coreligionists. In their free time, Amish men make furniture, Amish women sew clothes, in both cases everything is done by hand and according to the fashion of the early 18th century. Since the Amish marry exclusively with representatives of their communities, genetic diseases of one type are common among them, and women very often experience miscarriages, nevertheless, the birth rate among the Amish is traditionally high, families have 8-10 children, as a result of which in each generation their numbers double. Upon reaching a certain age, the Amish have the right to leave their father’s home for 3 years and go to live in the “outside world”, where they can sin as their soul pleases, but after this period the Amish is obliged to return home and make a decision: either he is completely immersed in the traditional the Amish way of life and remains in the community, observing all the rules of behavior, or he leaves the community forever, lives as he wants, and then even his closest relatives will never again give him a helping hand, no matter how much he needs it. As a result, the Amish, unprepared for life in modern society, often becomes an outcast from this society and, not finding his place in it, returns to live in the community. Most often from " outside world“Amish women are not returning to the community. On the tombstones of the dead, the Amish do not write their names, surnames, dates of birth and death, because they believe that the dead no longer need this.

Despite their whole way of life, the Amish are very rich people. They sell furniture, clothes (all this self made, made in an antique manner), and since the Amish practice natural agriculture, with the advent of healthy lifestyle fashion in America in the early 90s, their agricultural products began to be bought en masse and at high prices by Americans concerned about their health.

Most Amish do not have special places of worship, and meetings are held alternately in the homes of community members. Services are held every Sunday. On those Sundays when there are no services (Friendship Sundays), the Amish relax and visit friends. Each Amish congregation has two preachers. The bishop and deacon serve in two communities, holding services in them alternately on different Sundays.

The Amish number more than 200 thousand people; their ethnic origin is mainly Alsatian. Although they perceive themselves as belonging to one denomination, the Amish, however, are divided into different groups. The most conservative is the Old Order Amish Mennonite Church. In 1866, the Evangelical Mennonite Church was founded in Indiana as a result of the Amish spiritual awakening movement. In 1910, the Conservative Mennonite Conference was created. Its adherents began to hold services in special meeting houses, organized Sunday schools. Another breakaway organization, Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches, allowed the use of automobiles, tractors and electricity. The same organization also conducts missionary activities, which is not practiced by other Amish. In the CIS there is a small Amish community called Beachy in Cherkassy (Ukraine).

More about the Amish

The history of the Amish goes back to the 17th century chronologically, and to Germany and Switzerland geographically. The Amish have nothing to do with Denmark and Holland. Accordingly, the language of the Amish is German. They still speak their own language, which is different from modern German. That’s why in the USA they call the Amish “Dutch”, and they call the Americans “English”. There is even a community in Indiana where the Swiss dialect of German is used.
The Amish are an offshoot of the Mennonites. Let me remind you that the Mennonites are a Protestant movement characterized by Anabaptism (rebaptism), which arose in the 40s of the 16th century. Mennonites, like all Anabaptists, do not recognize the baptism of children and believe that faith is a conscious matter, and everyone must decide the choice of faith for themselves. Therefore, they were baptized again, at the age of 16-20, without counting early baptism (which was a clear heresy for Catholics). The Amish not only share this position, but it greatly influences the very structure of their society. Already taking into account this position of the doctrine, talking about the Amish as a sect is not entirely correct. The Amish have always recognized religious tolerance both in theory and in practice, although with reservations, because the Amish society itself is still mono-confessional. In addition, the Amish, unlike other Protestant movements and sects, never preached their teachings. This is partly connected with another important point of Mennonite teaching - nonviolence. Mennon rejected the political, militant purpose of the church (which was preached by the Anabaptists Münzer and John of Leiden), and even wrote a special essay against John of Leiden and his claims to power. The Amish, like the Mennonites, have always stood outside of war and politics. Therefore, it would be incorrect to say that the Amish do not recognize the US state; in principle, like consistent Mennonites, they ignore politics and wars. Pacifism is a strict rule of the Amish, who are not only not allowed to fight or use violence, but even to keep weapons. The Amish did not participate in any war.
So, we have established that the Amish are descended from German Mennonites. They can be called “conservative Mennonites,” and this conservatism related not only and not so much to faith, but to a way of life. Or to put it another way, the Amish perceived their way of life as something closely related to faith and soul. The history of the Amish church (and by extension the people) began with the schism of the Mennonite group in Switzerland and southern Germany in 1693. The leader of the “schismatics” is Jacob Amman, after whom the Amish got their name. Like all Mennonites, the Amish were persecuted and persecuted, and therefore their emigration from Europe is quite understandable. At the beginning of the 18th century, at the invitation of William Penn, the Amish moved to the south of the American state of Pennsylvania. And now it is Pennsylvania, or rather the “county” of Lancaster, that can be called “Amish country.” More than 20 thousand people live here, and many Amish live in Ohio. In total, there are now about 225 thousand Amish living in the United States (22 states) and Canada (Ontario). How did such a large people move, where did they come from and how did they survive? The answer is simple - it didn’t come from anywhere and didn’t move in any way! In the 1720s, about 300 people moved to Pennsylvania, and the Amish people originated from them. Emigrants also came in the 19th century, but in any case, the people as such had already formed in America. Amish large families(usually 7-8 children). Demographers estimate the Amish population is doubling every 16-20 years. Of course, this growth is especially surprising against the backdrop of today's general demographic crisis in developed countries. Therefore, do not be surprised that the Amish did not play a role in the history of the 18th and 19th centuries - they were perceived as a bunch of eccentric settlers, and America was full of them. Although in the 19th century they did not look very eccentric in their everyday life. In every second article in a magazine or on the Internet you can read that they have preserved the way of life of the 17th century. Of course, these are fairy tales. The Amish themselves deny this, as is emphasized in the words included in the epigraph. Why do superficial observers say this? Because for them, anything different from modern life is “17th century,” although the Amish have a lot from the 18th century, and from the 19th, and even from the 20th. The Amish are indeed very conservative, but their conservatism is meaningful. Only if we take a closer look will we understand that the Amish are not an isolated society, they are included in general civilization. But it has significant autonomy in all aspects - from political to moral and everyday. So. The people as such arose and began to form - according to culture, according to the principles of faith, and also according to blood - at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century. Its history is not so eventful, but it itself is no less interesting. Here we come exactly to the question, why are the Amish important to us, why are they so special? In what ways are they different from Mormons, for example?

Interest in the Amish awakens in everyone who hears about them for the first time. The Amish are in many ways analogous to the Old Believers. But the point here is not traditionalism, the point is that the Amish do not recognize modern civilization! And it is not just words. Amish society is not an archaic society unfamiliar with civilization, it is a society of people who have not accepted progress in all its negative manifestations, perceive it very warily, and borrow innovations only when necessary. Precisely out of necessity - after all, such a sharp increase in the number of people gives rise to many problems. Nevertheless, a significant part of the Amish still live according to the old way of life.
The Amish do not recognize modern technology and electricity, although they do not consider them something diabolical. Rather harmful, for the soul and for the community. They believe that modern technology divides people and makes them individualists. Moreover, it is a whim, a luxury not needed for life. Therefore, they do not live in the 17th century, but they are not present in the 21st century either. This is like another dimension, a real alternative history (which, according to the usual unfounded idea, is the lot of science fiction writers only). That’s why I talk about Amish society as a real dystopia - they live in the real world, and not on paper. This is not a utopia (as some ordinary people perversely interpret Amish society), but a practical dystopia. The Amish turned “as if” into “it is,” showing us that our civilization and way of life are not the only possible ones.

A few words about the life and rules of Amish society (= people).
The Amish do not use cars. None, including tractors. Carts, horses, plow. This immediately distinguishes the Amish from modern society. Of course, Amish urgent need buys a bus ticket or travels in a car - they have no superstitions. But owning a car and driving it is out of the question.
Further. Electricity is not used for any purpose. The houses are heated with wood. Traditional stoves or gas are used for cooking. The utensils, as you can see, are more typical of the 19th century than of the 17th-18th centuries. But the cut of the clothes is old - single-color dresses and caps for women. Black trousers, white shirts, and long-brimmed hats for men. Buttons are not allowed because the Amish associate them with military uniform and thus with the army.
They do not use any computers, televisions, radios, telephones, washing machines or other things. For Americans, hand-washed linen dried on a line is, of course, exotic. Curiosity about the Amish is aggravated by the fact that they do not allow any images of people (more precisely human faces). Photos of an adult Amish man are rare. Why an adult? Yes, because the prohibitions do not apply to children so much - they are not baptized, and the commandments do not apply to them with such severity. But note that the Amish are not against photographs and cameras per se - but against images of people. In this, by the way, they follow the ancient Hebrew tradition.
The picture that emerges is more than surprising, especially since the entire life of the Amish cannot be called archaic - they use modern materials in the construction of houses and agricultural buildings (which is clearly visible in the photographs), plumbing, and fabrics. But at the same time they have forges and they produce a lot of things, primarily furniture and embroidery.
Until recently, the Amish were predominantly farmers, but nowadays they are increasingly engaged in crafts, because there is not enough land. All this once again shows the dynamism and vitality of the Amish society, which is not banal retrogrades and orthodoxies. I repeat, the Amish are not a sect, nor an island from the past. This is a unique alternative society.
What attracts the observer to this society, besides the unusual way of life? Undoubtedly the social and cultural foundations themselves. The Amish live in communities; there was and is no “patriarch” or “prophet” (like the Mormons). Moreover, community elders can make their own decisions, due to which differences exist between different communities, but do not lead to confrontation. The Amish are pacifists and do not serve in the military. They do not recognize the state and do not participate in elections. At the same time, they pay some taxes (forced, of course). No medical insurance is provided. And as far as I understand, they don’t have passports. This is such an amazing antisocial society, anarchism in action. But at the same time there is no confusion, this is a monolithic society with its own way of life. Most of all, the Amish resemble peasants, only free peasants.
About religiosity. Yes, faith plays a big role in their lives. But the Amish have little in common with other sects and even churches. To begin with, they do not have temples or houses of worship. There are no icons, of course, and therefore no home “red corner”. There is no priesthood either. Baptism occurs at about 18 years of age, on average. And baptism is not just a ritual, but entry into the church, a change in life. So much for a “religious sect”! How much people still love to attach labels, instead of understanding the essence of the matter. I think the picture will be completed by mentioning the frequency of services - they are held every other Sunday, that is, twice a month. And their life itself is not at all imbued with religious rigorism, as we will see later (a description of the life and customs of the ladies is in the second article).
The Amish are not at all ascetics; they fully accept games, decorating things, Tasty food. Even their attitude towards sex is not as strange as in ordinary Christianity - they do not treat it as a sin. Morality is quite present in this case. And the foundations of morality are simplicity and modesty. Again, our observation shows the unity of everyday life and psychology in the life of the Amish. Moderation is a virtue for them, but not an ideal, but rather a norm, an everyday occurrence. Women's clothing expresses this well - dresses different colors, but all are plain, long and without cutouts. The furnishings of the rooms are simple and uncomplicated, but they make a very pleasant impression due to their comfort and neatness.

Amish motivations

Why do the Amish live this way and not otherwise? The simplest answer is because we are used to it. Of course, habit is always present in everything. A student, moving from class to another, gets used to new teachers and classmates. A lot of examples can be given. But habits, and even more so rules and principles of life, can be consciously developed! Those who talk about the natural, spontaneous development of society should not forget about this. Civilization is not nature, and society largely lives according to developed principles, voiced ideas, turned into commandments. Only among the Amish these principles are more meaningful, more reasonable and natural. They are not just protest, they are positive. By rejecting violence and politics, the Amish placed themselves outside the society of their time. Rejecting modern technology, they place themselves outside of all civilization. But the refusal did not occur through cutting off, not through impoverishment, but through the preservation and strengthening of one’s own, built on different principles. Amish society is a living alternative society, the goal of which is not protest, but full-fledged, friendly life. This is not paradise; in the everyday life of the Amish there is a lot of work, sometimes difficult (but not “work” for strangers). A hard, but at the same time more natural and joyful life than we are all familiar with. And let’s not forget about the closeness to nature, which may not be recognized by the Amish, but is beautifully visible to us from the outside. This is such an anachronism, from the point of view of the majority - stupid archaism that has no future, sectarian quirks. But look at the photographs of children playing, look at the pictures of the life of ordinary people who do not strive for the stars. Personally, I get the feeling that I’m in a fairy tale, and I become kindly envious. There are also disadvantages in Amish society, and we will talk about them later. But we simply must study such a unique society of people who consciously live differently from everyone else. If, of course, we want to understand ourselves better and see our possible future. To illustrate, it is an everyday parable, a story about tourists visiting the Amish. The story is taken from the Amish website (let me explain: the websites are not made by the Amish themselves, but by their friends and well-wishers, so this is more of a website about the Amish).
“So let me tell you a story. Several years ago, a group of 52 people came by bus to see how the Amish lived. A meeting was arranged for them with an Amish man who answered their questions. The first question was, “What does it mean to be Amish?”
Amish thought for a moment and then he asked his own question. “Which of you has a TV in the house?” Fifty-two hands went up. “Now tell me, how many of you think that perhaps you would be better off without TV?” Again fifty-two hands went up. "OK. Now, how many of you are going to go home and get rid of the TV?” Not a single hand went up.
“Now I’ll tell you what it means to be Amish. In our church, if we see that it is harmful to our soul, we will do without it. And the rest of the world does not know what to do in this case. We believe that posing for photographs is part of a global misconception aimed at glorifying our bodies. The Bible tells us that inner man It has higher value. And facial features should not influence our attitude towards a person, their assessment. We are dust and to dust we will return. Why take pictures and decorate the walls of the clay house in which we live with photographs? Let us be careful not to exalt ourselves by becoming an idol.”
The ideas of the Amish not only lay at the origins of their society, but also continue to guide the thoughts of today's Amish who are trying to differentiate themselves from modern America, and thereby from the modern civilized world as a whole.

We started on Saturday with a trip to the “Amish country”. Although, to be honest, it is not entirely correct to use the word “country” for this, because not only the Amish live there, but also Americans. Many bloggers call the places where the Amish live this way, because the word country is translated as country, but this is only one meaning of this word, but there is also the concept of village, territory, locality, region. Therefore, I would use the definition of locality or territory of residence of these amazing people.

Their houses are mixed with other residents of the state. But it is also true that the county or parish of Lancaster is indeed a densely populated area. large quantity Amish. In addition to Pennsylvania, large communities live in Ohio and Indiana.

Our path lay in a small area of ​​Lancaster called Bird in Hand (translated as bird in hand). What does this name say to us, people far from such a way of life? It’s just that they prefer to have a titmouse in their hand than to admire a gorgeous crane somewhere high, high in the sky.

There is a lot of material about the Amish on the Internet. Even those who have never seen these mysterious and very simple people, who have not been to their places of residence, write about them. And this gave rise to many inaccuracies in matters of their religious doctrine and everyday aspects. What further helps this is that different Amish communities actually have differences. What some communities practice in their lives is strictly prohibited to others. But the basic tenets of faith are common to everyone.

In my article I will describe what I saw and heard from our guide, combining it with information from the tourist office that organized this amazingly kind excursion to the farm for us. All photographs were taken by me personally, with the exception of the miniature, which was taken from the excursion website.

To learn a little more about Amish life, we hired Aaron & Jessica's Buuggy Rides. If you speak English, you can get to know this bureau yourself using the link you see.

Who are the Amish

Those who today are called Amish (after the name of the largest community) are actually made up of not very different Protestant communities: of which the largest are the Old Order Amish themselves (almost like “Russian Old Believers”) , Mennonites and Brethren. The first of them appeared Mennonites (from Menno Simons - the founder of the sect) in the 40s of the 16th century, as a Protestant movement characterized by Anabaptism (re-baptism). Mennonites, like all Anabaptists, do not recognize the baptism of children and believe that faith is a conscious matter, and everyone must decide the choice of faith for themselves. Therefore, they were baptized again, at the age of 16-20, without taking into account early baptism (which was a clear heresy for Catholics). Already taking into account this position of the doctrine, talking about the Amish as a sect is not entirely correct. By the way, this fact gives reason to some bloggers to think that even now the Amish baptize infants, and then rebaptize in adulthood. Let me remind you that this is a historical fact and now baptism is performed only for Amish adults.

The Amish have always embraced religious tolerance in both theory and practice. In addition, the Amish, unlike other Protestant movements and sects, never preached their teachings. This is partly connected with another important point of Mennonite teaching - nonviolence.

The Old Order Amish (named after Jacob Amman) separated from the Mennonites in 1600 and went even further: they were already against any interference of the outside world in their lives and believed that nothing good could be expected from it.

After long and large-scale persecution to which the Amish were subjected in their homeland for the custom of baptism in adulthood and opposition to the union of church and state, at the beginning of the 18th century, at the invitation of the prominent Quaker William Penn, they moved to the south of the American state of Pennsylvania. And now it is Pennsylvania, or more precisely Lancaster County, that can be conditionally called “Amish country.” More than 20 thousand people live here. There are also many Amish living in Ohio. In total, there are now about 225 thousand Amish who live in the United States and Canada.

But the origins of the Amish people began with the migration of about 300 people to Pennsylvania in the 1720s. Emigrants also came in the 19th century, but in any case, the people as such had already formed in America. The Amish have large families (usually 7-8 children). Demographers estimate the Amish population is doubling every 16-20 years. This growth is especially surprising against the backdrop of today's general demographic crisis in developed countries.

Amish beliefs and religious activities

The Amish faith is based on a certain, quite literal and strict interpretation of the Bible. The main tenets of the Amish faith are contained in the "Declaration of the Fundamental Tenets of Our Common Christian Faith." Membership in the Amish Church begins with baptism of faith, which usually occurs between the ages of 16 and 25. Conscious baptism by faith is also a necessary condition for marriage. After joining the church, each member of the community can marry only fellow believers. The Amish have no churches. Meetings and services are held every second Sunday in the homes of members of the congregation (local community) on a rotating basis.

Local religious organization The Amish usually consists of 20-40 families living close to each other, often in neighborhoods. The congregation is headed by a bishop, or "full minister" (German: völliger Diener), together with several priests and deacons.

According to the rules, each congregation must have at least one “full minister”, who is also the head of the community, 2 ministers and a deacon. They are elected for life by the vote of all members of the community and do not enjoy any privileges. But leaders of different communities sometimes gather to resolve various issues and conclude agreements between communities.

Traditions

The Amish way of life is established by the “Ordnung” (English: Ordnung - established order, charter), which varies slightly in different communities. And in different church districts of the same community, the rules may also differ slightly. Practices that are acceptable in one community may not be acceptable in another. It is difficult to say anything about the Amish lifestyle and culture in general, because only a few general provisions will be true for all Amish.

The Ordnung is more of a practical guide to community life than a religious doctrine defining the concept of sin.

An excess of modern conveniences and entertainment can undermine the foundations of a God-oriented way of life,” the Amish believe, and therefore continue to live according to the laws of their ancestors.

Now let’s get acquainted with the laws of their ancestors, and try to understand how the Amish differ from us. The answer is obvious - many, if not all. After all, they live approximately in the 19th century, and reject all the advantages of civilization, although civilization does not have advantages in everything.

Transport

You will not see such a number of horse-drawn vehicles as in Lancaster anywhere else. The first thing that strikes strangers when entering Amish areas is the horse-drawn carriages.

The Amish generally do not use cars, considering them too easy and tempting a way to get around. the world, from whom they do not expect good. And although today among Americans it is much more prestigious to have your own horse than some expensive car, for the Amish the horse has always been and still remains not a luxury, but a means of transportation.

The most common carriages are the characteristic rectangular cabins. The Amish themselves call these cabins “buggies.” A young Amish man receives a buggy as a gift on his birthday. The cost of a buggy is $5,000–$8,000. Each carriage is equipped with reflective triangles and turn signals. Anyone can operate it, even a child, and no rights are required.

Another means of covering distances are individual scooters. This scooter is mainly used by children, traveling long distances between villages. Do you know why there are no pedals? It's right not to go too fast. In order not to rush to follow modern speeds - everything corresponds to this in the life of the Amish.

Although most Amish do not drive cars, they may hire drivers and vans. For example, visiting another Amish family, going to the grocery store once a month, or commuting to an off-farm job. All this is regulated by local decisions of the congregations.

In practice, the Amish's transportation accessibility increases and their isolation decreases. A horse can ride a maximum of 40 km at a time, after which it needs a long rest. This limits the Amish's daily travel radius to 20 kilometers from home. In addition, over long distances, a horse-drawn carriage can withstand average speed no more than 16 km/h, and this is very little for emergency transportation (in case of an accident, illness, etc.). In some regions, regular bus service is established between Amish settlements. Travel by rail is also allowed.

Clothing and appearance

What all Amish clothing has in common is modesty and simplicity. Clothes should not attract attention with cuts, coloring or any other features. Fasteners, hooks, or pins are used more often than buttons, zippers, or Velcro. Snap fasteners are used on casual clothing, while flat buttons are used on work shirts and trousers. Limiting the use of buttons is a tribute to tradition, and also to avoid showing off your clothes to others

Women always walk with their heads covered, their hair is gathered in a neat bun or braided, and they wear a cap, a hat, or a scarf. Long and voluminous hair is considered a sign among the Amish female beauty, but only the husband is supposed to see this beauty. Women wear long (below the knees, often ankle-length) single-color dresses of a simple cut. Aprons (usually white for unmarried women, black or purple for married women) are often worn at home, and are always worn for religious services. Beginning with adolescence, girls usually wear a scarf - a large scarf (a triangular piece of fabric), the edges of which are pinned to the apron. Either a cap, cape or other similar headdress. During the colder months, women can wear a long woolen coat. Jewelry and makeup are not permitted.

The men are also dressed according to the rules - in hats, shirts, jackets and wide dark trousers with suspenders. Clothes are sewn by women themselves and therefore women's dresses and men's shirts are often the same color. Children wear shirts and dresses of the same color as their parents.

The boy's shirt is made of the same material as his mother's dress.

A distinctive feature of the male half of the Amish are hats. Both children and adults wear them.

"Tom Sawyer"

There are two types of hats, yellow straw for work and black felt for celebrations. Another difference is beards. Married men are allowed and required to wear beards.

Wedding rings are prohibited and beards are a kind of social sign men. But you can’t wear a mustache, because the Amish associate it with European army officers and with militarism in general. For the same reason, it is forbidden to wear belts with buckles; all trousers only have suspenders.

Modern technologies

The Amish oppose any connection with the outside world. Therefore, there is a ban on the use of network power lines, landline telephones and gas pipelines. Some argue that the Amish do not use electricity at all. Actually this is not true. The photographs show that not a single house or farm actually has any power lines connected to it.

But at the same time, it is allowed to use gasoline generators. Homes use refrigerators powered by bottled gas, farms use electric milking machines, and turn signals on horse-drawn carts run on batteries. Even some sewing machines have an electric drive that runs on a car battery. But it should be noted that each community has its own rules, and many concessions are adopted by the council after an appeal from a community member.

For the same reason, telephones are not used in the house. Although you can use a payphone, that is, a one-way telephone. Sometimes someone has a payphone on their property, but it is intended for several families.

Language

Pennsylvanian is used within families German, but is studied at school English language.

Education

The Amish do not seek to educate their children beyond the required eight years of high school, believing that this basic knowledge is sufficient to prepare them for Amish life. Typically, an Amish school consists of one room in which students of all ages sit. The teachers are young, unmarried girls who themselves recently graduated from this school. Subjects suitable for further work in the community are studied.

Family

Having children, raising them, and living in harmony with neighbors and relatives are the most important functions of the Amish family. The Amish believe that God blesses large families. The family provides its member with a certain status both in the family and in the community. First of all, a person is positioned as a member of a family, and not as an individual. Everyone has a job, a position, a responsibility according to their status.

Day-to-day housework is usually traditionally divided between men and women. A traditional Amish family provides most of the education and training for its children. Although formal education ends with eighth grade, the boy or girl goes on to learn what he or she will do as an adult. The boys work with their father in the field, in the stable or in the workshop.

Girls - in the house or in the garden, not far from their mother. Practical work skills are taught in the family, as has been the case for many centuries. traditional society. In general, young Amish follow the example of their parents, who are usually busy with hard work. physical labor, and strive to become a productive part of the family.

The head of the husband is Christ, and the head of the wife is the husband. Unfortunately, the great crisis of our time is men taking on the responsibility that God has placed on their shoulders. To fail to accept this responsibility is to work carelessly and violate the will of God.

Medicine

The Amish do not have their own doctors. They usually use folk remedies - herbal treatment. But when there is an urgent need, they still go to hospitals. Childbirth is usually attended by midwives, who always have work, since ordinary families have 7-10 children. The Amish do not have health insurance, so if they are forced to go to the hospital or undergo surgery, they pay for all doctor's services on their own. If the expenses are large, the whole community helps.

Amish lifestyle and culture

Amish families and communities tend to be conservative and try to maintain a more traditional way of life, more archaic family relationships, than the larger society around them. The Amish allow marriages only with other Amish, less often with Mennonites.

In difficult situations, be it material or psychological, most of them rely only on the help of their family, close relatives and other members of their community. Many do not accept pension, medical, social and other insurance, both private and public.

In the United States, long-established Amish communities are even exempt from the obligation to pay contributions to social insurance, which is compulsory for other citizens, since they do not actually enjoy its benefits and deliberately refuse to receive social support from the state (but provide an acceptable standard of living for dependent people on their own).

Like other Anabaptists, the Amish adhere to pacifist beliefs and refuse any kind of military service or other use of violence for protection. Even Amish appeals to court to protect their rights are rare. In the past, refusal to serve in the military has led to persecution of the Amish. government authorities, and served as one of the reasons for their mass emigration from Europe to America. Currently, in both the USA and Canada, where the majority of Amish live, compulsory military service has been abolished, and the armies have become completely professional.

There is another distinctive feature in the relationship between the Amish and the outside world that is not characteristic of other Protestant communities. This - probation, rumspringa for a teenager from the age of 16 until he makes a conscious decision to be baptized by faith in the Amish Church.

Having left the community and the usual way of life, a teenager at this time can see all aspects of life in surrounding reality- both positive and negative. Making a completely conscious, voluntary choice on your own between life “in the world” and life in a religious community is not an easy task. In fact, this is the first serious test of strength in life.

After some time, the teenager already makes the final choice - returns to the community, is baptized, or goes into the “world”, and then all contact with family, all hope of help is lost. It is important to understand here: no matter how unusual or even strange the way of life and beliefs of the Amish may seem, each of them made the choice themselves, having an alternative. And this difficult decision alone makes a person an adult and puts him on the same scale as the rest of his small society. But to what extent one can compromise with the outside world - this issue is resolved differently in different Amish groups.

One of the Ten Commandments in the Bible states: “You shall not make for yourself any graven image or any likeness of anything in heaven above, or in the earth below, or in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4).

The Amish understand this commandment literally, and therefore most refuse to be photographed. Therefore, before photographing someone from the Amish, it is advisable to ask the guide for permission. They won’t take your camera away, but you will read the displeasure in their eyes. The authorities even accommodated people halfway and allowed them to have a passport without a photo, although by and large this is just a formality, since they don’t fly on airplanes, and they don’t need a passport within America.

Amish Farms in Lancaster

There are approximately 4,800 small farms in Lancaster County. This is more than any other county in the United States. Approximately 2,000 of these farms are dairy farms, and the remaining 2,800 are producers of poultry and pork products. So Amish farms in Lancaster make up about 1,500 units of the total.

Meet the donkey
And this is the maternity ward of the farm. In front of the entrance to the dairy department.

Accordingly, Lancaster County produces more milk, eggs and poultry than any other county in the United States. And in pig production it takes an honorable fourth place. This production also requires a lot of feed. On average, the county imports about 600 thousand tons of grain per year, most of which is grown in Ohio and Indiana. Hay is even purchased from Canada.

Amish dairy products are famous throughout America, and despite the higher prices for their products, they are in great demand.

In addition to dairy production, the Amish are famous for their carpentry. Furniture made from natural wood, although rustic, is famous for its quality.

Amish relations with the surrounding society

Since their origins, the Amish have experienced significant pressure from the modern world around them. For example, US child labor laws pose a threat to the community's time-honored way of life and raise many questions about the treatment of children in families, as well as the Amish's views on psychological and medical support. Modern society does not give of great importance those strong emotional and spiritual connections between people, the unprecedented mutual support and mutual assistance that exist in Amish families and communities.

The Amish cause controversy and disagreement in modern society due to their methods of raising young children, which are very different from ordinary ones. These people deliberately moved away from modern society and built their own, where they have their own rules and procedures. After all, they don’t just refuse many of the benefits of civilization - they see this as the meaning of life and through such restrictions they receive benefits that are understandable to them alone.

My impressions of Amish life

It is, of course, difficult to get a complete picture of this community in one day. And it’s even more difficult to imagine yourself in their company. The conclusion suggests itself - the Amish community is by all standards not a sect. This is a lifestyle that is based on a habit passed down from generation to generation, recorded in the mind at the genome level. In some ways they certainly attract – with their simplicity of life, kindness, loyalty to their grandfather’s traditions and beliefs. Their intra-family relationships deserve respect: respect for parents, elders, and in general their understanding of the importance of family. We wish we could!

Unfortunately, it is perhaps not easy for us, the children of civilization, to agree with them. We live in an age of speed and technology. It seems that everything that surrounds us is aimed at making life easier and more comfortable. And yet there is not enough time even for simple communication. Telephones and computers, which on the one hand help us hear and see our loved ones across vast distances, at the same time hopelessly separate us, preventing us from communicating with a friend on the next street, a brother or sister in a room behind the wall.

Refusing the means of communication, the Amish prefer personal communication. They are in no hurry. How important this is! They manage to do everything they need to live during daylight hours. There is plenty of time left for wives, for husbands and for numerous children, caressed by parental attention. This is happiness! All that remains is to envy these children of nature with quiet, bright envy.

The Amish enjoy the benefits of civilization, but according to the principle: “do no harm” and “can we do without it?” That is, the machine is electrical and mechanical. Both of them sew. They will have a mechanical one. Each innovation is very carefully weighed by the head of the community and it is decided whether this fact can be allowed into life rules or not. How often do we make thoughtless purchases, just because our neighbor has such an item. How often people buy houses and cars here in America just so as not to look poorer than their neighbors or friends. And the “arms race” is gaining new momentum. And the simplicity, even the sameness in clothing among the Amish, excludes the slightest hint of showing off one’s pride.

One can, of course, speculate, what would happen to the Amish if there was no civilization around? We can talk about the younger generation of Amish, which, although they have the right to choose, is a bird’s choice from a cage. It is easier for them to live out of habit - at home, in the family, in the community, than to fight for survival in a world alien to them.

How do you like this age-old wisdom Amish - a woman can be happy only when she has to feed at least 7 people. How many of our women will agree with this statement?

These are the thoughts that came to me after a trip to the “Amish country”. And probably, if possible, such a trip is worth repeating, so that again you can stop at least for a while and think, is everything right in our civilization?

And some more photos

Carpentry is very common among the Amish.

I took a photo of an Amish woman at a gas station. (The Amish do not like to be photographed, as they believe that their images can be used “for evil”).
I decided to tell about this community.
I found stories in different places and photos in Corbis.
I had a chance to see them myself, I felt like I was on the set of a historical film.
Once I was riding in an elevator with several representatives. The smell, I must say, comes from them...

Sources: Wikipedia; Amish country; BBC Russian Service, Pennsylvania - lost World: how the Amish community lives in the USA.

At first, when you see the beards of men, you perceive the Amish as Orthodox Jews, but the Amish have nothing to do with Jews.

Amish are a Christian denomination of Mennonite origin.
The founder was Jacob Ammann, a priest from Switzerland who emigrated to Alsace in the second half of the 17th century.

Their church doctrine can be characterized as the most conservative version of Mennoniteism.
The Amish did not build churches, but prayed with their fellow tribesmen, perhaps each in turn.

The main feature of their doctrine is a stricter adherence to the Holy Scriptures.
IN early XVIII century, part of the Amish moved to the United States (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana), where Quaker William Penn (Pennsylvania), who proclaimed freedom of religion, provided Amish and Mennonites with refuge in the southeastern part of the state.

Main city counties and the center of "Amish country" Cross Keys ( modern name- Intercourse (Intercourse - relations)).

Amish and Mennonites in the United States are collectively called "Pennsylvania Dutch" ("Pennsylvania Dutch").

The Amish call the rest of the United States "English."
Between themselves they still speak a German dialect called Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch, and English is taught in schools.

The Amish have preserved their way of life and appearance almost unchanged since the 17th century.

Most of them wear clothes and hats of certain colors and styles, ride in ancient horse-drawn carts, use only steel wheels, and plow the land with a horse-drawn plow.

They are prohibited from serving in the army, taking photographs, driving cars and flying airplanes, owning computers, televisions, radios, wearing wristwatches and wedding rings.

The Amish marry only with their coreligionists.

As a result of cross-marriages within small communities, the Amish are subject to genetic degradation.

They sew their own clothes, only they buy the material in the store.

Don't go to public schools: They have their own, where they have an eight-year education.

Dresses are plain - blue, purple or dark gray, made of thin material similar to wool, but with a mandatory apron: for a married woman it is black, for an unmarried woman it is white.

Men wear black and dark blue suits. The trousers are supported by suspenders; There are no buttons on the trousers; they are replaced by a hook and loop system.

Shirts in pure colors; white for church service.
The wardrobe is completed with a black felt hat.

Children dress the same as adults; boys usually wear straw hats.

The closer you get to their habitat, the darker the roads and streets become.

There are no street lights here - the Amish do not use electricity.

There is a separate kerosene lamp burning in each window of their houses, or they use electricity generated by wind turbines.

The same installations drive fans with large wooden blades hanging from the ceiling.

In the pitch darkness, the sound of hooves can be heard occasionally.
Late fathers of families hurry home on traditional Amish horse-drawn wagons.

The only signs of modernization of these vehicles are headlights and turn signals, which are necessary in order to avoid getting run over by the cars of restless tourists roaming around at night.

The appearance of Amish women on the streets after dark for no particular reason is considered promiscuity.

The Amish are hereditary farmers.

They grow everything, make butter, cheeses, cottage cheese and sell it at the market in nearby Philadelphia or to customers coming from all over the state.

Amish products are not cheap because they are considered environmentally friendly.
(I drank their milk, it was fatty and smelled like cow).

The Amish do not accept any mechanization and refuse to use tractors.
They do everything by hand: plowing, harvesting, milking cows, mowing grass.

In addition to private lands, there are also public fields under the supervision of the Council of Elders.

With proceeds from the sale of crops from these fields local residents they maintain roads in good condition, pay salaries to school teachers and the blacksmith.

An integral part of the interior of an Amish home is a blanket made from scraps - called a quilt. (quilt), as well as wooden things - chests, chairs, beds, rocking chairs.

Children's toys are simple, homemade: rag dolls, wooden trains, cubes.

If any of you have seen the movie "Witness" (1985) with Harrison Ford you may already have great show about who the Amish are and how they live.

Here are some more photos.

Their world is simple and magical at the same time. So who are the Amish? First of all, it must be said that this religious movement. That is, we are not talking about a tribe or race, but about people professing certain teachings.

Who are the Amish and where did they come from?

In the seventeenth century, there lived a priest in Switzerland who preached Protestantism. His name was Jacob Amman. He was terribly dissatisfied with the events taking place in society and was firmly convinced that progress and the Devil are mutual concepts. Jacob gathered his followers and sailed in the direction of America, in order to arrange a life there pleasing to God, according to his concepts. Since then, settlements of his followers have thrived and flourished in the New World, successfully budding off and spreading throughout the world. In any case, in the USA it would never occur to anyone to ask the question: “Who are the Amish?” These people are well known and respected in the country.

Amish beliefs

These good people They avoid the benefits of civilization in every possible way. Television is prohibited in settlements, the Internet is taboo! Sometimes they are allowed to listen to the radio (certain channels and programs). The Amish (photo) are subsistence farmers. It is clear that their food is environmentally friendly and very tasty (which a modern “gourmet” will no longer be able to understand, having become addicted to food additives). The souls of the settlers are as pure as their way of life. Any immodesty is unacceptable to them, not to mention debauchery. They cover their bodies with clothes and do not display their charms. It must be said that their ideology is also divinely non-aggressive. They say that an Amish can be beaten or insulted, and he will bless the offender. And this is not a game, but an inner conviction! Naturally, in such a community there is no hint of hostility or rivalry. Such emotions are sinful. Also, kind settlers let anyone who knocks into their house without asking who they are. The Amish cannot even imagine that it is possible to drive someone who needs help out of the door!

How do the Amish live?

The belief is very strict. They follow the Holy Scriptures literally. They don't build temples. They pray in their residential buildings, meeting one by one with one of the community members. Services are conducted by preachers, of whom there are usually two per congregation. The Amish have some peculiarities in the use of toilet items. For example, men do not sew buttons on coats and jackets. Women do not wear bright dresses, and do not even think about trousers. Families are created only with “their own,” which, according to scientists, can harm the community, since children may be susceptible to genetic diseases. No special research has been carried out in this direction, but you can’t tell by looking at people that they are sick. Yes and modern world, from which they seek to escape, provides so many threats that it is unknown what is better: to die due to a lack of gene pool or from devilish temptations! The Amish do not settle in Russia en masse. If there are some followers of this faith, they are few in number. On the territory of Rus' there are their own “Amish”, who are called Old Believers. These two movements have similar concepts, ways of life and taboos.

If we summarize the answers to the question: “Who are the Amish?”, then we can say that these are people whose beliefs do not allow them to participate in the “fall” of humanity. This is a tiny piece of multi-billion-dollar humanity, which by the fact of its existence has proven that it is possible to live a simple and kind life!

So: in the photo are Amish Mennonites.

Honestly, I know about the life of the Amish only from stories, although I see them quite often, but I have never come across them closely.
Across America, dozens of different sects live in different places, since one of the main principles of the country is freedom of religion.
As long as the sectarians do not break the law, they are not touched and they live according to the customs that are accepted among them.
Amish are a Christian denomination of Mennonite origin.
Its founder is Jacob Ammann, a priest from Switzerland who emigrated to Alsace (Germany) in the second half of the 17th century.

Those who today are called Amish (after the name of the largest sect) actually consist of not very different Protestant sects, of which the largest are the Old Order Amish itself (almost like “Russian Old Believers”). , Mennonites and Brethren.

The first of them to appear were the Mennonites (from Menno Simons, the founder of the sect), back in 1530.
Unlike other Protestants, for example, they baptized only those who had reached the age of 18.
The Old Order Amish (named after Jacob Amman) separated from the Mennonites in 1600 and went even further: they were already against any interference of the outside world in their lives.
At the end of the 17th century, most Amish were forced to emigrate to America to escape persecution.

Now the Amish live in 20 US states, there are many of them in our Wisconsin, and hardly any of you know that in the United States in the 21st century there are tens of thousands of people who prefer a horse to a car and a tractor, who practically do not use electricity and telephones, mineral fertilizers and other achievements of civilization.
And these people not only live in the outback, their largest community is located in Pennsylvania, just an hour and a half drive from Philadelphia.

Outwardly, representatives of different Amish sects hardly differ from each other, just as their life philosophy.
It is no coincidence that the Amish call themselves “plain people,” that is, simple people.
They all wear very simple clothes: women always wear long dresses, since the Bible teaches modesty.

The dresses are plain, made of thin material similar to wool, but with a mandatory apron: for a married woman it is black, for an unmarried woman it is white.
The style of this dress has been stable for the last two hundred years.

Even Wedding Dress it is sewn in a plain color, without decorations, in the same style, so that you can wear it to work tomorrow.
The external differences between single, married and married people are strictly regulated.
These are the shape of hats and caps, the color of the dress and other unimportant little things.

So caps for married women in the shape of a heart.
They do without jewelry, do not use cosmetics and perfumes, and do not wear short hair.

In memory of those sad times when they were pursued by Prussian soldiers in their historical homeland, dressed in bright uniforms with wide belts and large buttons, men wear only suspenders instead of belts, and women try in every possible way to avoid buttons, replacing them with pins and hairpins.
Mennonites dress like the Amish, but their traditions are less strict.

They do not have divorces, but young men are allowed to communicate quite freely with girls of marriageable age.
Freely means talking, joking, walking together on a Sunday.
The appearance of Amish women on the streets after dark for no particular reason is considered promiscuity.

Men wear straw or black felt hats.
Only married men They have the right to wear a beard, but Amish people do not wear mustaches; they are prohibited by law.
Amish people usually do not serve in the army; they never serve in their American history didn't fight.
Amish men's hats:

On the right is a tall hat - for the holiday, and on the left are lower hats, which young men who may already be getting married have the right to wear.

The trousers are supported by suspenders, there are no buttons on the trousers, they are replaced by a system of hooks, loops and ties, as worn by sailors.

Interestingly, the Amish typically have 7 children per family, making the Amish population one of the fastest growing in the world.
If in 1920 there were only 5,000 Amish, then last year, in 2011, there were already 261,150.
The Amish are also noted for their reluctance to accept certain modern technologies and convenience, they value manual labor, simple rural life, and practically do not use modern technology.

They ride in horse-drawn carts; they fundamentally do not use cars, considering them too easy and tempting a way to move around the world around them.
The most common Amish carriages are rectangular cabins, which they call “buggies” (from the word “bug” - beetle, and “buggy”, respectively, “beetle”).
For the Amish, the horse has always been and still remains not a luxury, but a means of transportation.

The Amish also often use scooters for individual transportation.
In addition to horse-drawn vehicles and scooters, another significant difference between the life of the Amish and the life of the civilized part of humanity is the almost complete absence of electricity and telephones in their homes.
Moreover, they are not against electricity as such; the whole point, it turns out, is in the wires that supply it and, in their opinion, serve as another path from the pernicious outside world.
The same applies to pipes supplying gas.

They are prohibited from serving in the army, taking photographs, driving cars and flying airplanes, owning computers, televisions, radios, wearing wristwatches and wedding rings.
But electrical devices and mobile phones Without wires, the Amish use batteries.

By the way, here is my photo taken in the St. Louis Arch: an Amish Mennonite is holding a mobile phone.

Amish schools are a special topic.
All students, as in Tolstoy’s story, sit in one room and study for eight years.
These schools are taught by girls who have recently graduated from them and who have not yet married.
In schools they study only those subjects and only to the extent that will be useful to them on the farms: botany, zoology, arithmetic, basic geometry, English and German.

The Amish believe that such education is quite enough for a traditional farm life, but if someone wants to give their children a modern education, they can enroll them in the nearest regular school.
Of the books, not counting children's books, they kept only the Bible.
Among the paintings are wall calendars and a newspaper that they themselves print about the weather, harvest, milk yield, sowing or harvest.

Of the simple biblical values ​​that all Protestants have tried to return to, the Amish value family, honesty and work on the land as the most important.
Considering family one of the three main life values, the Amish pay great attention to community life.
For example, if one of the Amish needs a new house (a family has formed or there has been a fire), the whole community builds it.
Dozens, if not hundreds of men gather and in one day (!) erect a large wooden house literally turnkey.
Women prepare food for everyone on this day, and the day ends with a joint lunch.

In 1985, a film called “Witness” starring Harrison Ford was released across the country.
Best movie I can’t find anything about the Amish, I watched it in one sitting.
Moreover, the director showed the Amish community with great respect and sympathy.

The film takes place in an Amish community, and there they are collectively building a house.
Amish houses, like most houses in America, are made of wood.
If in the photographs they look brick or even stone, then this is only the cladding: the frame and all the ceilings are made of wood.
Externally, Amish houses are no different from the houses of other Americans.

The only thing that gives them away is the laundry drying on a line, since they don’t have electric dryers, and the harnessed buggies standing in the yards and near the farms.

By the way, the large “Red Army” stars on Amish houses are an old sign that has the same meaning as a horseshoe: for good luck.
Horseshoes are also sometimes found, but stars are more common.
An integral part of the interior of an Amish house is a blanket made of scraps - called a quilt, as well as wooden things - chests, chairs, beds, rocking chairs.

A simple children's toy.
Children's toys are simple, homemade: rag dolls, wooden trains, cubes.
The Amish do not have nursing homes.
If there is an elderly person in someone’s home who can no longer care for himself, a duty list is established and the entire community helps.

Among the Amish there are very poor people, even by American standards.
This is explained by their very low expenses: they do not buy cars, do not pay for gasoline, and they do not have mortgages on their houses.
Also, the Amish don't buy insurance.
They even pay cash for visiting a doctor.
If any of them require major surgery, the entire community is reset.
The Amish don't buy expensive clothes, food, Jewelry, cosmetics and perfumes, do not drink alcohol, and most importantly, they work on their farms and workshops from dawn to dusk.

By official statistics Department of Agriculture, Amish farms are among the most productive in the country.

Agriculture the Amish do it the old fashioned way; Their cows graze in the meadows and their products are environmentally friendly and of high quality.
I always enjoy buying groceries in an Amish store: the sellers are very smiling and attentive, however, in America it is no different, and the sellers are also dressed in formal dresses and caps.

In addition to being excellent farmers, the Amish are also famous for their crafts.
In their villages there are many shops with handicrafts and souvenirs made by them.

The Amish are famous woodworkers and carpenters; they make good, slightly old-fashioned, but real wooden furniture.
Amish furniture is made only from wood, without particle boards.
The furniture is quite expensive, but very strong and reliable.
Lovers of such furniture come from even Philadelphia and New York to buy it.

Photographing the Amish is not easy.
I have almost no photos of the Amish; they don’t like to be photographed and are never photographed themselves.
For this reason, the government developed passports without photographs specifically for the Amish.
Look, most of these photos of the Amish from the Internet are from the back or taken on the sly.

You won’t find family photos in Amish homes, but they have so-called “family lists” hanging on their walls.

Something like this.
One list of parents, the other - a modern family - name, month and year of birth.

But don’t try to find even the most modest Amish church among them—the Amish simply don’t have them.
The Amish went even further than the Mennonites in this matter: they abolished the church altogether, literally following the Bible, for the Scripture says: “The Almighty does not live in temples made with hands.”
The Amish take turns meeting weekly in their own homes to read the Bible.

Even in Everyday life they still manage to literally follow the Bible, preaching three commandments in everyday life: modesty, simplicity and obedience.
You cannot become an Amish at the behest of your heart, you can only be born one.
According to the rules of the Amish, all members of the community once in their lives, in their youth, are given a choice: either finally accept baptism, or refuse and leave the Amish community, go into the big world.
Before that, they are allowed to try to live in the world, to see what and how it is there.
He can see all aspects of life in the world around him, both positive and negative, and make a completely conscious voluntary choice between life “in the world” and life in the Amish religious community.

The most amazing thing is that up to 95 percent of young people, having looked at worldly life, return back to the community.
Only in adulthood do they take a deliberate step - baptism.

Most of the "oddities" way of life Amish is associated with their desire to protect their lives and the lives of their children from the pernicious influence of the outside world.
Actually, this is an old philosophical debate about what progress brings more: good or evil.
There is still no answer to it, which is why it is philosophical, but the Amish still firmly believe that time can be stopped, if not in a single country, then at least in a single community.
No one is stopping them from doing this in America, and God help them!

The text is compiled based on materials open sources Internet.