Part Five: The Importance of Religion
It should be obvious that religion is important to the Amish, since their way of dress alone is evidence of a different faith and way of life. The religious function of the family is not only reinforced by prayers at meals, family devotion, etc., but during worship itself.
As the Amish go from house to house for church every other Sunday, their religion remains literally in the home. The family is not split up and sent to different rooms for Sunday School. Indeed, Sunday Schools, which separated children from parents and made “teaching religion” more institutional, were one of the causes behind the formation of the Old Order groups.
At an Amish church service, everyone sits through the three hour plus service together in connecting rooms, although men and women are separated. Small children are passed back and forth, or walk between father and mother during the service. Worship is a family affair in the home.
Children also see their parent’s faith in practice (or not in practice) on a daily basis. Many Amish writings stress the importance of the example set by parents. The Amish often quote Proverbs in the Bible, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
All of this is part of the integration of the religion and family in the personal life of the individual and the community. The ordnung or ordinances of the church, sometimes seem unnecessarily picky to outsiders.
But as Dr. Donald Kraybill notes in his Riddle of Amish Culture, the ordnung…
“regulates private, public, and ceremonial life… Rather than a packet of rules to memorize, the Ordnung is the ‘understood’ behavior by which the Amish are expected to live… Children learn the Ordnung from birth by observing adults and hearing parents and others talk about it. It gradually becomes the definition of reality, ‘the way things are,’ in the child’s mind.”
The pervasiveness of religion and ordnung is so strong that it is sometimes overlooked as the cement that keeps Amish culture together. Some say the Amish, rather than having a religion based on faith, have one of outmoded traditions and ideas, many of which they cannot even explain. Others find shunning unnecessarily harsh. Amish communities sometimes fragment over seemingly trivial issues to the non-Amish outsider. Others see the Amish lifestyle as an idyllic return to “basic values, ” missing the religious order behind it all.
Some have joined the Amish faith from outside, but this attraction often comes from what they see superficially of the Amish and their way of life. Those expecting high theological discussions of the faith are disappointed.
Amish expert Dr. John Hostetler writes in his book Amish Society that…
“the greatest difficulties for those who try to join the Amish are: the hard manual labor, learning to accept responsibility willingly, and developing the ability to understand directions communicated in a nonverbal way. For a young man who is a prospective convert, Amishness begins with the stable and a pitchfork. For the young girl, it begins with the work at hand.”
One discovers what it means to be Amish by being and participating, not by theory and theological discourse. But this simply means that the religion, lifestyle, and culture are so intertwined that by attempting to dissect them, we destroy the concept of the whole.
In Amish life, there is much concern over the submission of the individual to the community and to the Church. Indeed, Dr. Kraybill finds the answers to much the Amish do in the word gelassenheit, which he defines as “submission,” or yielding to a higher authority. The noted Amish expert, Dr. John Hostetler, once noted bluntly in a lecture that among the Amish “self-pride stinks.” One does not find it uncommon to read articles by the Amish about “breaking the will” of small children.
I observed this first-hand when I ate with an Amish family several years ago. The one and a half-year-old boy was being stubborn by not putting his hands under the high chair tray during prayer before and after the meal. Of course, he was too young to know why this was a necessary prelude to eating. Consequently, we sat through periods of screaming fits from time to time. But through patient and determined work by the parents at every meal, which sometimes involved holding him and his hands down, he eventually understood that this had to be done. This was a step in breaking the will, but through it all love and affection were lavished on the children, even amid concern that perhaps they were being spoiled.
What one feels in Amish society is a sense of place, position, and belonging. While some may view aspects of this as stifling or detrimental, others find in it a sense of contentment and security. The Amish speak of the individual subordinating himself to the family, the church, the group. In doing this, however, he also receives much in return. Published with permission from http://www.Amishcountrynews.com
This was a very interesting and insightful post. Your Amish teachings seem very similar to our Christian ones. We also believe in training up a child biblically. Since reading your blog I have seen other similarities too. Blessings to you all. Sharon x
What a really great read Richard. Thank you!! Any time I can learn more about the Amish or Mennonites I am grateful for that. I know even in many Christian Churches the word submission comes under the microscope especially by those who do not read and study the Bible. I do believe we are so drawn to learn more because in many ways people have lost their sense of belonging for many different personal reasons and because I believe we truely desire a more simple life. The sense of community and the church family are there to support and uphold one another. Although I am not stupid enough to think they have no problems there either. I believe the Amish and Mennonites practice a great deal of humility and always put others before themselves. Thanks again and I look forward to one day soon getting to PA to really experience their way of life. God Bless Veronica
The blog's new facelift looks really great!!!
Thanks for noticing Johanna I did do a little tweaking and put together a new header image using 2 new images with an older one that was originally there. I was on another computer today and some things with Amish Stories didn't look quite right with me (size and color) , so the blog went under the knife again. I think ill leave things alone now and to be honest I'm not sure in my limited skills that I could do much better than the way it is now. Richard
It may be hard to live this way, but it is a way that gives a sence of belonging. A lot of people are searching these days, especially because they have a feeling that they don't belong anywhere. I think that is why the Amish are in the center of attention for a lot of people nowadays. It is something they long for themselves.Thank you so much for this wonderful article !!
You're a great ambassador for your faith, Richard. And thanks for the hilarious comment back at my joint!
It is admirable how the Amish overall have maintained their beliefs over the years. Thanks for sharing this info, Richard.Have a great weekend,KarenP.S. It was great to "interview" you over at my blog!
Richard…..do you know that in FRENCH, your names means:MONEY BAGS!!!! Someone that is RICH!!!! OH YEAH!Hey, go on back to Paris my dear and find your socks…..their weather there is a lot cooler than it is here for us! OH I hear all 'a y'all are getting some bad heat. We have had TONS OF RAIN but only in the early morning or night. Right now it is GORGEOUS OUT, but in the northern part of Minnesota, they have had flooding that is pretty disasterous. Oh, go to Paris for me, will ya?THANKS FOR COMING ON OVER….AnitaOH! MAKE SOME HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM!!
Very interesting. I liked learning more about their faith.
Such an interesting post. I enjoyed it. I love to read about the Amish ever since I read some of Beverley Lewis' fiction novels. Nice to know that you stopped by. Thank you!
Hello, Amish Stories. Sense and expression. Aesthetically your work has been held by both. The prayer for all peace. I wish You all the best. Have a good weekend. From Japan, ruma ❃
Anita ill settle for folks calling me money bags, I do have some bags but now ill need some money so help give that name any justice,lol. Richard
I'm planning a drive over to historic Gettysburg in my state of Pennsylvania this weekend, so I'm really looking forward to this one as I've never been before. So much history there so I'm definitely bringing my Kodak to snap away at anything that does not move, and I plan on posting that on Amish Stories at some point. Its hot folks so there's no getting around that here in the Lancaster area, but the weekend looks like that will break which should help make my little trip more enjoyable. Richard
Very interesting. I was familiar with some of this, but the insight was deeper. Good post.
Glad you enjoyed this one Leigh and I hope your able to stop over next week at this time for my "Lancaster on four wheels" post. Without really planning my shots I pretty much drive around the Lancaster country side in my trusty Ford Mustang taking random images, this one will be in 2 parts. Well I'm off to Gettysburg this morning folks and I hope that I'm able to get a few nice images that I can post-up on Amish Stories. Everyone enjoy your day and watch it because its still pretty warm out there. Richard
Hi Richard, made it over…Blessings,Renee
Glad to see that you made it Renee, and thanks for sending me those recipes on how to make your own soap. Ill be using them in the near future and I think the readers will enjoy those. Richard
Hi Richard, thank you for stopping by and leaving me kind words.This is very interesting reading. I shall look around and find out more about the Amish.
I enjoyed reading this as it explains a lot about the basis of why the Amish live the way they do…at least in my mind. 🙂
Good morning and the heat seems to be backing off a little compared to the last few days, but its still warm and will remain so for a while. I really enjoy the fall and early spring but ill just have to just roll with it and enjoy the Summer for what it is, hope to see you guys this Monday for Jeans post which is a very good one! Richard