The document provides an overview of Amish Americans, including their history, beliefs, and practices. It discusses how the Amish are descended from Anabaptists in Europe and faced religious persecution. Many Amish immigrated to Pennsylvania and Ohio in the 1700s-1800s for economic and religious reasons. Their beliefs emphasize humility, separation from the world, and plain dress and language. Teens may experience mainstream culture during Rumspringa before committing to the church. While the Amish try to separate from technology, some adopt modern conveniences depending on their congregation's Ordnung. Tourism both benefits and challenges Amish communities.

1. Amish AmericansReligious Minorities

2. History of the Amish ChurchMennonites and the Anabaptists

3. Early Church HistoryIn 1517 Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation in Germany

4. It was the first time the Bible was translated into a language that was more accessible to common people

5. After Luther the Reformation spread to many other countriesAnabaptistsAnabaptists are a denomination of the Protestant Church that was formed in Germany

6. The name means baptize again, the name comes from their belief that believers should be baptized as adults and not as infants

7. Anabaptists are the precursor to Amish and Mennonites MennonitesMennonites are Anabaptists that were followers of Menno Simons, who was a former Catholic Priest

8. They faced a lot of persecution, not only from the Catholics, but other Protestants as wellAmish FoundationsJakobAmman of Switzerland founded the Amish church in 1693, as a different denomination than the MenonnitesAmman wanted Communion services more than once a yearAnd he wanted to be able to have more reforms within the Church, since the Mennonites did not agree, he formed his own church and the followers were known as AmishBecause of religious persecutions and economic troubles the Amish moved to many places around Europe as well as the New World, so that by the year 1801 there were Amish from Pennsylvania all the way to Russia

9. Amish Settlements in AmericaOhio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Canada

10. Amish in America 1700’sThe Amish immigrated to the new world because of economic reasons and religious persecutionsThey settled with many other German speakers in SE PA, and parts of VA and MD, and were called “Pennsylvania Dutch” even though not all the immigrants were AmishMade their own culture including language dialect, clothing and architecture style, known as PA Dutch

11. Amish Architecture

12. Amish in America 1800’sTies to the land cause for moving out west into OH, IL, IA, and up north into Canada

13. New Amish immigrants became known as “Swiss Amish” and settled mostly in IN

14. Amish continued to move west as the century progressed

15. Many of the new European immigrants were more liberal than the older immigrants, causing a split between the two groups in the mid 1800’sAmish in America 1900’sBy 1937 there were no longer any Amish in Europe, the ones that didn’t immigrate to the US either dissolved themselves or assimilated when the local Mennonites.The differences between the liberal and conservative Amish resulted in the formation of four different groups of Amish Americans

16. Four Amish Groups“Old Order Amish”The most conservative group“Amish Mennonites”The more liberal groupsThe EglyAmish- Bishop Henry EglyThe StuckleyAmish- Bishop Joseph Stuckey

17. Amish Belief SystemDoctrinePractices

18. DoctrineOnly adults can choose to join the Church, as such children are not members of the Church and cannot be baptized until they are old enough to decide for themselves to join the ChurchLeading a life like Jesus Christ by separating from the world. This belief comes from the Scripture in the New Testament book of Romans which warns believers from conforming to the world Two kingdoms exist, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Kingdom of Earth, and individuals have to choose to which Kingdom it is that they wish to belongCommunion two times a year, only for Church members, includes feet washing

19. Church ServicesChurch services are conducted every other week, and take place in homes through out the community, there are about 30 Amish families per community, so each family hosts about once a yearMen and Women sit on opposite sides The service usually lasts a few hoursHymns are sang from the Ausbund, an old hymnal used by the AmishAfter the service lunch is usually served

20. PracticesRules followed in the Amish church are called Ordnung, the specifics vary between communities as they are allowed to make their own, but they rules themselves are similarPlain DressMen: grow beards according to scripture, not moustaches (military connotations), hair is trimmed with no style, combed front with bangs, a plain dark colored suit, trousers with suspenders, no collar on the shirt, and no pockets on the coatWomen: do not wear jewelry, plain long sleeve dress, bonnet, and an apron, hair is not cut, parted down the middle, Unmarried: black apron, Married: White apron

21. Plain Dress

22. PracticesHumilityThe Kingdom of Earth and the Kingdom of HeavenSeparation from the worldNo Modern TechnologySeparation of Church and StateNo government benefits, SS, or insuranceHochmut= Pride, HaughtinessDo not attend school past 8th grade, Education leads to prideEvery child learns PA Dutch, and EnglishPhotographs are not allowed, they lead to vanityDemut= HumilityPlain Dress

23. PracticesGelassenheit= calmness, placidity, “letting-be”Peaceful, non-violentWere attacked by both sides of the Revolutionary War for not joining a sideFamilies paid $300 to not be drafted into the Civil WarDuring the Korean War Amish were required to work for the government in a non military wayRumspringaMeans “Running Around”Teens go through Rumspringa before they can join the Church

24. RumspringaThe outside world is the Devils Playground

25. RumspringaRemember, only people who choose to join the Church can be baptized, how do you know if you want to join if you have only ever known Amish?This is the time when teens are allowed to experience everything the outside world has to offer“Dress English”Drive CarsListen to Pop MusicCable TVDrugs, Alcohol, SmokingWear Make-up and JewelryAmish in the City

26. RumspringaAfter Rumspringa the New member is baptized, and becomes a member of the Church, if they decide they want to leave the Church they are excommunicated and shunnedShunning= AvoidanceCan be caused by a number of things, from having a telephone, to drinking alcoholActive members must avoid the offending individual in all social activitiesSpouses may continue to live together but they may not engage in sexual intercourseA separate table at family gatheringsSome are expelled from the community and are not allowed contact with their family

27. Modern Technology and the Amish-AmericanA fine line between how much you can assimilate and still remain Amish