Old Order Amish

Old Order Amish
it:Utente:TheCadExpert · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Old Order Amish
Caption	An Amish family in a traditional horse-drawn buggy.
Classification	Anabaptist
Founder	Jakob Ammann
Founded date	Late 17th century
Founded place	Switzerland, Alsace, Palatinate
Separations	Amish Mennonite, Beachy Amish
Congregations	Over 2,000 church districts
Members	~350,000 (adult baptized members, 2023)
Area	Primarily United States and Canada

Old Order Amish are a traditionalist Anabaptist Christian group known for their simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology. They emerged in the late 17th century from a schism within the broader Swiss Brethren movement in Europe, led by the eponymous Jakob Ammann. Their communities are defined by a strict, unwritten set of rules called the Ordnung, which governs all aspects of daily life and is enforced through a practice of shunning. Concentrated primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, they represent one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in North America.

History and origins

The Old Order Amish trace their origins to the Protestant Reformation in 16th-century Europe, specifically to the Radical Reformation and the Anabaptist movement that rejected infant baptism. The immediate founder was Jakob Ammann, a Swiss Anabaptist elder whose insistence on strict church discipline, including the practice of Meidung (shunning), caused a schism with more liberal leaders like Hans Reist around 1693. Facing persecution in Switzerland and the Palatinate, many early Amish migrated to North America in the 18th century, with the first substantial settlement occurring in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Major 19th-century divisions, particularly during the Amish Mennonite schisms, solidified the "Old Order" as those resisting change and formalized Sunday schools.

Beliefs and theology

Old Order Amish theology is rooted in the core Anabaptist tenets of adult baptism, nonresistance, and the separation of church and state, as articulated in the Dordrecht Confession of Faith. They hold a two-kingdom theology, believing they belong to the kingdom of God and not the worldly kingdom, which underpins their separation from broader society. Central to their faith is Gelassenheit (submission or yielding), emphasizing humility, obedience, and community over individualism. Doctrinally conservative, they prioritize practical Christian living and community harmony over theological debate, with worship services conducted in a mixture of Pennsylvania German and High German.

Lifestyle and community

Daily life is agrarian-based, with families typically living on farms, though some now work in small cottage industries like furniture-making or construction. Distinctive plain dress, often handmade, includes head coverings for women and broad-brimmed hats for men, serving as symbols of obedience and separation. Transportation is primarily by horse-drawn buggy, and homes generally lack connection to the public electrical grid, though some may use batteries, compressed air, or diesel generators for specific tasks. The community is the central social unit, with events like barn raisings and bi-weekly church services in members' homes reinforcing mutual aid and solidarity.

Ordnung and discipline

The Ordnung is the collective, unwritten code of rules that dictates permissible technology, dress, and social conduct, varying slightly between church districts. It is upheld by ordained leaders, including a bishop, several ministers, and a deacon, who are chosen by lot from among the male members. Violations of the Ordnung are addressed through a series of increasingly serious admonishments, with the ultimate sanction being Meidung, or shunning, which severs social and business ties. This practice, most famously applied in cases like that of former member Andy Weaver, is intended to prompt repentance and maintain church purity.

Demographics and settlements

With a high birth rate and strong retention of youth, the Old Order Amish population has doubled approximately every 20 years, with adult baptized members numbering around 350,000 as of 2023. The largest and oldest settlement is in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with other major populations in Holmes County, Ohio, LaGrange County, Indiana, and Geauga County, Ohio. New settlements are continually established to acquire affordable farmland, with significant communities now found in over 30 U.S. states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri, as well as in Ontario, Canada. Each geographically defined church district, consisting of 20-40 families, operates autonomously.

Relationship with modern society

Interaction is guided by a principle of being "in the world but not of it," leading to selective engagement where necessary for business, such as selling goods at farmers' markets in cities like Cleveland or Philadelphia. Landmark legal battles, such as Wisconsin v. Yoder, secured their right to limit formal education to the eighth grade, while conflicts over issues like Social Security and photo identification for driver's licenses are ongoing. They are generally exempt from military service due to their conscientious objector status. While tourism in areas like Intercourse, Pennsylvania, presents economic opportunities and challenges, the community maintains firm boundaries, using "English" lawyers and doctors when needed but steadfastly preserving their distinct cultural identity. Category:Anabaptism Category:Christian denominations in the United States Category:Christian groups in Canada