This blog has helped me to understand the Amish culture. Through my research I have learned a great deal about them as well. I have studied photography, schooling, their view on medicine, Amish youth, marriage and family life, death, and even gender roles. Through each of these subjects, I have learned to practice cultural relativism. The Amish are truly very happy with the lives that they live. I was surprised to find out that of the teenagers that have the opportunity to test the “outside world”, about 90% of them choose to remain with the Amish community. I have enjoyed researching and learning more about their culture. They choose to remain separate from the world to pursue their own goals and belief system. In our modern world, this is perfectly acceptable. What I didn’t understand before that I am beginning to now, is that they separate themselves from mainstream society not because they think that it is “bad”, but because they do not believe in the same things.
Mainstream society may look at the Amish and wonder how they can live the simple lives that they live devoid of modern technology, but the Amish are actually very happy about their chosen lifestyle. I am really glad that I have had the opportunity to understand this about them and their culture. I will never view the Amish in the same way again. To me, I will view the Amish as a people who desire to live their life in their own way.
Bibliography
BBC
2009 The Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/amish_1.shtml
Stevick, Richard A.
2007. Growing Up Amish. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Gender Roles
Gender roles play a large part in Amish communities. From a young age, the Amish are taught the roles of males and females. The Amish take their beliefs from the bible. This is how the concept of gender roles came about in their society. Amish women are expected to cover their hair to show submission. They are expected to honor and support their husbands. In Amish communities, the males are the leaders and the ones who make the decisions for the entire community. The women are expected to take care of the family and maintain the house. Women generally do not have jobs outside of the home. However, young women are usually schoolteachers. Once there are small children in the home however, it is difficult for women to have outside jobs.
The role of women and men differ in mainstream society. Today, their roles have moved to become more equal. Men will help with the housework and women often have full-time jobs helping to support their families. Because of their religious beliefs, the Amish still separate male and female roles. Although I may disagree about some of their ideas, I can understand why the Amish’s view of gender works in their communities. They have lived this way for a number of years and they seem to accept their roles well. Even though it appears that women are inferior to men, women are also free of some social pressures common in mainstream society. Amish women do not accentuate their physical appearances. They do not wear make-up or modify their appearances in any way. This is hardly the case in mainstream society. Despite these seemingly strict gender roles, the boundaries can be crossed. For example, if there is a lot of work to do, the women may help with the field work, and sometimes the men will help with the household chores. The Amish seem to be content with how their communities are run.
Bibliography
BBC
2009 The Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/amish_1.shtml
Stevick, Richard A.
2007. Growing Up Amish. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.
The role of women and men differ in mainstream society. Today, their roles have moved to become more equal. Men will help with the housework and women often have full-time jobs helping to support their families. Because of their religious beliefs, the Amish still separate male and female roles. Although I may disagree about some of their ideas, I can understand why the Amish’s view of gender works in their communities. They have lived this way for a number of years and they seem to accept their roles well. Even though it appears that women are inferior to men, women are also free of some social pressures common in mainstream society. Amish women do not accentuate their physical appearances. They do not wear make-up or modify their appearances in any way. This is hardly the case in mainstream society. Despite these seemingly strict gender roles, the boundaries can be crossed. For example, if there is a lot of work to do, the women may help with the field work, and sometimes the men will help with the household chores. The Amish seem to be content with how their communities are run.
Bibliography
BBC
2009 The Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/amish_1.shtml
Stevick, Richard A.
2007. Growing Up Amish. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.
Death
"The Lord giveth; the Lord taketh away."
In the simplest way, this is how the Amish view death. Above anything else in their lives, God is the most important. When a person in an Amish community dies, they are buried in an Amish cemetery in a plain coffin with a plain tombstone. Flowers and other decorations are lacking. During the funeral service, the Amish do not sing. They may speak a hymn or two, but will never sing. A reason for this can be explained by the Amish’s belief in God. They believe that once a person dies, their souls leave their bodies. Because of this belief, they do not decorate, sing, or even visit the site of the dead person because they believe that the person’s soul has already moved on. The body holds no significance anymore.
This belief is somewhat different from the beliefs that can be found in mainstream society. People decorate coffins, place flowers and other decorations at grave sites, and sometimes visit the burial site. Songs are usually song at funeral services to remember the life of the person who had passed away. This differs from Amish society because there are many different beliefs in mainstream society. Not everybody believes in God or the afterlife.
I can understand why the Amish would treat their dead in this fashion. They believe that everyone has a soul. In a way, I can also see that they might be able to believe in brain death. Even if a heart is still beating or lungs taking in air, the brain is dead. I think that the Amish may believe that the person is truly gone because they would believe that their soul has already left the body. This may seem like a strange connection to make, but to me it makes sense. I can understand why the Amish treat death in this way without honoring the dead individual’s body.
Bibliography
Deathcare
2009 Historic Funeral Traditions: The Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.deathcare.com/2009/historic-funeral-traditions-the-amish.html
Meaningful Tributes
2000 Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.meaningfultributes.com/dbID/1550.html
Robinson, B.A.
2008 The Amish: Practices of Various Groups. Electronic document,
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish4.htm
In the simplest way, this is how the Amish view death. Above anything else in their lives, God is the most important. When a person in an Amish community dies, they are buried in an Amish cemetery in a plain coffin with a plain tombstone. Flowers and other decorations are lacking. During the funeral service, the Amish do not sing. They may speak a hymn or two, but will never sing. A reason for this can be explained by the Amish’s belief in God. They believe that once a person dies, their souls leave their bodies. Because of this belief, they do not decorate, sing, or even visit the site of the dead person because they believe that the person’s soul has already moved on. The body holds no significance anymore.
This belief is somewhat different from the beliefs that can be found in mainstream society. People decorate coffins, place flowers and other decorations at grave sites, and sometimes visit the burial site. Songs are usually song at funeral services to remember the life of the person who had passed away. This differs from Amish society because there are many different beliefs in mainstream society. Not everybody believes in God or the afterlife.
I can understand why the Amish would treat their dead in this fashion. They believe that everyone has a soul. In a way, I can also see that they might be able to believe in brain death. Even if a heart is still beating or lungs taking in air, the brain is dead. I think that the Amish may believe that the person is truly gone because they would believe that their soul has already left the body. This may seem like a strange connection to make, but to me it makes sense. I can understand why the Amish treat death in this way without honoring the dead individual’s body.
Bibliography
Deathcare
2009 Historic Funeral Traditions: The Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.deathcare.com/2009/historic-funeral-traditions-the-amish.html
Meaningful Tributes
2000 Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.meaningfultributes.com/dbID/1550.html
Robinson, B.A.
2008 The Amish: Practices of Various Groups. Electronic document,
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish4.htm
Marriage and Family
Families are extremely important in Amish society. Families generally begin after marriage. Marriage in an Amish community varies from that of mainstream society. Marriage is very important in Amish communities. Once the knot is tied, that’s it. Divorce does not occur in Amish communities. It may not seem too much different than mainstream society, except that the Amish treat it more seriously. For them, marriage is for life. Marriage is considered to the first step to creating a family. Married couple’s generally have between 7-8 children or more because they do not practice any form of birth control. This is because children are thought to be a blessing for the community. I can understand why marriage is a central part of Amish communities. They place a lot of value on families because it is mainly families that keep the Amish culture alive and well. Children keep the Amish tradition alive and prosperous.
Families are also important in mainstream society but they are not usually as large. Marriage is not as permanent. Divorce can be quite common. Some outsiders may find Amish society stifling, but they might not fully understand the culture. Also, outsiders were not raised in an Amish community so it is hard for them to relate to. I understand why families are extremely important to Amish culture. This is because families represent the heart of the community. However, the Amish do not looked down on the people who choose not to marry. They are still accepted within the Amish community. Marriage and families keep the Amish culture alive and strong.
Bibliography
BBC
2009 The Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/amish_1.shtml
Countries and Their Culture
Amish-Marriage and Family. Electronic document,
http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Amish-Marriage-and-Family.html
Robinson, B.A.
2008 The Amish: Practices of Various Groups. Electronic document,
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish4.htm
Families are also important in mainstream society but they are not usually as large. Marriage is not as permanent. Divorce can be quite common. Some outsiders may find Amish society stifling, but they might not fully understand the culture. Also, outsiders were not raised in an Amish community so it is hard for them to relate to. I understand why families are extremely important to Amish culture. This is because families represent the heart of the community. However, the Amish do not looked down on the people who choose not to marry. They are still accepted within the Amish community. Marriage and families keep the Amish culture alive and strong.
Bibliography
BBC
2009 The Amish. Electronic document,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/amish_1.shtml
Countries and Their Culture
Amish-Marriage and Family. Electronic document,
http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Amish-Marriage-and-Family.html
Robinson, B.A.
2008 The Amish: Practices of Various Groups. Electronic document,
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish4.htm
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Photography
The Amish culture does not allow its members to pose for photographs. Part of the reason for this is written in Exodus 20:4, "Thou shalt not make unto thyself a graven image." Besides following the bible, the Amish do not have their pictures taken because they feel that pictures create self-pride and foster individualistic feelings by calling attention to one’s self. This is primarily because their culture cherishes humility and community harmony. By emphasizing the individual, this community is taken away and the focus is turned to one’s self. It is for this reason that the Amish do not allow themselves to be photographed and why they do not carry pictures around with them. This is understandable. They desire to promote their sense of community by avoiding feelings of pride and individualism.
In a culture that values the individual, mainstream society tends to ignore the importance of community and working together. Emphasis is placed on individual needs and desires. This can be clearly seen just by looking at mainstream media. Celebrities litter the cover pages of many magazines with labels promoting individualism. Movies and television also foster these feeling by promoting ads and themes that are saturated with ideas to emphasize individualism.
For the Amish, their community and culture would not survive if they incorporated mainstream technology and thinking into their own lives. Self-pride goes against Amish beliefs. While they may have a lot of pride for their community, they do not believe that one should have pride for one’s self. While the Amish may have unique views, it does not mean that they are wrong. They have a different way of looking at things. We must learn to view both sides of the story to really appreciate the different viewpoints. I feel that this is true for almost everything in life.
Bibliography
Lancaster County
2009 Amish and Photographs. Electronic document,
http://padutchcountry.com/our_world/the_amish_and_photographs.asp
Robinson, B.A.
2008 The Amish: Practices of Various Groups. Electronic document,
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish4.htm
In a culture that values the individual, mainstream society tends to ignore the importance of community and working together. Emphasis is placed on individual needs and desires. This can be clearly seen just by looking at mainstream media. Celebrities litter the cover pages of many magazines with labels promoting individualism. Movies and television also foster these feeling by promoting ads and themes that are saturated with ideas to emphasize individualism.
For the Amish, their community and culture would not survive if they incorporated mainstream technology and thinking into their own lives. Self-pride goes against Amish beliefs. While they may have a lot of pride for their community, they do not believe that one should have pride for one’s self. While the Amish may have unique views, it does not mean that they are wrong. They have a different way of looking at things. We must learn to view both sides of the story to really appreciate the different viewpoints. I feel that this is true for almost everything in life.
Bibliography
Lancaster County
2009 Amish and Photographs. Electronic document,
http://padutchcountry.com/our_world/the_amish_and_photographs.asp
Robinson, B.A.
2008 The Amish: Practices of Various Groups. Electronic document,
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish4.htm
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