History UsefulNotes / Amish

* SchizoTech: Each Amish community decides independently what is and isn't allowed. It should be noted that it's not necessarily the technology they shun, but rather the electricity from (and dependence on) the outside world, most Amish sects are fine with using batteries or producing electricity with in-house diesel generators or solar panels.

** If they own a telephone, it'll be for practical rather than social reasons and are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls but not send them, or only to and from certain numbers (like 911), or they are placed in a location that doesn't make them convenient to use. The idea is that someone may be tempted to just call their friends and family all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important tasks. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting its use removes that.

** Some larger Amish businesses may have an internet-connected computer for reasons of keeping track of inventory/orders, and possibly a credit card reader for customers, but these things would be kept in the actual business place, not in someone's home, and only used for business purposes.

** Even the strictest communities will go to the hospital when necessary and allow vital medical equipment into their homes, such as an oxygen tank or CPAP machine, since preserving a life is a bigger priority than cultural standards. If it requires electricity, they'll find a way.

** Even the strictest communities will make use of modern hospitals when necessary and allow vital medical equipment in their homes, such as an oxygen tank or CPAP machine, since preserving a life takes priority over cultural standards. If it requires electricity, they'll find a way.

* FateWorseThanDeath: The ultimate punishment among Amish is "Shunning" (silent treatment) by the whole village. For someone brought up in such a community-based culture, being cast out and ignored by said community can turn into this trope. The ValuesDissonance, as well as possibilities for MoralDissonance, involved in the shunning process often gets a lot of attention in fiction and public consciousness, to the point that shunning tends to be the next thing an outsider knows about the Amish after "they don't use electricity."

* RailEnthusiast: The Amish are huge fans of UsefulNotes/{{Amtrak}} for long-distance travel, as they don't drive and generally view flying as an unnecessary luxury, barring a medical emergency.

The Amish left Germany in the 18th century when Europe was not really a good place for a small and pacifistic sect to live. They settled in the USA at the invite of William Penn, and Pennsylvania is the center of their culture, although there are also large populations in Ohio and Indiana, and in fact Ohio has the highest population of Old Order Amish. By now, there are almost no Amish in Europe. While there exists Amish communities in Canada and a small few in Latin America, the United States has the largest Amish population by far.

** Even the strictest communities will make use of modern hospitals when necessary and allow medical equipment in their homes, such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine, since preserving a life takes priority over cultural standards. If it requires electricity, they'll find a way.

** Even the strictest communities will allow medical equipment, such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine, if someone requires it, since a life is more important than a rule. If it needs electricity, they'll find a way.
** Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls but not send them, or only to and from certain numbers (like 911), or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. The idea is that someone may be tempted to just call their neighbor all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that.
** Horse buggies are often equipped with electric lights and reflectors similar to modern automobiles. The focus is on their practicality, not their vanity.
** Some larger Amish businesses may have an internet-connected computer for reasons of keeping track of inventory/orders, and possibly a credit card reader, but these things would be kept in the actual business place, not in someone's home, and only used for business purposes.

The Amish are a Christian denomination, originally a subsect of the Mennonites who were in turn a subsect of the Anabaptists (or "re-baptizers," because they re-baptized adult converts who had been baptized as infants in the Catholic church or in very early Protestant churches that still practiced infant baptism; children born into the Amish tradition then and now are not baptized as infants, but only when they make their own profession of faith). The name "Amish" refers to Jakab Ammann their founder. The original Amish were ethnic Germans and to this day they mostly speak a variety of [[UsefulNotes/GermanDialects Rhenish/Palatinate West Central German]] as their first language, though most know English as well as that is needed for talking to "Fancy Englishchers" (other Americans, also occasionally referred to as "Yankees" -- a slightly more disparaging term). (Also, a small community in Indiana speaks Alemannic Swiss German rather than West Central German.) They call themselves "Plain Folk" because of the studied plainness of their lifestyle.

The Amish left Germany in the 18th century when Europe was not really a good place for a small and pacifistic sect to live. They settled in the USA at the invite of William Penn, and Pennsylvania is sort of their headquarters, although there are also large populations in Ohio and Indiana, and in fact Ohio has the highest population of Old Order Amish. By now, there are almost no Amish in Europe. While there exists Amish communities in Canada and a small few in Latin America, the United States has the largest Amish population by far.

The Amish are a Christian denomination, originally a subsect of the Mennonites who were in turn a subsect of the Anabaptists (or "re-baptizers," because they re-baptized adult converts who had been baptized as infants in the Catholic church or in very early Protestant churches that still practiced infant baptism; children born into the Amish tradition then and now are not baptized as infants, but only when they make their own profession of faith). The name "Amish" refers to Jakab Ammann their founder. The original Amish were ethnic Germans and to this day they mostly speak a variety of [[UsefulNotes/GermanDialects Rhenish/Palatinate West Central German]] as their first language, though most know English as well as that is needed for talking to "Fancy Englishchers" (other Americans, also occasionally referred to as "Yankees" -- a slightly more disparaging term). (Also, a small community in Indiana speaks Alemannic Swiss German rather than West Central German.) They call themselves "Plain Folk" because of the [[TheSpartanWay studied plainness]] of their lifestyle.

** Even the strictest communities will allow medical equipment--such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine--if someone absolutely needs it, since a life is more important than a rule. If it needs electricity, they'll find a way.

** All communities will allow vital medical equipment--such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine--if someone needs it, since a life is more important than a rule. If it needs electricity, they'll find a way.

The Amish left Germany in the 18th century when Europe was not really a good place for a small and pacifistic sect to live. They settled in the USA at the invite of William Penn, and Pennsylvania is sort of their headquarters, although there are also large populations in Ohio and Indiana, and in fact Ohio has the highest population of Old Order Amish. By now, there are almost no Amish in Europe.

* LuddWasRight: {{Zigzagged}}. Almost all media portrayals of the Amish portray them as completely shunning anything more advanced than a pulley. Despite media portrayals, it's not unusual to see Amish using cell phones or riding in (but not owning or driving) motor vehicles, and motorized tractors and other farm equipment are quite common. The Amish are not opposed to technology purely for its own sake. Their philosophy stresses self-reliance; so any technology that relies too heavily upon the outside world (i.e., electrical appliances that depend upon the municipal power grid) are not acceptable. In a similar vein, they do not pay into, or accept payments from, the Social Security Administration.

** Most communities will allow Amish men and women to have important medical equipment (such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine) in their house if it's needed, as a life is more important than a rule (if it needs electricity, they'll find a way).
** Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbor all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that.)

The Amish are a Christian denomination, originally a subsect of the Mennonites who were in turn a subsect of the Anabaptists (or "re-baptizers," because they re-baptized adult converts who had been baptized as infants in the Catholic church or in very early Protestant churches that still practiced infant baptism; children born into the Amish tradition then and now are not baptized as infants, but only when they make their own profession of faith). The name "Amish" refers to Jakab Ammann their founder. The original Amish were ethnic Germans and to this day they mostly speak a variety of [[UsefulNotes/GermanDialects Rhenish/Palatinate West Central German]] as their first language, though most know English as well as that is needed for talking to "Fancy Englishchers" (other Americans, also occasionally referred to as "Yankees" -- a slightly more disparaging term). (Also, a small community in Indiana speaks Allemanic Swiss German rather than West Central German.) They call themselves "Plain Folk" because of the [[TheSpartanWay studied plainness]] of their lifestyle.

* LuddWasRight: {{Zigzagged}}. Almost all media portrayals of the Amish portray them as completely shunning anything more advanced than a pully. Despite media portrayals, it's not unusual to see Amish using cell phones or riding in (but not owning or driving) motor vehicles, and motorized tractors and other farm equipment are quite common. The Amish are not opposed to technology purely for its own sake. Their philosophy stresses self-reliance; so any technology that relies too heavily upon the outside world (i.e., electrical appliances that depend upon the municipal power grid) are not acceptable. In a similar vein, they do not pay into, or accept payments from, the Social Security Administration.

** Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbour all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that).

** Some larger Amish businesses may have an internet-connected computer for reasons of keeping track of inventory/orders, and possibly a credit card reader, but these things would be kept in the actual businessplace, not in someone's home, and only used for business purposes.

* SchizoTech: Each Amish community decides independently what is and isn't allowed. It should be noted that it's not necessarily the technology they shun, but rather the electricity from (and dependence on) the outside world, most Amish sects are fine with using batteries or producing electricity with in-house diesel generators or solar panels. Most communities will allow Amish men and women to have important medical equipment (such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine) in their house if it's needed, as a life is more important than a rule (if it needs electricity, they'll find a way). Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbour all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that). Horse buggies are often equipped with electric lights and reflectors similar to modern automobiles. The focus is on their practicality, not their vanity. Similarly, some larger Amish businesses may have an internet-connected computer for reasons of keeping track of inventory/orders, and possibly a credit card reader, but these things would be kept in the actual businessplace, not in someone's home, and only used for business purposes.

* InitiationCeremony: ''Rumspringa''[[note]]German for “springing around”.[[/note]] is the rite of passage into adulthood, usually for those between 14 and 16 years old. In it, Amish youth are given the choice to be baptized (the Amish, like other Anabaptists, infamously don’t practice infant baptism), which about evenly-split Amish youth until a few decades ago, but which now over 90% accept. The popular idea that it gives Amish youth free rein to disregard their community’s norms is not correct, although some young people ''do'' rebel. It is also supposed to be a time for socializing with other Amish youth and starting to date a person of the opposite sex, and thus their parents would rather they not be rulebreakers.

* ChristianityIsCatholic: An Amish variant. When you see the Amish in media, they will almost always be Old Order Amish rather than any of the other sects.

The Amish are a Christian denomination, originally a subsect of the Mennonites who were in turn a subsect of the Anabaptists (or "re-baptizers," because they re-baptized adult converts who had been baptized as infants in the Catholic church or in very early Protestant churches that still practiced infant baptism; children born into the Amish tradition then and now are not baptized as infants, but only after age 16 or more when they make their own profession of faith). The name "Amish" refers to Jakab Ammann their founder. The original Amish were ethnic Germans and to this day they mostly speak a variety of [[UsefulNotes/GermanDialects Rhenish/Palatinate West Central German]] as their first language, though most know English as well as that is needed for talking to "Fancy Englishchers" (other Americans, also occasionally referred to as "Yankees" -- a slightly more disparaging term). (Also, a small community in Indiana speaks Allemanic Swiss German rather than West Central German.) They call themselves "Plain Folk" because of the [[TheSpartanWay studied plainness]] of their lifestyle.

* InitiationCeremony: ''Rumspringa''[[note]]German for “springing around”.[[/note]] is the rite of passage into adulthood, usually for those between 14 and 16 years old. In it, Amish youth are given the choice to be baptized (the Amish, like other Anabaptists, infamously don’t practice infant baptism), which about evenly-split Amish young until a few decades ago, but which now over 90% accept. The popular idea that it gives Amish youth free rein to disregard their community’s norms is not correct, although some young people ''do'' rebel. It is also supposed to be a time for socializing with other Amish youth and starting to date a person of the opposite sex, and thus their parents would rather they not be rulebreakers.

* InitiationCeremony: ''Rumspringa''[[note]]German for “springing around”.[[/note]] is the rite of passage into adulthood, usually for those between 14 and 16 years old. In it, Amish youth are given the choice to be baptized (the Amish, like other Anabaptists, infamously don’t practice infant baptism), which was a polarizing choice until a few decades ago, but which now over 90% accept. The popular idea that it gives Amish youth free rein to disregard their community’s norms is not correct, although some young people ''do'' rebel. It is also supposed to be a time for socializing with other Amish youth and starting to date a person of the opposite sex, and thus their parents would rather they not be rulebreakers.

* InitiationCeremony: The infamous ''Rumspringa'' which is widely believed to be a time in which Amish youth can experiment with living in the outside world and then make an informed choice about whether or not to be baptized. However, although some young people ''do'' rebel, it is really only supposed to be a time for socializing with other Amish youth and starting to date a person of the opposite sex.

* SchizoTech: Each Amish community decides independently what is and isn't allowed. It should be noted that it's not necessarily the technology they shun, but rather the electricity from (and dependence on) the outside world, most Amish sects are fine with using batteries or producing electricity with in-house diesel generators or solar panels. Most communities will allow Amish men and women to have important medical equipment (such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine) in their house if it's needed, as a life is more important than a rule (if it needs electricity, they'll find a way). Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbour all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that). Horse buggies are often equipped with electric lights and reflectors similar to modern automobiles. The focus is on their practicality, not their vanity. Similarly, some larger Amish businesses may have an internet-connected computer for reasons of keeping track of inventory/orders, but it would typically be kept in the actual businessplace, not in someone's home, and only used for business purposes.

* SchizoTech: Each Amish community decides independently what is and isn't allowed. It should be noted that it's not necessarily the technology they shun, but rather the electricity from (and dependence on) the outside world, most Amish sects are fine with using batteries or producing electricity with in-house diesel generators. Most communities will allow Amish men and women to have important medical equipment (such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine) in their house if it's needed, as a life is more important than a rule (if it needs electricity, they'll find a way). Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbour all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that). Horse buggies are often equipped with electric lights and reflectors similar to modern automobiles. The focus is on their practicality, not their vanity. Similarly, some larger Amish businesses may have an internet-connected computer for reasons of keeping track of inventory/orders, but it would typically be kept in the actual businessplace, not in someone's home, and only used for business purposes.

* SchizoTech: Each Amish community decides independently what is and isn't allowed. It should be noted that it's not necessarily the technology they shun, but rather the electricity from (and dependence on) the outside world, most Amish sects are fine with using batteries or producing electricity with in-house diesel generators. Most communities will allow Amish men and women to have important medical equipment (such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine) in their house if it's needed, as a life is more important than a rule (if it needs electricity, they'll find a way). Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbour all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that). Horse buggies are often equipped with electric lights and reflectors similar to modern automobiles. The focus is on their practicality, not their vanity.

* AllChristianityIsCatholic: An Amish variant. When you see the Amish in media, they will almost always be Old Order Amish rather than any of the other sects.

* LuddWasRight: {{Zigzagged}}. Almost all media portrayals of the Amish portray them as completely shunning anything more advanced than a pully. Despite media portrayals, it's not unusual to see Amish using cell phones or riding in (but not owning or driving) motor vehicles, and motorized tractors and other farm equipment are quite common. Levels of SchizoTech vary from community to community, with each deciding independently what is and isn't allowed. It should be noted that it's not necessarily the technology they shun, but rather the electricity from (and dependence on) the outside world, most Amish sects are fine with using batteries or producing electricity with in-house diesel generators. Most communities will allow Amish men and women to have important medical equipment (such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine) in their house if it's needed, as a life is more important than a rule (if it needs electricity, they'll find a way). Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbour all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that). The focus is on their practicality, not their vanity.
** The Amish are not opposed to technology purely for its own sake. Their philosophy stresses self-reliance; so any technology that relies too heavily upon the outside world (i.e., electrical appliances that depend upon the municipal power grid) are not acceptable. In a similar vein, they do not pay into, or accept payments from, the Social Security Administration.

* LuddWasRight: Almost all media portrayals of the Amish portray them as completely shunning anything more advanced than a pully. Despite media portrayals, it's not unusual to see Amish using cell phones or riding in (but not owning or driving) motor vehicles, and motorized tractors and other farm equipment are quite common. Levels of Schizo Tech vary from community to community, with each deciding independently what is and isn't allowed. It should be noted that it's not necessarily the technology they shun, but rather the electricity from (and dependence on) the outside world, most Amish sects are fine with using batteries or producing electricity with in-house diesel generators. Most communities will allow Amish men and women to have important medical equipment (such as an oxygen tank or a CPAP machine) in their house if it's needed, as a life is more important than a rule (if it needs electricity, they'll find a way). Other things like phones are often set up in a way so that they can receive calls, but not send them, or make and receive calls only to and from certain numbers, or they are placed in a location that doesn't necessarily make them convenient to use. (The idea with the phones is that someone may be tempted to simply call their neighbour all the time instead of visiting them, or [[PhoneaholicTeenager waste time gossiping]] that could be used for other, more important things. Placing the phone in an inconvenient location and/or restricting it to certain uses removes that). The focus is on their practicality, not their vanity.