Amish Cultural Analysis

A Cultural Analysis of the Amish Community

The Amish Community are a unique and fascinating community with a distinct culture and way of life that is easily distinguished from any other population. Their deep rooted religious beliefs and Amish faith is what their entire culture is built upon and is the basis for their entire way of life. The Amish’s customs are in place in order to “maintain the purity and unity of the community.” (Hostetler 22) The Amish is a notable society that has always drawn attention and interest from the outside world due to their uniqueness and the richness of their history, culture, traditions, and somehow, they have managed to preserve their way of life through generations in a world so full of modernization, technology,

They have a teacher who most likely only completed the eighth grade and who generally doesn’t have any additional schooling besides their own Amish education. The teacher would be selected by a group of men from the district who serve as the board. Once the children reach roughly between the ages of 18 and 21 years old, they are able to make the decision to join the congregation and be baptized. This is an extremely important part of the Amish faith, which is a choice that is not forced upon them and is made solely on their own. In Amish Society, the author describes it as, “baptism signifies repentance, total commitment to the believing church-community, and admission to adulthood.” (Hostetler 77) During this period of choice, the youth go through a period known as Rumspringa, which is a critical phase in their decision to become baptized and join the Amish faith. The book, The Amish goes on to describe, “[Rumpspringa] is a psychological journey in self-understanding, a search for identity that fits within the contours of Amish society.” (Kraybill 225). During this time, they are allowed to experience what life is like away from the community. They have not yet claimed the Amish religion, therefore are not under the rule of the church yet. Despite this time away, most youth do make the choice to commit themselves the Amish faith. Some believe this makes for a stronger bond to their faith, due to the fact they are given the chance to have an experience outside of the confines of their