The Amish people’s religion follows the tradition of the Reformation. However, it specifically originated from the Anabaptists who were even more conservative than the leading Reformers like Luther and Calvin. The Anabaptists are most remembered for their rejection of the doctrine of infant baptism held by the Roman Catholic church and even some Reformation groups or denominations. The Amish then split from the Anabaptists in Switzerland during the early seventeenth century. They continue to hold to the main doctrines of Protestant, Evangelical Christianity, but also hold to different doctrines and practices, such as complete separation from the outside social circles. Perhaps the main beliefs of the Amish that most people are familiar with are their complete separation form society, their rejection of technology, and their views on war. Amish are very conservative, which means that they hold to a complete, literal interpretation of the Bible. Because of this absolute interpretation, their practices, like separation, naturally follow this ideology. Below is a brief list and description of beliefs held by the Amish concerning specific areas of life.
Ways the Amish worship
The Amish live together in tight-knit communities as seen in the Book of Acts and worship in homes rather than in an established building. They will have nothing to do with ritualized worship, but rather seek to worship God in humility and in simplicity. The only sacred writings that the Amish adhere to is the Bible, although they do have a hymn book that they use to worship with. However, the Amish follow an oral tradition called "Ordnung" in which everyday life activities and morality are governed. The Amish live in several states in the United States, and differ from each other in terms of beliefs. In other words, each community will govern it's own affairs. The Amish practice church discipline, or ex-communication. This means that when an individual in the community is living a life of sin, the community will reject any kind of social interaction with this individual (I Corinthians 5:11), but will give the individual an opportunity to be restored to the community, if he or she repents from sin.
Marriage and the Family
Not surprisingly, intermarriage or marriage outside of the community and faith is prohibited, especially among the more conservative, but marriage within is highly celebrated and encouraged. Courtship, for the most part, is done in secret between those involved and their families. The engagement is made public in October, and the couple is then married at the end of the year. Amish families are usually large from an outsider's point of view.
Education
Children are educated within the community because of their strong beliefs of separation from secular society. Many children are educated in order to be able to read the Bible or to farm properly. Most children will not be educated past elementary levels, and this too can be attributed to their fear of becoming like the "world" through its education.
Dress
Since the Amish believe in living humble, simple lives, every single aspect of their lives conforms around this belief. One physical aspect of this can be seen through their dress. Amish men wear very plain pants held up by suspenders, while the women usually wear long, plain dresses. The women also wear a type of head covering, which comes from a very strict interpretation of I Corinthians 11:2-16. The men also grow long beards following an Old Testament, Hebrew custom. The Amish people dress in this manner because they try to avoid even the appearance of evil. Immodesty and vanity are exactly the kinds of evil rejected by every devout Amish individual, and dress can, in their eyes, convey both.
Technology
What the Amish are probably most popular for is their lack of technology (by choice). Just to name a few examples, the Amish do not use electricity, drive cars, nor listen to the radio. The Amish keep to the same style of living as their sixteenth to seventeenth century ancestors, making life more difficult, but more cohesive as a close community. Like dress, techonology is seen as a major influence towards sin, if not seen as sin itself.
Other web links and references
Religious Tolerance
National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom
Since the Amish believe in living humble, simple lives, every single aspect of their lives conforms around this belief. One physical aspect of this can be seen through their dress. Amish men wear very plain pants held up by suspenders, while the women usually wear long, plain dresses. The women also wear a type of head covering, which comes from a very strict interpretation of I Corinthians 11:2-16. The men also grow long beards following an Old Testament, Hebrew custom. The Amish people dress in this manner because they try to avoid even the appearance of evil. Immodesty and vanity are exactly the kinds of evil rejected by every devout Amish individual, and dress can, in their eyes, convey both.
Technology
What the Amish are probably most popular for is their lack of technology (by choice). Just to name a few examples, the Amish do not use electricity, drive cars, nor listen to the radio. The Amish keep to the same style of living as their sixteenth to seventeenth century ancestors, making life more difficult, but more cohesive as a close community. Like dress, techonology is seen as a major influence towards sin, if not seen as sin itself.
Other web links and references
Religious Tolerance
National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom