please explain the Amish? can they use a toothbrush why not?

Question

im serious why did they choose 300 years ago to stop advancing. can they invent new things? are their any amish on line right now?

Answer 1

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed a list of complaints to the door of his church in Wittenberg, Germany. The list became known as the 95 Theses. People who were protesting church practices begged him to start a new religion. But, Luther remained a Catholic for life, despite the fact that he was excommunicated by Pope Leo X.

Shortly thereafter, John Calvin started his own protest against Church teaching. When approached, as Luther was, he decided to found a new church. The protestors who followed his teachings gradually became known as Protestants.

Calvin's theology included the concept of predestination, that God has determined before we are born whether we will be among the Elect, and spend eternity in heaven with him, or the Damned, and spend eternity in hell.

Because "predestination" takes the determination of our future out of our hands, people get anxious and strive for some sign that they are among the Elect. Calvin said that God had prepared a "calling" for each of the Elect. A person needed to pray that God would show him the way that was prepared for him on earth.

Some years later, a number of Protestant ministers met in Switzerland to try to find a common interpretation of scriptures, that was different from what the Church had taught. Basically, they were all Calvinists and came from Catholic backgrounds.

A minister whose last name was Mennon said that he could find no reference in the scriptures of infant baptism. Christ was baptized as an adult by his cousin John. People who broke off from the main Protestant body to follow Mennon became known as Mennonites. However, originally, they preferred the term Anabaptist, meaning that baptism did not occur until the individual was old enough to make a mature decision.

Within the Mennonite community, a reform movement was started by a man named Ammon. He believed that the "calling" that God had prepared for him was farming. Those who followed Ammon became the first Amish.

Because none of the Anabaptists (Mennonites, Amish, and later, Hutterites) practiced infant baptism, they were persecuted in Catholic Europe. The Catholics, of course, thought that these Protestants were risking the souls of their children by not baptizing them. Only those who have been baptized can go to heaven, according to the Catholic theology of the time.

[Unlike the Protestants, Catholics -- at that time -- believed that in addition to heaven and hell there were purgatory and limbo. Limbo -- which was eliminated from Catholic teachings around the middle of the twentieth century -- was where unbaptized babies who died wound up.]

Anyway, William Penn invited the Anabaptists to leave Europe and come to Philadelphia, which allowed freedom of religion. A few accepted the invitation. However, it wasn't until about 100 years later that this branch of Protestantism came to the U.S. in large numbers. Today, there are no anabaptists in Europe. However, various branches have spread throughout the U.S., Canada, and -- more recently -- Mexico.

The Amish still believe the teachings of Ammon. It is said that every Amish man "is a farmer or wants to be one." They literally believe that farming is their "calling."
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Moreover, they believe that they should till the soil "as God intended," with beast and plow. Hence, no modern farm equipment. As for the person who said that no Amish people have computers, he or she was partially correct. Many Amish children use computers in school. One Amish community actually tried using telephones some years ago. However, their intention was to get weather information (to help with farm decisions), but the women started to gossip about one another, so the phones were removed because they were having a deleterious effect on community harmony.

Today, most "Old Order Amish," who follow the traditional ways are found mostly in the mid-eastern states, principally Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. "New Order Amish," who make certain concessions to the "outsiders," can be found as far south as Florida and as far west as Arizona, the last time I checked, which was several years ago.

[Mennonites still live on communes in Canada and the northwest U.S. A small number have started farms in Mexico. But, most Mennonites live in cities and dress and act like everyone else. Hutterites use the most modern farm machinery, and think of the Amish as being "old fashioned." There is a very successful Hutterite commune in Alberta,Canada, just across the border from Montana.]

The students who went to college with another of your respondents probably left their home communities before having been baptized. The Amish allow a certain degree of leniency for teens, called "Rumspringer," German for "running around." But, once they have accepted the Amish way of life and are baptized, they are expected to adhere to Amish rules.

Amish are self-dependent, for the most part. However, they shop in stores, operate restaurants, and sell their goods at market. So, they are not ignorant of our way of life. They simply believe that God intended for them to be farmers. Because the price of land in America is now so high, not every man can afford to buy a patch of land. Those who can't farm, generally go into a farm-related business. Restaurants, of course, use products from Amish farms. There are also Amish who run general stores, are farriers (shoeing horses), and provide other services to farms.

Now, after that lengthy preamble, here's the answer to the second part of your question: Of course they use toothbrushes. In the time of Ammon, toothbrushes were made of bound hog hairs, but today they have no problem with buying an Oral B. Similarly the ride ten-speed bicycles. Multiple-gear bikes are a twetieth-century invention, but a bicycle is a bicycle, although the technology may be different. The same is true for in-line skates. But, automobiles are clearly not simply a technological update of any similar vehicle from Ammon's time.

Answer 2

You're simplifying the lifestyle of Amish folk. Different communities judge for themselves what types of technology they can or cannot use. Most have used modern tech such as computers and vehicles. An adult living in an Amish community has made a concious decision to live that lifestyle. When the children of the community reach mid-teenagehood, they go through a coming-of-age type deal called, Rumspringa(sp?) where they're allowed to pretty much do what they want. Many will dress in "English" clothing (stuff that mainstream America wears) and do what most American teenagers do. Boys usually go through this phase longer than the girls. After a time, they make the decision as an adult to either stay within the community where they are welcomed as full members of the church or they live outside the community.

Many Amish households actually have modern appliances and technology. Electricity is generated by wind power. The formost idea in an Amish community is to not allow modern advancements in society to deter them from their spiritual life.

Answer 3

I actually went to college with some Amish kids, the teens are able to leave their community and experience life outside of what they know so that they can make the choice if they want to remain Amish or assimilate into mainstream life. But they all believe in hygiene, so they would brush their teeth. I am guessing they use toothbrushes. Oh, and one of my friends IS online right now, but she chose to leave her community and she is no longer Amish, so I guess that doesn't count. Both of my friends from college who were Amish decided to leave the Amish community and they both lead normal lives now, so there is a choice.

Answer 4

The Amish choose to follow a simple life. They can invent new things, but only within the guidelines of their lifestyle. They may use modern things, but they don't own modern things. Lots of Amish ride in cars, vans, and SUVs as long as someone else owns the car. In heavily populated Amish areas, its common to see telephone booths out in the middle of nowhere - and they are used alot. It's really an interesting exsistance.

Answer 5

Amish don't use modern appliances, internet, cars, etc. because their simpler life is better for their way of thinking. They believe that hard work partnered with devotion to God is the ideal way to live. I doubt any Amish would be online right now considering that would mean use of a computer. Unless someone is at a public library and decides to try one out, that is.

Answer 6

AMISH PEOPLE CAN USE A TOOTHBRUSHS THEY JUST CANT USE THE KIND THATS BATERY POWERED AND I DONT THINK AMISH PEOPLE EVEN KNOW WHAT A RAIDO IS SO THEY HAVE ON IDEA WHAT A COMPUTER IS AMISH PEOPLE ARE WIERD THEY JUST STAND AND STARE AT YOU LIKE YOU ARE FROM ANOTHER WORLD OR SOMETHING I DONT LIKE IT

Answer 7

They chose that life because it is a simple life...not hustle and bustle...of the real world!!! no problems dealing with nasty people....no cars,,,,,so no pollution., etc., they grow their own food...When some of them chose to leave ...they always come back to being Amish...Because after being sheltered a long time you just would not know how to talk to people and would not "UNDERSTAND" what our life is about...it is toooo vicious for them...i understand it....but i can't be in that world......they are happy there....NO STRESS>>>But i have heard there is a doctor that has antibiotics....but not much else...so i don't know!!!

Answer 8

I think they are cheating themselves... If they really want to get away from technology, why did I see amish kids in Hershy Park riding roller coaster!? That is mechanical!

Answer 9

They are an extremely conservative, Biblical Christian group. They share many beliefs with the Mennonites. Non-resistance, forgiveness, divinity of Christ, the holy trinity, modesty of dress and lifestyle, honesty, independence from the world around them, adult baptism upon confession of faith, male leadership . All of these beliefs have their origins in specific Bible passages.

Answer 10

Of course they use toothbrushes. They don't use machinery though. They're not online because they don't use electronics either.

Answer 11

they believe that technology (toothbrushes are ok) distracts from serving God, so they avoid it. some do take it to the extreme, though, where they will call technology evil.