is amish the most oppressive way to live?

Question

they must have to brainwash their children to carry on that lifestyle

Answer 1

if they force their children to do it then yes it would be oppressive. but then dont most societies try to make their children live in the way they think is best?

even if it is oppressive, i wouldnt think it is the most oppressive - they are living without post-industrial technology not starving in abject poverty.

also i think there are some aspects of their lifestyle that are quite charming e.g. a friend of mine has some of the most brilliant (and useful!) crafts i have come across in her home which she bought from one of their fairs.

Answer 2

I wouldn't think so...there are lots of oppressive lifestyles, related to religion and NOT related to religion. And oppression can take on many forms. For instance, many cultures are much more oppressive for women than for men. There are still entire countries where women are not allowed to drive or hold jobs.

As mentioned, the Amish actually have a custom of turning their 16-year-old members "loose" to do as they wish for a period of time, to decide whether to return to the Amish way of life or not. For information about this, see a great movie called "Devil's Playground." The Rumspringa (the name of that custom) is kind of a disaster for numerous reasons.

First of all, the teens generally go WHACKO...doing drugs, stealing, having crazy unsafe sex, doing all kinds of things normal teens don't do. They've got zero supervision and don't know ANYTHING about the "real world" or how to interact in it. They can't even really dress like normal kids, having been in Amish clothing their entire lives.

So, while this custom doesn't make the Amish particularly kind or sane, it does cut down a bit on their "oppression factor" when compared to other cultures. At least their members have a choice at some point.

Answer 3

Oppression happens where people dont have a choice - in that context any lifestyle choice can be damaging. It does seem strange to us that Amish people choose a lifestlye that forbids the use of modern technology - but some of the choices other cultures choose will seem as strange to them Im sure. I think that Amish teenagers are allowed to make a free choice when they get 'of age'. They are given the freedom to go out and try a 'normal' lifestyle and then make a choice of what they want to do.

Answer 4

I didn't grow up Amish, but on a farm which was very similar, and there are times I would love to return to that lifestyle, my mind was so clear of all the hatred and garbage of the outside world, we had a great family, worked well together, lived well and cannot say enough how I enjoyed life then. If it wasn't for the fact my grandparents sold the place, Iam sure I would still be there. This new fast paced idiot world today does not empress me at all.

Answer 5

They have a set of ideals that they want for themselves and their children. You and I may not agree with them but as a group of people much can be learned from them. They are very peaceful and they do not seem to be hypocritical, which in my book, says a lot about the people. Maybe they are oppressed, by our standards anyway, but they are very functional as a people.

In the wake of the recent tragedy all they ask is that the press stay away from their services while they mourn the loss of their children. They also publicly acknowledged that as a community they will be moving towards forgiveness of the man who committed this heinous act.

Instead of retaliation or retribution these people actually want to do what most people should be doing in their own religion and that is to FORGIVE the very sick person that did this.

Alas, what will happen, however, is more people will buy guns. Out of FEAR. And more people will speak out in favor of the death penalty and the family of the perpetrator will no doubt be "harassed" and ostracized by their non-Amish neighbors.

Now, who is oppressed?

Peace.

Answer 6

What a good question about Amish lifestyles, they are a cult that like to live that way and I think Mormons are the same and Muslims. We could view a lot of lifestyles as oppressive.

You have certainly opened a can of worms with this question!! Well done!!

Answer 7

Whilst the Amish reject most of the modern world as ungodly they allow members of their communities to leave and return at will even if they have done something which breaks their moral codes.
I have met many people of a great many religions and race and find that some of those who prefer to live away from the rest of the world are in fact some of the kindest and most humane of the human race!

Answer 8

Everyone bring up their own children to carry on with their own beliefs and lifestyles ... Based on a strong foundation that their way is the only right one, and all others are wrong.


I think the lifestyle of super models is the most oppressive one ...

They live their lives motivated by sick interpretation of perfection and beauty ...


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Answer 9

No at 16 the children leave the Amish world for the modern world and after they get to decide which life they want to live.

Answer 10

You think that living simple is opressive?
Their kids are opressed because they don't sit around watch t.v. all day, play brain numbing video games, buy all kinds of label clothing that has no meaning, and don't eat gobs of junk food.
Instead they teach their children the value of life, and hard work. They don't feel oppressed because they are NOT plus they don't have a t.v. brainwashing them to tell them how to feel...so really who is the oppresed one? THe one that is a victim to the system living the way THEY tell you or the ones living simple and peaceful??