What makes the amish function as a group and how do they stay together?

Question

This is for a group dynamic class in college. Any information on how to write the paper would be great!

Answer 1

The Amish-like the Mennonites and the Hutterietes are a sect decendended from the Swiss Anabaptists, who believe in voluntary adult baptism only, as practiced by the early Christians. Their founder, a Mennonite bishop named Jakob Ammann, began a secrtarian movement when a schism areos in 1693 over enforcement of the still practiced Meidung or shunning- a powerful social control mechanism that enable the Amish to maintain their way of life. When a bishop, acting on the near-unamimous vote of the congreation, imposes the Meidung(shunning) on an errant member, others including family members, cannot look on, talk to, or associatie with that person without also being put under the ban. Informal sanctions such as ridicule and group dissapproval, followed by a formal admonition from a clergy member, if necessary, precede such an action.Unusual but not altogether rare, the Medung can also be revoked if the trnasgressor admits the error and personally ask the congregation for forgiveness. Some Amish may have come earlier, however, documented arival in America is 1727, when a few families left Switzerland and settled in Pensylvania. Migration continued from this region and from Germany getween 1727 and 1780, with large numbers of Alsatian and Bavarian Amish migrating between 1815 and 1840 and establishing communities in Ontario (Canada), Ilinois and Ohio. The sub-culture became extinct in Europe, as the Amish who remained there were absorbed into the dominant society.
Forming gemeinschaft communities- intimate, homogeneous, and characterized by strong religious tradition-the Amish have remained remarkably constant in a radicall changing dominant society. Their communities are highly integrated because their social institutions-family,school, chruch, and economic endeavors-are complimentary and consistent in values and expectations. Young and old live similar lives. The entire gropu share the same lifestyle and restrictions, accetpting them as the will of God. Pride is a major sin, the wearing of jewlery even a wedding band and making other efforts at promoting physical attraction are forbidden;boasting is rare, and seeking leadership role is frowned on. No Amish seeks political office and many do not register to vote. Clothing is an important symbol of group identity that helps maintain separatism from outgropus and continuity within the community. Is is an unchanged 270 year tradition. Beards but not mustaches for all married men and a special braided hairstyle for females further reinforce this orintation. Language serves as another symbplic attribute of the unser Salt Leit (our sort of people) Pennsylvania Dutch is a German dialect resembling Palatine German folk speech and is common to all Amish, regardless of where they live. English is the groups second language, usually introduced to childrne when they enter school and learned witout difficulty. High German is used exclusively for the preaching service and formal cermonies, the families teach High German to their children so all can understand it when it is used in sermons and hymns. Here is some information to get you started. Amish farmers use teams of horses instead of tractor and gain an additional benefit from the natural supply of fertilizer. Amish homes my be lacking in modern conveniences, but htey are clean, solid, kept in good repair, and , like the farms well run. The Amish consider adolence the most dangerous periord of an individul's life. Because of physical and emotional changes and peer-group influence exceeding family control. As a result, the Amish community has somewhat institutionalized adolescent rebellion, allowing teenager to make mistakes, test the cultural boundaries, and date. However, exposure to high-school worldiness is forbidden, the teens receiving vocational training at home instead. Becaue baptism does not occur until a persons late teens or early twenties, adults are more tolerant of discreet adolescent other wordly activities, which may include going to the movies, having a photograph taken, owing a radio and occassionaly wearing non-Amish clothes. There is a very small degree of youth problems-drunkeness, disrespect, joyriding, buying a car, and in 1998 the arrest of two youths for possession of cocaine- occassionaly confront the older Order Amish, but most young people return to Amish ways upon baptism and assume adult responsibilities. About 20 percent of Amish youth may leave, often joining a more liberal Mennonite group, but only a very small percentage of baptized Amish ever leave. If an individual wished to remain part of the community, the Amish insist on an endogamous marriage. The Amish do not practice birth control and have a high birthrate, with an average family of six to eight children. Social class has no meaning to the Amish, and all share a strong sense of social obligation to one another. This included helping others when disaster or tragedy strikes and providing home care rathere than institutionalization for the aged. Hope this is helpful, it is worth doing some research on they are a very intrestring group of people. I live in rural Ohio, and have the pleasure of knowing a few. Good luck on your paper and God bless*

Answer 2

Listen hun. I have tons, and I mean tons of Amish friends. Ever since this .. thing... happend, everyone is looking at them the way that one looks at a baboon in the zoo. Here are the facts. The Amish live the Bible to the best of their ability. They take it literally, and try to abide by it. Soooo, the word of God and His commandments bind them together. If most of the Christians who believed in the Old Testament would live according to that book...they too would live as the Amish do. The Amish are not some top seacret group of weirdos, they are simply Christian in the truest way that they can be.

Answer 3

my husband and that i traveled to pennsylvania this beyond spring and we visited a few amish groups even as we have been there. i recognize them such a lot,how they're so self ample on one yet another.their international revolves round church and their ideals that god will guard them.i imply,they make their possess garments,should not have the modern-day conveniences that all of us take without any consideration(like nintendo video games,TV,electrical energy).they're such extraordinary beneficiant men and women.i truthfully bought a home made glider rocker for my oldest daughter that used to be pregnant on the time with our first grandchild.the person that made the rocker owned the store we have been in and used to be one of the crucial sincere and thoughtful men and women i've ever met.my husband and that i spent hours speaking with him and hated to go away.keep in mind that,after that day i had a brand new admire for them and their extraordinary tradition.i want we have been all as fortunate to recognize the matters that we do have as a substitute of residing on the entire poor stuff!!!you're proper,they're dynamic!!!ohhh,and i like the truth that they do not force autos,they make their possess buggies and their horses are their prize possessions.

Answer 4

they have the same morals, values & beliefs & are not ashamed of it - they are willing to be different in order to stay true to themselves as a group.

Answer 5

family. traditional values. a lack of distractions.