The Amish: A Culture of Tradition and Preservation

The Amish, or Amish Mennonite church fellowships, are a Christian religious denomination known for their simple living, plain dress, and resistance to the adoption of many modern conveniences. They originated back in Europe due to a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 (Gutkind, 1953). In the early 18th century, many Amish immigrated to North America in areas such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Ontario to avoid persecution. Though initially following the same frontier as other Americans, they have maintained a considerable separation from the non-Amish world over the years (Crowley, 1978), and subsequently they have maintained the same lifestyle for many generations. Their refusal for modernization and outside influences has made them a truly unique community, one with specific anthropological aspects worth noting. The following research paper will delve into these very aspects, examining the life of the Amish through ethnicity, religious practices, family, and their isolation from the outside world.

The Amish identify with each other through a common heritage, and as such they qualify as a distinct ethnic group. Largely of Swiss-German descent, they tend to think of themselves as members of the same faith community, and disregard the ethnic designation. They are predominantly Caucasian, and speak a distinctive German dialect called Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch. However, they also speak English. Those who choose to affiliate with the church, or young children raised in Amish homes, but too young to yet be church members, are considered to be Amish. A large number of today’s Amish descend from 18th century immigrants, though a larger number immigrated during the 19th century. It is theorized that the 18th century immigrants emphasized on tradition to a greater extent, and in doing so managed to maintain a separate cultural identity more