What Are Amish People?

The Amish are a religious and cultural group best known for their traditional way of life. With their modest clothing, horse-drawn buggies, and resistance to modern technology, they often seem like people from another era. But beneath the surface lies a vibrant, faith-centered culture committed to family, humility, and communal values. Understanding the Amish means exploring a way of life deeply guided by spiritual beliefs and a desire for separation from the distractions of the modern world.

Historical Roots: Where the Amish Began

The Amish trace their origins to the Anabaptist movement of the 16th century in Europe. Anabaptists believed in adult baptism, nonviolence, and a life separate from state influence—principles that were radical at the time. In 1693, Jakob Ammann, a Swiss preacher, led a split from the larger Anabaptist group over issues of stricter religious discipline. His followers became known as the Amish.

Due to religious persecution in Europe, many Amish families emigrated to North America in the 18th century. Pennsylvania became a central hub for Amish settlements, thanks to its policy of religious tolerance. Today, their presence has expanded across the U.S. and parts of Canada, with communities still thriving in rural areas.

Core Beliefs and Religious Life

Faith is the foundation of Amish identity. Their beliefs are rooted in Christian teachings, especially the New Testament, and emphasize values like humility, obedience, and community support. They seek to live in a way that reflects the life of Jesus—simple, peaceful, and separated from worldly distractions.

Worship services take place every other Sunday, usually in members’ homes or barns. These gatherings include Bible readings, sermons, and singing from a traditional hymnal, often in High German. There are no elaborate rituals, musical instruments, or ornate decorations—just a focus on spiritual reflection and unity.

The Ordnung: Unwritten Rules That Shape Life

Each Amish community follows a code of conduct known as the Ordnung. It isn’t written down but is well understood and passed along through generations. The Ordnung guides decisions about clothing, technology, education, work, and social behavior. It helps maintain harmony within the group and ensures that members live in line with shared values.

The rules can vary from one Amish group to another. For instance, some communities may allow limited use of solar panels or telephones for business purposes, while others strictly avoid them. The Amish evaluate all aspects of modern life through the lens of whether it supports or threatens their spiritual and communal life.

Language and Communication

The Amish are trilingual. At home, they speak Pennsylvania Dutch—a dialect that blends German with some English influence. For worship services and religious texts, they use High German. English is typically learned in school and used when interacting with the outside world.

This multilingual approach helps them preserve their cultural identity while still being able to engage with the modern world when necessary, especially in business or healthcare.

Education: Learning With Purpose

Amish children attend school until the 8th grade, usually in one-room schoolhouses run by the community. The curriculum focuses on reading, writing, math, history, and practical knowledge needed for daily life. The goal is not academic achievement but preparation for adult roles within the community.

After school, children begin working with their families, learning trades or farming skills. Higher education is not pursued, as it is believed to promote values that conflict with the Amish way of life, such as competition, individualism, and ambition for wealth or status.

Family and Gender Roles

The Amish place a strong emphasis on family. Large families are common, with six to eight children not being unusual. Roles within the family tend to follow traditional lines. Men often work in agriculture or skilled trades like carpentry, while women are typically responsible for the home, meals, and children.

Despite these traditional roles, family life is rich with cooperation and support. Children are taught from a young age to contribute to household responsibilities, and elders are respected and cared for within the home rather than in separate facilities.

Work and Livelihood

Traditionally, most Amish families were farmers, but changes in land availability have led many to diversify their occupations. Today, many Amish people are involved in woodworking, furniture making, construction, blacksmithing, and other skilled trades. Some operate small businesses, selling quilts, baked goods, or handcrafted items.

They approach work with a sense of purpose and humility. Success is appreciated, but it must not lead to pride or self-glorification. Businesses are often family-run, and profits are reinvested into the community rather than used for personal luxury.

Transportation and Technology

The most well-known feature of Amish life is their resistance to modern technology. They do not own cars, instead using horse-drawn buggies for transportation. Electricity from the public grid is usually not allowed, though some groups use battery-powered tools, generators, or solar panels for specific needs.

The goal is not to reject technology altogether but to avoid anything that might erode community life or promote excessive individuality. For instance, smartphones, television, and internet access are typically banned because they are seen as distractions that introduce harmful outside influences.

Rumspringa: A Period of Choice

Around age 16, Amish teenagers enter a period known as Rumspringa, or “running around.” During this time, they are allowed more freedom to explore life outside of their community. Some might dress in modern clothes, go to parties, or experience urban life. However, many continue living with Amish values even during this phase.

Rumspringa is meant to help young people make an informed decision about joining the church as adults. Baptism is a voluntary step, and once they commit, they are expected to follow all community rules. Surprisingly, the vast majority of Amish youth choose to return and become baptized members.

Clothing and Identity

Amish clothing reflects their religious values—modesty, humility, and uniformity. Men wear simple trousers, shirts, suspenders, and broad-brimmed hats. Married men often grow beards, while single men remain clean-shaven. Women wear long dresses with aprons and head coverings, typically bonnets in black or white.

The clothing style serves both religious and social purposes. It minimizes vanity and materialism while visually identifying members of the community. Fashion is not a form of self-expression among the Amish, but a reflection of obedience and group identity.

Community, Not Isolation

While the Amish prefer to remain separate from mainstream society, they are not completely isolated. They trade with non-Amish neighbors, work alongside them, and contribute economically to surrounding towns. Some Amish even operate websites (run by non-Amish partners) to sell their goods.

What sets the Amish apart is not total withdrawal, but thoughtful boundaries. Their way of life is defined by constant evaluation of what brings people closer to God and to one another—and what pulls them apart.

Conclusion

The Amish continue to thrive not by resisting change entirely, but by choosing carefully which parts of the modern world to accept or reject. Their commitment to simplicity, family, and faith provides a stark contrast to the fast-paced, technology-driven culture that surrounds them.

For many, the Amish way of life is a living example of how values, not trends, can shape a community—and how purpose and peace can be found in simplicity.