A Comparison of the Amish to Catholics

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Hey everyone. I wanted to make a thread about the similarities and dissimilarities between the Amish and Catholics. The Amish are a Christian denomination/sect which are considered to be a very traditional sub-grouping of the Mennonites according to Wikipedia. They are very well known for their simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to or rejection of accepting modern conveniences such as electricity. Their founder was a Swiss man named Jakob Ammann according to Wikipedia. The Amish church began with a schism of Anabaptists I think in Switzerland in 1693. The current number of Amish in Canada and the United States is estimated to be 249,000 according to Wikipedia.

Like Catholics an Amish’s membership in their church begins with baptism. However, unlike Catholics, they are not baptized until usually between the ages of 16 and 25. They believe in “believer’s baptism” as opposed to infant baptism which is usually practiced by Catholics. This is one of the things that is distinctive about Anabaptists.

Amish do not celebrate communion very often and I believe they only celebrate communion in Spring and in Autumn. As far as I am aware, they do not have a belief in the Real Presence like Catholics do.

Like Catholics, the Amish are expected to refrain from work on Sunday. I don’t know how strict this rule is but of course they are allowed to care for their animals just as a Catholic farmer or animal breeder would be allowed to do.

The Amish believe in non-violence or Pacifism and will not participate in any form of military service. Catholics, on the other hand, will serve in the military although we do believe in the Just War doctrine. I am not sure if the Amish have any specific doctrine as far as war goes or not.

As far as I understand, the Amish have districts (similar to the Catholic diocese) which is led by a bishop. How an Amish bishop compares to a Catholic bishop, I do not know. However, I do know that they do not have valid apostolic succession like Catholic bishops. The bishop in an Amish community has the authority to pronounce their own version of excommunication on unrepentant Amish. They also have ministers and deacons. The ministers could be compared to Catholic priests and the deacons of course to Catholic deacons but as far as how similar their role in their religion is to ours, I do not know. I do know that these clergy also do not have valid apostolic succession. I don’t think the Amish even believe in Apostolic Succession. I believe that the Amish totally reject the ordination of women as do Catholics.

Although many people like to look at the Amish as a group without sin, they are just like other humans and have a sin nature like us even though they do seem to be very God-fearing and devout people. There has been some high profile sexual abuse on children cases with the Amish but this, of course, does not make them evil just as such cases in the Catholic Church does not make Catholics evil. Of course, I am sure you already knew that. I said this so that you would know that I am not judging them but just pointing out that the Amish do have flaws just as every other Christian which I am sure you all knew but I also know that some are tempted to believe that the Amish lead perfect Christian lives because of their simplicity and the lack of knowledge about them.

As for the fundamental doctrines that all orthodox Christians hold to be true, the Amish seem to hold to many, if not all, of the same orthodox doctrines that Fundamentalists and Evangelicals believe in such as the Trinity, the Virgin Birth of Jesus, the sinless life of Jesus, the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and of His atonement. They also believe that the afterlife consists of Heaven or Hell for eternity. There is no belief in Purgatory among the Amish. They believe that the Bible was inspired by God and that it is inerrant. They generally lean towards a literal interpretation of the Bible. They do believe that Satan is a living entity.

I could not find much information on the Amish people’s political beliefs other than that some of them lean to the center-left due to their pacifist beliefs and others lean more to the right. If anyone knows more information, please do share it.

Anyway, this about all I have really learned about the Amish so far. Here are my sources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish

religioustolerance.org/amish.htm

christianity.about.com/od/Amish-Religion/a/The-Amish-Denomination.htm

God Bless!
Holly

P.S. If you know more information any of these things, know someone who is Amish, are a former Amish person yourself, or whatever, feel free to add more information. 🙂
 
The Amish do not engage in “political” endeavors nor do Amish hold any secular political office. Many Mennonites do not vote in secular elections…nor will hold secular political positions.

The “Historic Peace Churches” have no theology of a “just war”…all war is wrong and for the People of God to participate in war denies the “Rule of God” in our world. We are to live NOW within the Kingdom of God and if necessary a life of “redemptive suffering” for one’s convictions is stressed.

Mennonites, Friends and Brethren at one time “excommunicated”…“shunned”…“read out of meeting”…those who discared their Peace Testimony and engaged in war and or the preparation of war.

Quakers have held political office and vote. There is even a “Friends Committee on National Legislation” which seeks to influence the political arena in “Quakerly ways”.

The Amish on the other hand seek to hold no “worldly” political position but seek to exist separate from the worlds politics and political activities.
 
Publisher said:
The Amish do not engage in “political” endeavors nor do Amish hold any secular political office. Many Mennonites do not vote in secular elections…nor will hold secular political positions.

The “Historic Peace Churches” have no theology of a “just war”…all war is wrong and for the People of God to participate in war denies the “Rule of God” in our world. We are to live NOW within the Kingdom of God and if necessary a life of “redemptive suffering” for one’s convictions is stressed.

Mennonites, Friends and Brethren at one time “excommunicated”…“shunned”…“read out of meeting”…those who discared their Peace Testimony and engaged in war and or the preparation of war.

Quakers have held political office and vote. There is even a “Friends Committee on National Legislation” which seeks to influence the political arena in “Quakerly ways”.

The Amish on the other hand seek to hold no “worldly” political position but seek to exist separate from the worlds politics and political activities.
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Oh ok. Do you have a source for this information? Sorry, I should have specified in my OP that when providing information, it would be strongly preferred to have a source included as well.

Also, are you saying that you, as well as the Amish, believe that all war is wrong? If so, you’d be fine with say, the Islamic extremists such as the Taliban, for example taking over the United States and subjugating us all to extremist Islam rules and Shariah Law? You would just willingly accept this without any sort of violent resistance at all despite the fact that Islamic extremists may very well and probably would choose to be violent in attempting such a take over? On a related note, what kind of self-defense would you or the Amish believe in? If someone put a gun to your head and told you to either convert to Islamic extremism or die, you would simply take the bullet without any resistance?
 
Holly3278 said:
Oh ok. Do you have a source for this information? Sorry, I should have specified in my OP that when providing information, it would be strongly preferred to have a source included as well.

Also, are you saying that you, as well as the Amish, believe that all war is wrong? If so, you’d be fine with say, the Islamic extremists such as the Taliban, for example taking over the United States and subjugating us all to extremist Islam rules and Shariah Law? You would just willingly accept this without any sort of violent resistance at all despite the fact that Islamic extremists may very well and probably would choose to be violent in attempting such a take over? On a related note, what kind of self-defense would you or the Amish believe in? If someone put a gun to your head and told you to either convert to Islamic extremism or die, you would simply take the bullet without any resistance?
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As far as “sources” for the information…it has been decades since I was in college…a Quaker college…and there learned of the other “Historic Peace Churches”. “War Peace and Non-Resistance” by Guy F Hershberger, a Mennonite, may be a source for you.

I think you misunderstand “passive resistance” and “non-violence”. War is wrong…one cannot follow the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and “turn the other cheek”…“resist not evil with evil, but resist evil with good…” “love your enemies”…“pray for those who despitefully use you…”…“be at peace with all me as far as it is dependent upon you…” and hate ones national enemy. One cannot “love your enemy” and yet splatter his brains over the ground with a well placed bullet.

Non-resistance begins wayyyyyy before agression escalates. Diplomatic means and “redemptive suffering” in the face of war and violence is not an easy stance to hold.

To live within the “Kingdom of God” in this present world is not to use the tactics the “world” uses to settle our differences.

The time to “make peace” with our enemies is not when agression occurs…but “pre-emptive peace-making” is where our efforts are best utilized.

There are always peaceful means available to us…we simply choose not to use them. War and the making of war is often used as a “first resort” with political governments.

If peace making endeavors were undertaken decades or centuries before the “need” to blow the hell out of an “ememy” were utilize we would be in a more peaceful world.

Honestly, I do not know what I would do in the case you provide…until I was there. My belief in living a life which engenders peace and reconcilliation sometimes produces a cross for those seeking peace…but we also know that sometimes when a cross is used to “silence” the peace makers…an empty tomb follows.

The time to deal with our Muslim friends is not when they attack us…but long before such an attack.

For the Amish…their beliefs forbid them from agression toward those who would be the agressors…they are forbidden to return “evil for evil”…they are called to return “good for evil”…as are Friends.

Another source you may want to review is the book “Quakers and Nazis” by Hans Schmidt…it outlines the endeavors of Quakers in Nazi Germany and how they dealt with them…the Friends in Nazi Germany fed children and adults, regardless of their political affiliations. The Friends in Nazi Germany assisted Jews in fleeing the Holocaust…some faced prision and death to live by their principles…I hope if I were called upon to live…or die…by the “Peace Testimony” I would not be found lacking…but until that time comes…I can’t say honestly what I would do…I may choose to take up arms against my neighbor…I hope I would share in the sufferings of Christ…

Violence and agression is evil. Taking the lives of our “enemies” is not the solution…it may be A solution…but not the solution we as the People of God are called to engage in…there is a Better Way…but it’s not always the easiest, nor is it the least painful.
 
My younger sister lives at Fredricksburg Ohio amoung the Amish. Her home was originally an Amish home. She used to provide taxi services to the Amish women on grocery day. She currently works in a factory that makes Jarlsberg cheese:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarlsberg_cheese

experience-ohio-amish-country.com/fredericksburg-ohio.html

If you can do so, I’d highly suggest making a visit! Fascinating culture.

I don’t know much about their religious practices. Except to say that they incorporate their faith into their lives and live by many rules.

The Amish travel in wooden wheeled covered buggies pulled by black standardbred horses. They plant their fields using Belgian draft horses - their hooves are the size of dinner plates.

There is an older order Amish who dress a particular way and the new order Amish who live with fewer restrictions. They both live an ordered life. Check out their farms and homes.

They are subsistence gardeners and farmers. Ohio is perfect for their culture due to the high amount of available and consistent rain their region receives.

I love it there! Drop your leg out of the car, and you’re transported back in time 100 years.

Photos of the Amish in Ohio:

google.com/search?q=photos+of+the+ohio+amish&rlz=1I7ADBR_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7
 
Of course I don’t have source right now for this but I think the bishops among the Amish administer much more than just church or doctrinal issues. They administer the entire community and along with elders can make decisions affecting their way of life such as whether something is allowed or not or settling disputes. The Amish there is no separation among their religious faith, community and daily lives. They are all intertwined with one affecting another and one influencing the other.

I think Publisher is right on his description of how the Amish and other Peace Churches view non-aggression and war. I remember reading a news story about some prejudice against Amish taking place in Pennsylvania, I believe, and it talked about how the Amish would continue to go about their business even after having food thrown at them, being taunted or even assaulted – lest any of them should sin and get angry and strike another person.

ChadS
 
Holly3278 wrote:
Hey everyone. I wanted to make a thread about the similarities and dissimilarities between the Amish and Catholics.
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Please allow me to ask a respectful question: Why would someone who does not seem to have any first-hand experience with the Amish want to open a thread like this?

It is very unlikely that someone who is Amish will be able to respond because of their attitude toward “things modern.” That leaves only those who have abandoned their Amish beliefs, people who “knew someone who was Amish,” and those who “read something” about the Amish. The result is that we compound our ignorance of these already too-often misunderstood people.

Please do not be offended at my question; but why would you start this thread when it seems that you know only what you have read about the Amish?
 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnung

Because each Amish district is a separate church, Ordnung rules will differ from locale to locale. There are diverse groups among the Amish, thereby creating distinctions within their Ordnung. The following is a general list and not exhaustive.[14][15]

Motorized vehicles are not to be owned or driven. The Amish may request a neighbor to drive them, or may hire a driver and rent a car.

The Amish may not travel on an airplane.

Clothing codes are to be followed:
Males are to wear hats when outside. Black is for the winter, straw color is for the warmer months. Suspenders, not belts, keep up the trousers.

Once boys marry, they are expected to grow a beard but shave their upper lip. Unmarried boys must be clean-shaved. Mustaches are frowned upon, because in German culture they have historically been associated with military officers.

Clothing must be home sewn.

Women are never to shave any part of their body nor to cut their hair.

Females must keep their head covered, usually with a prayer bonnet. The color denotes marital status (different colors may be used by different settlements).

Social Security or other commercial insurance is forbidden.

Children are to attend school through the eighth grade. After that, they are expected to work on the farm or in the home. A parent may find them a job to bring in additional income for the family.

Full-length mirrors are forbidden, because they are thought to promote vanity and self-admiration.

Jewelry is not to be worn, not even wedding rings. Other symbols (beards for men, and black bonnets for women) are used, in lieu of rings, to represent marital status.

An Amish person who has taken the church vow, and who has been found guilty by the bishop of breaking one of the Ordnung rules, can be punished by the Meidung (excommunication or shunning).

Mobile vehicles, such as buggies or farm implements, must not have rubber tires.

(Among the Old Order) Church members must not be photographed.
(Among the Old Order) Telephones are forbidden.

The use of batteries is allowed (in some districts) for emergency flashlights and similar devices, but discouraged in the home.

Word processors (powered by generator or DC) are allowed for school and church administrative use. Only non-electric typewriters are used in the home.

Electricity is not allowed in the home. Electrical energy is allowed in community dairy barns, but only generator power (not grid power).

Those who are able to work must do so from Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, however, no laborious work is to be done.

Amish young women and young men are expected to marry other Amish.

Examples of Practices Prescribed by the Ordnung:

color and style of clothing
hat styles for men
order of worship service
kneeling for prayer in worship
marriage within the church
use of horses for fieldwork
use of Pennsylvania German
steel wheels on machinery

Examples of Practices Prohibited by the Ordnung:

air transportation
central heating in houses
divorce
electricity from public power lines
entering military service
filing a lawsuit
jewelry, including wedding rings and wrist watches
joining worldly (public) organizations
owning computers, televisions, radios
owning and operating an automobile
pipeline milking equipment
using tractors for fieldwork
wall-to-wall carpeting

— Donald B. Kraybill , The Riddle of Amish Culture, Revised Edition p.115

Electricity from utility companies are considered worldly. Bottled gas may be used to heat water, fuel ranges, and run refrigerators. Gas-pressured or kerosene lanterns provide lighting. Batteries power the red lights on buggies. Gasoline generators may provide energy for washing machines, water pumps, and agricultural equipment.

Telephones may be placed in booths, an unlocked barn, or an Amish school. Cellular phones and voice mail, may only be used by a business to compete, but this is permitted on a case by case basis.

The Amish travel in horse-drawn buggies, and use horses to pull farm machinery. The horse allows them to take life at a slower pace, and it puts limits on their lives, slowing their work, and requiring additional labor. If business or personal needs necessitate a longer drive, the Amish may hire a taxi.

The Amish complete their eighth grade education in a one-room private school, taught by an Amish teacher who also attended school through the eighth grade. The skills of spelling, English, German, mathematics, geography, and health are taught. Some basic science may be taught about animals, stars, and planets. Religion is not taught as a subject, but is an important part of the school program, especially as it relates to behavior.

“Amish practices evolve over time. As modernization takes place, the Amish negotiate to what degree they will accept and utilize technology and other practices of the outside world. This cultural compromise has allowed the Amish to remain a distinct group, yet survive economically.”[16]
 
There are many things about their lives we can emulate. Simply because we disagree with their theology is no reason to condemn their lifestyle. They do not proselytize, they do not seek to impose their lifestyle on others. In many ways, we can see the fruits of their faith. And, finally, they appear to hold by the standard Christian Trinity. They do not seek to offend others, but seek, instead, to live the lifestyle they have chosen. That offends others, and when others persecute them, they turn the other cheek, and do not retaliate.

This is admirable. :o 😉

I won’t directly approach the OTHER comparison, which is Holly’s agenda.
 
I really don’t know about their theology, but the Shenandoah river valley in Virginia has a lot of Mennonites (they seem less strict than Amish). They used to sell some really outrageously good apple butter. There was an Eastern Mennonite HS we used to play against in soccer, and they were realy tough because they didn’t have a football program, so all their biggest and fastest athletes went out for the only fall sport they had. The men were well-known in the area as being some of the best carpenters around. Once, my Dad hired some to re-build the deck and back porch on his house. At the same time, I was painting the exterior of the home - so I and the Mennonites were outside all day together working for several days in a row. At one point, I brought out a radio and turned it on and Rush Limbaugh came on - all the mennonite guys went “Oh, Rush Limbaugh! Leave it on!” I’ll leave with just one other story: driving the back lanes of Mennonite country near Harrisonburg, Virginia I once saw an amazing piece of graffiti, hand-painted, by brush, no less, on a railroad trestle. It read: “SIN IS TORMENT.”
 
LongJourney said:
Amish are conservative Mennonites.
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Actually the Amish are “Amish”. Mennonites are “Mennonites”. Hutterites are “Hutterites”…they all stem from the Anabaptist movement…Amish are no more “conservative Mennonites” than Episcopalians are “Catholic lite”.🙂

Now there are different “orders” of Amish…but they still are Amish. The “Old Order Mennonites” are “conservative” Mennonites…not “liberal Amish”.
 
There are some interesting documentaries on Youtube about the controversial Amish practice of Rumspringa, where teens are allowed to go out and experience the world for a time before they make a final decision whether to follow Amish customs, or join the rest of the world and be shunned. While a good practice in theory, the truth is that since Amish teens are so sheltered from the reality of the world, they often end up getting involved in many destructive practices.
 
Rolltide said:
There are some interesting documentaries on Youtube about the controversial Amish practice of Rumspringa, where teens are allowed to go out and experience the world for a time before they make a final decision whether to follow Amish customs, or join the rest of the world and be shunned. While a good practice in theory, the truth is that since Amish teens are so sheltered from the reality of the world, they often end up getting involved in many destructive practices.
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Amish young people who choose to leave the Amish community are not shunned…they are only shunned if they choose to join the community and accept baptism into the church…then decide to leave…then they are shunned because they broke the covenant.

Amish young people who leave the community after “Rumspringa” without undergoing baptism are not members of the church/community…since they are not members they do not fall under the disipline of the “Ordung”.

The Amish have a very high retention rate of their young…I believe it is in the 90% + range…those that do leave the communtiy without undergoing baptism may eventually join a Mennonite group…I am acquainted with a couple who left the community…they regularly go back to visit family…and then are required to be baptized as a “believer”…but if they leave the Amish community PRIOR to accepting their place in the church through baptism…they are not under it’s disipline and not subject to “official shunning”…the “ban” is not imposed.
 
tabbey48 said:
Holly3278 wrote:

Please allow me to ask a respectful question: Why would someone who does not seem to have any first-hand experience with the Amish want to open a thread like this?

It is very unlikely that someone who is Amish will be able to respond because of their attitude toward “things modern.” That leaves only those who have abandoned their Amish beliefs, people who “knew someone who was Amish,” and those who “read something” about the Amish. The result is that we compound our ignorance of these already too-often misunderstood people.

Please do not be offended at my question; but why would you start this thread when it seems that you know only what you have read about the Amish?
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I started this thread because I wanted to know more about the Amish. I do not believe that what I have read online from generally reliable sources is untrue. I also do not believe that former Amish people would lie about their former religion. And finally, I do not believe that someone who knows an Amish person would lie about what they know about them.
 
Holly 3278 wrote:
Hey everyone. I wanted to make a thread about the similarities and dissimilarities between the Amish and Catholics.
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And…
I started this thread because I wanted to know more about the Amish. I do not believe that what I have read online from generally reliable sources is untrue. I also do not believe that former Amish people would lie about their former religion. And finally, I do not believe that someone who knows an Amish person would lie about what they know about them.
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I didn’t accuse anyone of lying…but would you want others to learn about the Catholic Church from those who had left the Church and others who only “knew someone” who was Catholic?

If you truly want to learn about the Amish, spend time among them.
 
If you truly want to learn about the Amish, spend time among them.
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They are unlikely to get nasty, unlike people of aggressively evangelical sects. It could take time to build trust, though.
 
tabbey48 said:
Holly 3278 wrote:

And…

I didn’t accuse anyone of lying…but would you want others to learn about the Catholic Church from those who had left the Church and others who only “knew someone” who was Catholic?

If you truly want to learn about the Amish, spend time among them.
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I think you’re being a little harsh on Holly. Not everyone is able to learn about the Amish by spending time among them, there may not be any communities within one’s local area to make that feasible. I do agree reading about former members of the Amish could skew what Holly wants to learn about the Amish, but she seems to just have an general interest. Nothing wrong with asking for information from other posters. You gotta start somewhere.
 
Long Journey wrote:
They are unlikely to get nasty, unlike people of aggressively evangelical sects. It could take time to build trust, though.
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I agree that it takes time and effort to understand almost any group. I would never have become Roman Catholic without taking time and making a real effort to understand the Church. I had read a lot about Catholics, both good and bad information. I knew people who had left the Church and were very bitter. And I could write a book of stories from people who knew someone who was Catholic and wanted to pass on what they had heard or observed.

I became Catholic because of R.C.I.A. classes and attending Mass. Because I really wanted to know about the Roman Catholic Church, I went to the source of good information.

In order to intelligently discuss “the similarities and dissimilarities between the Amish and Catholics,” one would need to go to the source of good information about the Amish which is the Amish community itself.
 
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