The Amish?

[DebChris]

Good quote, the same idea was fostered by a young George Fox in England a hundred years later…the Society of Friends came to the same conclusion, God’s Word, the Light Within is the best interpreter of scripture through those who seek the Divine Will to determine how their lives are to be lived. The most unlearned among us who is filled with the Spirit and discerns with the Gathered Meeting can speak the Word in the Light better than one most learned who is void of Spirit.

Friends, Mennonites and Brethren have been called memebers of the “Radical Reformation” and “Historic Peace Churches”, the character of one’s life and how the gospel is lived in community is more important than doctrine and dogma. We may not be able to define the Incarnation in theological terms to anyone’s satisfaction, but we can certainly see the effects of the Incarnation lived out in community as we become the Body of Christ and become His Presence in our world.

I have found the best way to find out about a person’s faith is to ask the person themselves. As a Catholic, I am well aware of the many ways that my own faith is misrepresented. The Mennonites have a website for those wanting information. When I finished the newsletter that was a requirement for the diversity class that I took, I sent them a copy of the fact sheet.
I fully believe in the efficacy of the Sacraments. There is a rhythm to life that is echoed in the liturgical calendar. One of the great things that has come from the ecumenical movements of the past century is that many of our separated brothers and sisters now use the same calendar, even if they have yet to return to the Sacramental table.
You will find within the Catholic Church, that many of the canonized saints are not learned in the ways of the world. You need look no further than John Vianney, who is the patron saint of parish priests. He spent 16 hours a day in the confessional. My own pastor talked about how challenging even a daily half hour can be. As Christians, we share the connection between faith, words, and action. The Holy Spirit strengthens each of us in our daily life.

 

[FindTruth7]

You may enjoy the Hutterite communities…similar to Amish but they do not refuse to use “modern ways”…they live in community. My wife and I considered many years ago joining a Hutterite community in uperstate Montana…but life happened and some plans just can’t be brought to fruitition. It was the only time I considered joining another religious community instead of Friends…I could have held dual membership in the Wider Quaker Fellowship…but I would have had to submit to water baptism to join them.

So you’re a Quaker huh? Awesome.

 

[Publisher]

So you’re a Quaker huh? Awesome.

Yes, I have been a member of the Society of Friends since I was 19. My wife was also “convinced” in her early 20’s. We were married about 8 years when she was “Called back to the Presence” a year after our son was “Called”…“life happened” and it was their deaths that ended my desire to pursue joining the Hutterian Brotherhood. “For all things work to the good…”

I am content with my life…that was a lifetime ago…and time does heal many things.

 

[FindTruth7]

Yes, I have been a member of the Society of Friends since I was 19. My wife was also “convinced” in her early 20’s. We were married about 8 years when she was “Called back to the Presence” a year after our son was “Called”…“life happened” and it was their deaths that ended my desire to pursue joining the Hutterian Brotherhood. “For all things work to the good…”

I am content with my life…that was a lifetime ago…and time does heal many things.

aawww, your son and wife passed on? I’m sorry. I know you’ve heard it before, but really, I’m sorry.

 

[Publisher]

Thank you. As I said it was a “lifetime” ago. In the Living Silence of the Meeting I found “healing”. In Meeting, we are joined to same Presence to which we all return…when we enter in Worship, we in a very real sense share in 'the communion of saints"…we “echo” This Side the Love we experience on the Other Side…

 

[peary1]

I am simply wondering, what are Catholics views about the Amish? I am currently in an Amish town as I speak. Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL country! I do not agree with some of their (in my opinon) “radical” practices, like no faces on dolls, no electricity, plain old clothing, BUT I do respect it to a degree. I just do not like when they start saying that their way is the most “Biblical,” that electricity is, or could possibly, be sin.

What I DO like is their community with one another. Oh it’s so amazing and friendly! So friendly! How they take care of each other and care not for the government telling them what to do.

Has there ever been a Catholic community like that? And what does the Church say about the Amish?

**That is why you have Catholic religious orders - such as Benedictines, Carmelites, Franciscans, Salesians, etc. Although it is true that Saint Aloysius commented that “Community life is my greatest penance” the whole purpose of community is to love and take care of one another in Christ.

The Amish are a radical protestant group that broke away from the anabaptists in the 17th century in Switzerland. For more information on them, check out the excellent article in Wikipedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish**

 

[Sepharad]

Catholics who try to deny their past will only alienate the spiritual and literal descendants (!)–like Sepharad-- who suffered from that past.

To say, well, every did it then, is to deny this past. When the Catholic church was in power , it committed grave abuses, even according to the standards of the time.

True, Calvin burned Servetus. Well, that’s one. The Catholic church or its goods, including Mary I of England, burned and tortured thousands. Elizabeth I persecuted Catholic priests sneaking into England because they represented the (foolish) pope who excommunicated her and was encouraging Catholics to rebel and kill her–this translated as treason, which was a capital offense.

You can’t outlive the past. The expression, “Spanish Inquisition” is in the English language, as in “What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?” It will stay there for some time.

Germany knows this now. It will take centuries for Germany to live down its wars, especially Hitler, World War II and the Holocaust.

The Anabaptists, Amish and Hutterites keep all their memories alive. I think that you’ll find that many Protestants do, too.

We Jews do too. The word, zachor, is very prominent in our collective history. It means, “remember”. Our religion is composed of many remembrances of what others have done to martyr us for our faith. We are not unlike historical Protestants when it comes to that.

We, too, in the Orthodox Jewish world, have our own Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and Martyrs Mirrors. This is one reason why it is so hard for Christians to convert Orthodox Jews (and why it is so hard for Catholics to convert conservative Protestants who also study and know their history)…keeping the history of our martyrs alive helps us know who we are, what we believe, and where we will never voluntarily go (apostasy.)

 

[FindTruth7]

**That is why you have Catholic religious orders - such as Benedictines, Carmelites, Franciscans, Salesians, etc. Although it is true that Saint Aloysius commented that “Community life is my greatest penance” the whole purpose of community is to love and take care of one another in Christ.

The Amish are a radical protestant group that broke away from the anabaptists in the 17th century in Switzerland. For more information on them, check out the excellent article in Wikipedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish**

They may be a bit radical, and I may disagree with them on many theological doctrines, but I respect EVERYTHINGT they do.

 

[FindTruth7]

We Jews do too. The word, zachor, is very prominent in our collective history. It means, “remember”. Our religion is composed of many remembrances of what others have done to martyr us for our faith. We are not unlike historical Protestants when it comes to that.

We, too, in the Orthodox Jewish world, have our own Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and Martyrs Mirrors. This is one reason why it is so hard for Christians to convert Orthodox Jews (and why it is so hard for Catholics to convert conservative Protestants who also study and know their history)…keeping the history of our martyrs alive helps us know who we are, what we believe, and where we will never voluntarily go (apostasy.)

It seems when one learns of his/her history quite well, it’s always hard for that individual to be converted. There is no way I could ever become jewish, or even Protestant. Though if I ever were to pick a Protestant, hands down the Amish!

 

[swariffin]

I am simply wondering, what are Catholics views about the Amish? I am currently in an Amish town as I speak. Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL country! I do not agree with some of their (in my opinon) “radical” practices, like no faces on dolls, no electricity, plain old clothing, BUT I do respect it to a degree. I just do not like when they start saying that their way is the most “Biblical,” that electricity is, or could possibly, be sin.

What I DO like is their community with one another. Oh it’s so amazing and friendly! So friendly! How they take care of each other and care not for the government telling them what to do.

Has there ever been a Catholic community like that? And what does the Church say about the Amish?

Dear brother,

Could you tell me more about the Amish? Which part they live in the US, which cities/county? I am interested more about their community.

In the deep of the depleting jungle of West Java, there live an “Old Banten” society. They live very traditionally, rejecting modern technology including electricity and battery powered equipments. Cultivate the land without modern machinery. No modern transportation. They are not associated with any religion too. But, remarkably they never experience any drought as other places of Java have, and never be lack of food. One of their representative was sent to our government in Jakarta to pass their voices to the politician. He went to Jakarta on foot with traditional sandals, and took 2 days reaching Jakarta. Uniquely, he only eat and drank the meal and water brought from his village. He used to took a rest in open spaces, usually under a tree. They don’t recognize money or any modern ways of payments. They don’t speak the lingua franca of Bahasa Indonesia, but and old dialect of Sundanese. Modern Sundanese usually can understand them, though not 100%. They live in a collective society. They store their harvests in a common traditional storage places (not individuals). No stealing nor cheating among them. The only modern thing is the fabric which they taylored their own clothing. Still, there is no modern clothing style. No blue jeans nor designer style of clothing. While the government try very hard to limit birth rate, they had no problem with that. Their population is stable. Their village can only be reached by foot (don’t take any helicopter to land there).

 

[swariffin]

**That is why you have Catholic religious orders - such as Benedictines, Carmelites, Franciscans, Salesians, etc. Although it is true that Saint Aloysius commented that “Community life is my greatest penance” the whole purpose of community is to love and take care of one another in Christ.

The Amish are a radical protestant group that broke away from the anabaptists in the 17th century in Switzerland. For more information on them, check out the excellent article in Wikipedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish**

Thanks peary1.

 

[peary1]

All this consistent arguing is why I can’t submit myself to a specific religion. Whom do you trust? Who has the Truth? Everyone seems to make a good point, but disagrees with one another. This is why I am searching for Truth. If I know wha tit is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, I shall never forsake it!

I know “Catholics” have done horrible, hideous things! But that doesn’t mean they are wrong, or bad every single time as many anti-Catholics put it. During the Spanish Inquisition a Catholic Bishop hide 300 Calvinists on his land from other crazed fanatic “catholics” who were trying to kill them. During the Reformation Thomas Moore also protested against the Church, but unlike Luther he didn’t want to break apart, only stop the abuses going on from within, because clearly, according to Catholic teaching, they were evil! The Catholic Church has done very good, humble things in times past and present, and among all the mumbo-jumbo sects of Christianity, I’d say the Catholic sounds the closest in Scripture and early Church history. Though I don’t agree with everything they teach or believe.

So far, those who inspir eme the most ar ethe Amish. I love it up here, so so awesome! So peaceful! Every time one goes by on their buggy I feel happy, at peace, with a desire to bow before them humbly out of respect. I drove by their farms today, talked to a few briefly and everyday just keeps getting more interesting.

This is how I felt when I read a biography on St. Francis of Assisi. I wish there were Catholic communities as the Amish, besides the radical points.

 

[FindTruth7]

Dear brother,

Could you tell me more about the Amish? Which part they live in the US, which cities/county? I am interested more about their community.

In the deep of the depleting jungle of West Java, there live an “Old Banten” society. They live very traditionally, rejecting modern technology including electricity and battery powered equipments. Cultivate the land without modern machinery. No modern transportation. They are not associated with any religion too. But, remarkably they never experience any drought as other places of Java have, and never be lack of food. One of their representative was sent to our government in Jakarta to pass their voices to the politician. He went to Jakarta on foot with traditional sandals, and took 2 days reaching Jakarta. Uniquely, he only eat and drank the meal and water brought from his village. He used to took a rest in open spaces, usually under a tree. They don’t recognize money or any modern ways of payments. They don’t speak the lingua franca of Bahasa Indonesia, but and old dialect of Sundanese. Modern Sundanese usually can understand them, though not 100%. They live in a collective society. They store their harvests in a common traditional storage places (not individuals). No stealing nor cheating among them. The only modern thing is the fabric which they taylored their own clothing. Still, there is no modern clothing style. No blue jeans nor designer style of clothing. While the government try very hard to limit birth rate, they had no problem with that. Their population is stable. Their village can only be reached by foot (don’t take any helicopter to land there).

Lancaster Pennsylvania. I don’t have time to tell about the Amish now, but I can later, or you could look through this post, or google. They’re my favorite Protestant group out there, if I were a Protestant, I’d join them

 

[FindTruth7]

peary1:
What did you want to say peary? lol. You quoted by spoke nothing.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

You have to respect them for living out their beliefs. They not only talk the talk, they walk the walk. I wish Catholics were as counter-cultural as they are.

… … I know very little about Amish people as to their intrinsic beliefs etc., but the way they live and the little I do know about them has great appeal … and their reaction after that dreadful shooting stunned me with amazement. What witness!!!
I have just sighted this thread and am glancing through posts.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

It would seem much easier to walk the walk when you live together in a big community. I wish other forms, especially Catholics had something like that, minus all the radical points. But overall, a big united family.

… …

 

[BarbaraTherese]

What did you want to say peary? lol. You quoted by spoke nothing.

Howdy FT7…I didn’t realize that you had started a thread on Amish people and rather fell over it accidentally, and it will take a bit of time for me to internalize and try to educate myself more than I am now by reading the posts…not that this is any loss (my absence in a thread) to anyone on CAF who even remotely knows me …but am looking forward to finding out more about Amish people…

 

[anon52328184]

there was an amish community not far from where i grew up in kansas. i used to love to drive by there and see them riding in their horse and buggies.
i envied their beautiful farms and their big families and they didn’t have to go to school past the 8th grade. i thought how lucky they were that they weren’t going to have to work at jobs like secretaries or bankers. they are rugged community minded people. very religious. i think they meet in people’s homes rather than have churches. their daily lives are focused on work and God and family. there is a restaurant run by the amish people and there are many homemade foods and crafts for sale. it is like going back in time and is the most wonderful place to see how people can live so simply and be so happy. they don’t need all of the trappings of the technological world like the rest of us. their lives are fairly primitive with no telephones, no electricity and no cars.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting BlestOne:

I grew up around Amish and Mennonites… I have alot of respect for them in some regards… Their carpentry skills are unsurpassed. We used to hire them on our job sites for all our carpentry needs… ***Heavily edited for space reasons. Posted by BlestOne on ***Aug 4, '08 11:31 pm …strayed from God.

Do I think their theology is perfect? No, not in the least… I think they are much too harsh with their own. But I am human and I find myself much more harsh with my own too… because I expect them to know better.

Quoting from above Post
Quoting BlestOne: Now I live just north of another Amish settlement… they are known around here for their carpentry (no surprise) and their work ethic. We see them at fast food restaurants when they are out working jobs in our area… it still strikes me as funny to see them eat a Big Mac.

This sure is giving witness to the world from those who do not live in the world and live counter culturally…The Amish people by reputation alone seem to go out into the world spreading Gospel values without needing to ‘go out into the world’ of necessity - although from the above it seems that they do at times (go out into the world)…I am just learning about them really. Australian.
Speculation only: I think it would be possible to live in communities on the one (of necessity very large) block of land (in houses) and work and move amongst the general community as normal and still fulfill our mandate as lay people to be “in the world” and strive to be the leaven in the world…this then would have some similarities with an active religious order…I am sure it would not be everyone’s cup of tea and call, but it could be a viable option I think …my thoughts only …

 

[anon52328184]

i agree. i would be all for living that way. the amish have their own way of dressing. they dress very immodest in old style clothes which they make themselves. they do give their kids a chance when they reach a certain age to go out into the world and make their decision which life they want.