Amish

The Amish are a denomination of Anabaptists and noted for their restrictions on the use of modern devices such as automobiles and electricity. The Amish are a tight-knit cultural and ethnic group, descending from predominately Swiss German immigrants. Most Amish speak at home a distinctive High German dialect (Deitsch or "Pennsylvania Dutch)", although the so-called "Swiss Amish" speak an Alemannic dialect which they call "Swiss". Note that the Amish are just one group of the "Pennsylvania Dutch," who are generally of German descent; the word "Dutch" being an archaism. Finally, more "progressive" Beachy Amish, especially those who were born roughly after 1960 tend to speak predominately in English at home.

History

Like the Mennonites, the Amish are descendants of the Swiss Anabaptists (1525). The Swiss Anabaptists, called the "Swiss Brethren" had their origins with Felix Manz and Conrad Grebel. The name "Mennonite" was applied later and came from Menno Simons (c. 1496–1561) who was a Anabaptist leader in the north. Simons was a Dutch Roman Catholic priest who converted to Anabaptism in 1536 and was baptized by Obbe Philips after renouncing his Catholic faith and office. He was a leader in the Lowland Anabaptist communities, but his influence reached gradually into Switzerland.

Related Topics:
Mennonites - Felix Manz - Conrad Grebel - Menno Simons - 1496 - 1561 - Dutch - Roman Catholic - 1536 - Obbe Philips

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The Amish movement takes its name from Jacob Amman (c. 1656–c. 1730), a Swiss Mennonite. Amman felt that the Mennonites were drifting from close adherence to the teachings of Simons and the 1632 Mennonite Dordrecht Confession of Faith. Much of the laxity was in the area of shunning excluded members, also called the ban (or Meidung in Pennsylvania German). However, the Swiss Mennonites never did practice strict shunning like the Lowland Anabaptists. The ban meant believers would terminate contact with a non-conforming member of the Mennonite society. Amman insisted upon this practice, even to the point of a spouse refusing to sleep or eat with the banned member until he/she repented of his/her behavior.

Related Topics:
Jacob Amman - 1656 - 1730 - 1632

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This strict literalism brought about a division of the Swiss Mennonites, who were now scattered throughout Alsace to the Palatinate due to unwelcoming conditions in Switzerland. This division occured in 1693, and led to the establishment of the Amish. Because the Amish are the result of a division with the Mennonites, some consider the Amish a conservative Mennonite group, in fact, some Amish would not disagree with this title. Some Amish began to migrate to the United States in the 18th century and many would eventually settle in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (the first immigrants actually went to Berks County, but later moved due in part to security issues tied to the French and Indian War as well as land issues). Other groups settled in or spread to Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, and even into Canada.

Related Topics:
Switzerland - 1693 - 18th century - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - French and Indian War - Illinois - Indiana - Wisconsin - Iowa - Michigan - Minnesota - Mississippi - Missouri - Nebraska - New York - Ohio - Canada

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