Amish Lifestyles

To live in the Kalona area is to live alongside those of the Amish faith. It is as commonplace to residents to see a horse and buggy sharing the road as it is a Dodge truck, but to those who are not used to seeing horses and buggies and the traditional dress that goes with the Amish it can seem odd. The Amish are not considered "unique" or "picturesque" to those who live alongside them, but rather are neighbors and friends.

The Amish in America are direct descendants of the Anabaptists of sixteenth-century Europe. These Anabaptist Christians challenged the reforms of Martin Luther and others much like him during the Protestant Reformation. One such challenge was the rejection of infant baptism to that of adult baptism for who believe and have accepted the faith as their life choice. Sometime later the group was known as Mennonites, after the Dutch Anabaptist leader Menno Simons (1496-1561). Later a group of Anabaptists fled their homes to escape religious persecution traveling to Switzerland and other areas of Europe where they were more widely accepted.

In the late 1600s Jakob Ammann led a group which broke away from the Swiss Mennonites, primarily because there was a disagreement regarding the lack of strict enforcement of Meidung, or shunning - which is excommunication of negligent, troublesome or disobedient members. This group later became known as the Amish and though are different in name, in fact, still share many of the same beliefs as their Mennonite cousins. A distinction between the Amish and Mennonites is largely one of dress and manner of worship, with both religions making their choices based upon that of the beliefs of the originators of their individual churches. While their basic beliefs are much the same, there are within each church, subtle differences common only to that church.

According to many, there are as many as eight different orders within the Amish population, with the majority being one of five orders - Old Order Amish, New Order Amish, Beachy Amish, Swartzentruber Amish, and Andy Weaver Amish. These orders differ primarily in terms of the practicing of their religion and how they choose to conduct their day to day lives.

The Old Order Amish are the largest group of the Amish faith and the Swartzentruber Amish, who are an offshoot of the Old Order Amish, are the most conservative of the Amish faith. Amish life is largely dictated by a list of written or oral rules, known as Ordnung, which contains the basics of the Amish faith and helps define for members what it means to be Amish within their order. However, as each order is different, it is not uncommon to see some buggies with lights or perhaps Amish driving (or riding) in what is usually a dark colored car. As each order is different, so is every belief system and thus the differences within the separate orders.

Simplicity in every part of their lives, is one of the first things those who come into contact with the Amish will notice. From their mode of dress, to their attitude of humility and quiet nature, simplicity is key. As was explained to me by a member of the Amish faith who preferred to be unnamed, "Living a simple life is part of who we are. We find we do not need nor believe we should have some of the frivolities of the modern world. And we are not missing out on anything as far as we are concerned by not having them."

Depending upon the order of which they are members, any household may be as simple as to not have electricity, drive horse and buggies instead of cars and have no phones within their homes. It is not uncommon to see a tractor working the fields without rubber tires on the wheels, simply because their belief system finds them unacceptable. Others however, have added electric lights and other modern parts of the world to their lives while keeping to their simple life and beliefs.

The Kalona ordnung does prohibit the use of a telephone in the home, and resulting conflicts over the use of the telephone made it the first modern invention to cause problems in the area. In 1900 the first telephone line was laid in the area, and in 1901 Wellman established the first local telephone company. Although as the popularity of the telephone increased bishops decided to ban it's use stating it would promote gossip within their order.

Though they live a simple life the Amish believe in a strong basic educational foundation. Though unlike their 'English' counterparts, Amish education only is given through the eighth grade. These students are taught in one room schoolhouses by women of the church with an emphasis on reading, math, writing and geography. Vocational training, Amish history and values within their religion as well.The Amish are exempt from state compulsory attendance past the eighth grade based upon their religious beliefs, an exemption which came into play as the result of a 1972 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Though the Amish firmly believe in a good educational basis in which to begin ones life, they also believe that working with ones family, learning firsthand a trade and family values are important as well.

When it comes to clothing, most Amish dress in a similar manner especially in like style dresses for the women. These dresses which are made at home are made in plain colors. Unadorned of any ornamentation, many orders have strict rules as to which colors are acceptable and which are not, though I was informed that in later years the rules on colors have been relaxed a bit as long as women are sensible and vanity does not come into play in their color choice.

Keeping everyone dressed in similar styles of dress and using the same basic colors is just one way the Amish stay connected with each other. According to an Amish man of the Old Order faith, keeping clothing simple in color also avoids vanity and takes the focus from "looking good" to that of God where the Amish believe the focus should be in their lives. Pins are used primarily to close a woman's dress though in some areas women use hooks and eyes or snaps. When queried about the use of pins, I was told, "Our women have used pins for years and have felt no need to change. Thus they still use them. It has simply become a tradition we have no need at this time to change."

Amish men also dress in a traditional style. With straight cut suits and coats void of collars, pockets or lapels, their dress reflects their belief real life, simplicity. Men's shirts are closed with buttons and suits with hooks and eyes. This can be explained simply because men are more active in their everyday life pins would not work well for their clothing and could be dangerous. Suspenders are a common part of Amish dress as well. When asked why the order has ordained suspenders, I was told that at the turn of the century men of all walks of life wore suspenders. Though modrn man moved on to belts, the Amish found their liked the suspenders and did not and thus the wearing of suspenders has simply become a part of their lives "because it works".

Within the Amish faith, young men are clean shaven before they marry, while married men are required to let their beards grow. Mustaches however are forbidden within each order. Amish women never cut their hair, and wear it in a braid or bun on the back of the head covered with a small white cap or black bonnet when in public. Simplicity again is the key in mode of dress down to hair and how it is to be worn.

When it comes to worship, the Amish do not meet within a traditional church building, choosing instead to meet bi-weekly on a rotating basis within members homes and worship there. Worship service includes singing, prayers, teaching of the Amish way, and other issues important to the religion. As Amish are a community of individuals with each church considering their members important parts of their lives, worship services are followed by dinners for all worshipers with additional singing rounding out the day. On alternate Sunday's they may join other churches and worship or simply spend the day visiting with family and friends.

Seen in many shops for sale are Amish dolls without faces. While Amish children do play with faceless dolls it is believed by many to simply be a custom of the Amish and not a comment on 'graven images'. As there are examples throughout history dating back to the early 1900's where children had dolls with faces sewn or drawn on them, this fact gives credence to that of choice and not a direct link to a reference regarding 'graven images'. Others hold fast to the second commandment which in part reads, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." Again it is the choice of each order as to how to interpret this when it comes to dolls but when it comes to photographs, most orders agree that photos are not acceptable

Though it is tempting for visitors to the area to take pictures of the Amish who live a lifestyle so different than that of many of us, the Amish do not believe in pictures and wish not to be photographed. As many Amish base their belief in the above mentioned commandment, photographs without permission (which is rarely if ever given) is a direct action against their religious beliefs and lifestyle.

In terms of taking photographs, an Amish friend put it quite well when she commented, "you wouldn't want someone shoving a camera in your face because you are a curiosity, and neither do we. At times I feel as though I were some sort of animal in a zoo visitors feel they must photograph to look at later."

Another point to remember for visitors in the area is if you visit an Amish owned store to please dress appropriately. This does not mean you have to dress as the Amish do, but please use discretion in your mode of dress and respect through your mode of dress the beliefs of the Amish for modesty. Many Amish owned business will state 'we appreciate our more modestly dressed customers' adding 'no photographs allowed'. This is a gentle reminder to leave your camera in the car and dress in a manner that reflects a respect for their religious beliefs.

Being Amish is a lifestyle choice and one that should be respected just as other religious traditions are respected. Though the Amish lives may seem strange and perhaps odd to outsiders it should be remembered that behind the plain dress and seated in the horse and buggy are men and women just like any other. They value their privacy and simple life and it is only fair to respect their beliefs and lifestyle and live amongst them as friends and neighbors and not curiosities as many who visit the area do.