The Amish are an independent group of people. Definitely no doubt about that. Separation from the outsiders, from those who are not Amish, is what their whole existence is built out of. In fact, this independence exists because the Amish feel it is necessary to be pleasing to God. They believe they are called to be separate from the world, like the New Testament tells them to be. They take this in a very literal way that is displayed for everyone to see. Truth be told, they want people to know they are separate. That’s why they dress the way they do, and ride around in the carriages from place to place. That’s why their houses are dark at night.

       Why is it, however, that they believe the Bible tells them to be separate? Let’s think about this for a minute. Really, the concept is stemmed in the belief that it is God’s will. The world is a fallen place. Every being is a tainted person. With that mind, the world as it is now is actually a lost cause. One can do their best to live on the current earth, and please God, through hard work, keeping the ordinances and commandments, and loving others. Though, while they try to do all that, they see themselves as like the pilgrims of old who are sailing to the promise land. They are headed to their true home, which is Heaven, and they hope they do a good enough job to make it there.

       So while the Amish may recognize it as more of an external thing than anything, I know a lot of the English Christians also desire to be separate from the world, to be independent. It’s just there is more of a carefully calculated ‘mental’ independence. I guess what I mean is that the English don’t necessarily see it as separation from this or that (i.e, not owning a car, not going to movies, etc), but actually what is the heart of the matter. The English Christians often feel that anything goes so long as the heart is right and sin is not involved. Naturally, then, a greater amount is permitted and lines are blurred as to what is good and what is bad, what is okay and what is off-limits.

       Let’s stop and consider. Amish independence may be easier. Why is that? Well, it could be easier because everything is already decided. It is well known, most of the time, what is approved and what is not approved. There is not that constant evaluation of everything and thought given as whether or not to participate. The farmer knows what he is allowed to have, tool wise. The wife understands what is expected of her in her taking care of the home. The children have been taught how to behave, and even if they visit another Amish home, the rules will be similar. It won’t be like with the English where rules could fluctuate all over the place.

       With this less ‘thinking’ then comes greater uniformity. With the greater uniformity across the community, it could be easier to simply just love each other. Since everyone is on the same page, there’s not as much to think about. It becomes the matter of doing. Maybe it is easier, in a setting like that, to simply just practice what the Bible says. Though, the expectations are the same all around. I mean, if someone’s barn burns down, all the men are expected to participate in the building of a new one, and the women expected to prepare the food to feed everyone. Since there is great emphasis on community versus individuality, it is understood that people will naturally help each other. In the English world, it’s all about people I think helping each other with more individual tasks. Like, for instance, you might give your friend a ride to the airport or let him borrow your handsaw.

       The Amish spend a lot of time doing things together, probably mostly with their own families, though, there are community events. I remember reading somewhere that one of the reasons the Amish don’t have electricity in their homes is because they want everyone to be near each other, like in the evening hours when it is dark. If everyone is surrounded by the large light source or the fireplace, all are together. With electricity, people can independently go off in their own rooms. One person can be watching TV in the living room, another in the basement playing video games, and still another in an upstairs bedroom reading a book.

       It’s fun being with people, though, I’m not sure that leads to greater happiness all the time. What I mean is just because the Amish are together most of the time doesn’t necessarily mean the time is more enjoyable. I’m sure there would be some Amish persons who would tell you, off the record, that it is not (lol). I know for myself, personally, that I particularly enjoy doing a lot of things by myself. True, I am an introvert, but still I believe one can really enjoy themselves when they are by themselves, like in the examples of the English I mentioned above. Though too, I think everyone likes at least some time spent with others, no matter who you are.

       Let me bring up a book where the author argues that it is not always true that things done with other people actually produces greater happiness. This book is by psychologist David D. Burns, and it is titled ‘Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy.’ In chapter 12 of that book, he talks about this topic in depth. He had his patients create a list which he called the ‘Pleasure-Predicting Method.’ Basically, what this was was that a person would guess on a scale of 0 to 100% how fun or satisfying he or she guessed an event would be before the event. After completing the event, the person would record whether it is done by oneself or with others and the actual percentage of fun would be ascribed to it. This gave people an indication of how fun things really are with oneself and others, versus what the mind tries to get one to believe.

       I’ve tried this ‘Pleasure-Predicting Method’ myself and it is quite eye-opening. What I found was that 1) I was usually wrong in what I believed would be not so fun. I mean, activities were usually funner than I had predicted, and 2) I enjoyed a lot of things by myself versus with others. Sure, I enjoyed activities with others, but I enjoyed doing things by myself a lot of times too. So, when the mind says that we must be doing something with a group in order to feel happy, it is usually not telling the truth. The old man, the ego, whatever you want to call it, isn’t laying it out straight. As a matter of fact, I found rarely, maybe once or twice out of ten, was I correct that something was just as I thought it would be. That’s pretty mind-blowing when you think about it.

       Nonetheless, I imagine we need to acknowledge that with the difference in social structures, the Amish themselves probably perceive things differently. Undoubtedly so. Just how does an Amish person view their surroundings? Well, they’ve been brought up to focus on others, whereas English people generally have been brought up with themselves in mind first. Now, it could be debated all day what is right and wrong in this matter, which way is actually correct. Jesus said people are to love their neighbors as themselves, and while there is an emphasis there on loving one’s neighbor, he also said to do it in such a way as one already loves themselves. Both sides are on the table then.

       Anyhow, if you’re always spending time with in a group, then you’re always going to be thinking about others, and you’re probably not going to be focused on what one can do by themselves today. Maybe to a limited degree, but probably not as much. Like certainly an Amish person looks forward to reading a book or the newspaper (The Budget). But, whether it is having meal time, devotional time, church, a game of volleyball, or a picnic near the pond far back behind the house, these activities are done ‘together.’ We non-Amish don’t give it a second thought to do a lot of things on our own, though, the Amish I think clearly would.

       While we are on the subject of community and togetherness, we can also ponder the discretion of gossip. It would seem that Amish communities would be filled with it, as I have read on some occasions they do struggle with that sin. Nonetheless, to what degree is everyone knowing everything about everyone else actually gossip? I mean, after all, it is a collective community. In that case, what we as English might see as gossip might not be to them. Or, perhaps due to situations being so collective, some people might just take advantage of that and still mind other’s business that they shouldn’t.

       Regardless, what does bring a few Amish to decide to ditch the Amish ways and go out on their own, to try to make it (usually by themselves) in the world? Perhaps it is those who have a drive for individualism deep inside. I know in watching the PBS documentary titled ‘The Amish: Shunned,’ and even from my readings, that this does seem to be the case—that individualism is strongly present in those who go—who jump the fence per se. From my studies in psychology (I have a degree in the subject), I believe that some folks are meant to follow and some are meant to lead. Some individuals have stronger opinions than their fellow persons. Not that people can’t lead among the Amish; they certainly do. But some people (myself included), like to do things ‘their way’ and don’t like it when others tell them it has to be done in a way they don’t agree with.

       What is interesting about this is that plain people who do become independent of their community, who become ex-Amish, often turn out very successful in the world. They can be nurses or lawyers. They can own their own construction company or some other business. This is true whether the person is a man or woman. Perhaps for an Amish woman who wants to be more than the society will allow, this is what she ends up deciding to do—to leave altogether. We know that especially for the women in the Amish community, the options for individualism are very limited, and particularly if one is married.

       But it becomes a trade-off. Because in order to exercise that option, that freedom of expression, the freedom for one to be able to do whatever one wants, they have to sacrifice that deeply ingrained community life. Even if they haven’t joined the church yet and can leave on good terms, it still won’t be the same as they won’t be part of things on a daily basis anymore. Perhaps some don’t care—if they don’t have good relationships to begin with. For those who do, however, it has to be incredibly tuff. One goes from always being around others maybe to not being around others that much. Though, in the end, it must be worth it. Otherwise, if it wasn’t, those who left would just come back. It seems that more often than not they don’t. But that’s just my guess on the matter.

       As an outsider looking in, I have often thought that the community is the strongest point, their strongest offering. Though, I believe I would like to call it society. Yes, the Amish society. I look at the social structures and think, “Man, they’ve got it good in a lot of ways.” They have large families, and people commit to staying together for life. Everyone agrees on what the values are. Children learn usually in their own schools where they pretty much control the curriculum (to what degree the state has say in it I’m not sure). They can teach creationism and not even mention evolution. Since people are divided off in districts, they have other families they are always around. Though, I suppose this last point could be good or bad depending on what hand you’re dealt.

       I think non-Amish society in America used to be much more uniform say 60 or 70 years ago. But it seems that as the 60s progressed, that everything started to branch off down many paths, and no one seems to really be on the same page anymore. Even within American Christianity, there are many different ways one can go. But in American society in general, people just don’t agree on a lot of the moral issues. Some places it’s okay to do this, others it’s okay to do that. Schools teach one thing. Workplaces promote things. Businesses tell people what is important sometimes. Advertisements lean in different directions. Folks just aren’t on the same page—far from it. And it can make the world seem generally confusing and frustrating.

       That is what the Amish have that the English don’t. Uniformity. Independence to go their own way. Collectivism for sure, and perhaps not near as much independence on the individual’s basis. They do have that community, though. They have that safe place where everyone pretty much, big picture anyway, believes the same stuff. Actually, throughout the hundreds of thousands of them and growing. Sure, there are the small differences, but those things don’t really seem to matter, at least to the outside person looking in. So they still have what the English American society used to have, long ago, that has been lost somewhere in the past, and is not likely ever to return.

- Daniel Litton

To comment on this post, tap here to go to the comments page.