Founded by Jacob Amman (c. 1656 – c. 1730), for whom the group was named, the Amish are a Christian sect that broke off from the Mennonite church in 17th century Europe due to the dissension of religious practices. Because of religious persecution in Europe after the sect was formed, the Amish fled to North America, where they now maintain a population of 50,000 residing in parts of Canada and the Midwest and some eastern states of the U.S. One of the most famous Amish groups lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

For many passersby, the Amish way of life may seem peculiar. Sharing a roadway with a horse drawn carriage, operated by people who appear to have stepped out of the Middle Ages, may seem like some kind of anomaly. However, the simple lifestyle of the Amish, their plain clothing, and their denial of modern technology are a careful expression of their devotion to their religious beliefs.

The Amish lifestyle is centered around farming. Men, women, and children all work hard to contribute to their community. The family is patriarchally structured, and women, although their work is considered very important, live under stricter regulations than men and must behave submissively to their husbands.

Amish men wear beards and typically dress in plain, dark colored slacks and suspenders. Women wear long, solid colored dresses with an apron and bonnet. Married women are required to wear black bonnets, while single women wear white bonnets.

As Christians, the Amish believe in the doctrines of the Bible. However, their particular religious philosophy differs from that of other Christians in how they feel that God wishes them to live. At the risk of overgeneralizing, there are two key principles that dictate the Amish way of life: Demut and Hochmut.

Demut is the Amish term for humility and submission to God, which they value highly. To achieve this humility and live the way they believe that God wills, the Amish emphasize the value of community, cooperation, fellowship, and brotherhood in the group. Self discipline is also very important to the Amish.

Hochmut refers to the rejection of vanity, pride, and individualism. The Amish believe that many of the modern conveniences that others enjoy promote these transgressions in some way. It is against Amish belief to take photographs or to be photographed, because the practice promotes vanity. The use of technology, such as automobiles, electricity, and labor saving machinery, can create competition between members of a community, encouraging pride, arrogance, and rivalry. The Amish also forbid education after the equivalent of the eighth grade, suggesting that higher education contributes to a feeling of self importance. They feel that education up to the eighth grade is all that is necessary to effectively contribute to the Amish community.

The Amish do not view technology as evil, but rather as a complication to the simple life that works to prevent vanity. Amish doctrines differ among different communities. Some groups allow some forms of electricity, primitive appliances, and necessary machinery. One group, called the Beachy Amish, are permitted to drive plain, undecorated cars.

Generally common throughout all Amish communities are prohibitions against joining the military, holding any form of public office, and receiving any assistance from the government. Most Amish speak a German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch, which the Amish call Deitsch.

The Amish practice baptism, rumspringa, and shunning. Their beliefs dictate that only adults can be baptized, and only after they have made an informed decision to commit themselves to the church. Baptism is preceded by rumspringa, which refers to a period of time when the adolescent Amish are released from the rules of the church and the strict Amish lifestyle.

During rumspringa, teenagers are permitted to explore mainstream culture, wear modern clothing, and do the things that non-Amish kids do. After this period, the Amish adolescents must decide whether they want to remain within the church. Eighty to ninety percent of them resolve to be baptized and stay with their community.

The Amish avidly isolate themselves from mainstream American culture and isolate members of their community who sin in a practice referred to as shunning. They often cite II Corinthians 6:14 as the justification for this practice: “Do not team up with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Can light associate with darkness?”

Today, the Amish are forced to interweave to an extent with mainstream culture due to the increase in the cost of living and the difficulty of acquiring land. Their simple and low tech ways of life simply cannot compete with the cheaper and faster turn around of goods produced by modern technical means. Therefore, they have had to interact with the general public through tourism, the sale of their crafts and goods, and sometimes even work outside of their community in order to make a living.