A look into the Amish culture begins during the time of the Reformation in 16th century Europe. It all began when several groups of the Catholic Church broke off because of their different religious beliefs, convictions, and values. From this split, the Mennonite’s, also known as Anabaptists, were formed. Contrary to Catholicism, the Anabaptists believed that followers should only be baptized if they choose to continue following the Christian faith into adulthood. In 1623, the founder of the Mennonite’s, Menno Simmons, authored the Mennonite Dordrecht Confession of a Faith which outlined the principles of the Mennonite faith. A man by the name of Jacob Amman grew tired and impatient of the lack of support of the Mennonite Dordrecht Confession of a Faith, and decided to branch off and create a new group known as the Amish. The Amish and Mennonites were severely punished and even executed in Europe and therefore relocated to the United States, primarily Pennsylvania. According to Brewer, “Many of the Amish today consider themselves cousins of the Mennonites (Brewer & Bonalumi, 1995). There are five main orders (and many subgroups of each): old order, new order, Schwartzentruber, Andy Weaver and Beachy. Each group follows the guidelines established in the Mennonite Dordrecht Confession of a Faith, however the Ordnung- a set of rules for everyday living, is interpreted and established differently by each order. (Culture Vision).
Rumspringa is a period in an Amish person’s youth in which they are allowed to “run around,” usually in their late teens to early twenties to test their faith. It is not supported by all orders of the Amish, but many participate in it as a trial of the youth’s beliefs. During this time, they are...
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... and also time to practice their spiritual beliefs (pray and read scripture), so that they may feel more comfortable with their health care experience overall.
The Amish are unique in that their religion is a governing body. Their religion dictates every aspect, government, social gatherings, gender interaction, and health care. It is important that a health care provider contribute to the Amish experience in the hospital or clinic. Medical care is only as effective as the patient adhering to the prescribed action. Natural and alternative approaches to medical care should be considered before prescribing modern medicines. Education either by research as an attending nurse or asking questions from the patient or family should be done to ensure that the care provided allows the patient to control the care receives in accordance with how their religion dictates.
Developed from the Radical Reformation in the 1300’s, a group was formed called the Anabaptists. These Anabaptists were a joint group between the Mennonites, the Hutterites, and the Amish. The Amish people came from a split in the Swiss Mennonites in 1693 when a man named Jacob Amman and his supporters left their church to begin their own. Jacob Amman was born in Switzerland as an Anabaptist in 1644, and is considered the founder of the Amish religion.
The family provides a dense web of social support from cradle to grave. […] Family members help each other during an emergency, a fire or flood, and, of course, at a death”. The Amish community would not have withstood the drastically shifting eras had it not been for their foundation built on solid family and community relationships. Within Amish homes, bonds between siblings, parents and their children, as well as potentially extended families ties including aging grandparents or other relatives, are of utmost importance. Importantly, these interrelationships are not left within the household as the Amish community holds an interconnectedness inclusive to the community that creates an additional support network. This patchwork community of benevolence is not a gift, but a reward. There are expectations and consequences, as the BBC reports “[…] Members are expected to believe the same things and follow the same code of behaviour (called the Ordnung). The purpose of the ordnung is to help the community lead a godly life. […] If a person breaks the rules they may be 'shunned', which means that no-one (including their family) will eat with them or talk to them”. Expectations must be met for an Amish individual to earn and maintain their spot within the community. Despite guidelines wavering depending on each community and their location, the Amish are expected to follow God and seek salvation in a preset and dictated manner. Punishments for breaking the ordnung are strictly enforced and the insubordinate individual is completely excommunicated as a result of their disobedience. Since family connectedness is universally valued amongst Amish communities, if an individual is shunned, they will lose not only their community status but communications will be severed between immediate family members. When applied to education, if prohibited by that particular Ordnung, pursing a higher
Amish lifestyle is a very strict and limited lifestyle in which the Amish people choose to live a life that is very sheltered from the outside world. They have very limited electronic access and do not drive typical cars that most Americans drive. They all live basically with the same goals and family values. The male works and brings home the supplies necessary for living while the female is tasked with raising the family and providing meals and household duties. Amish families are typically very large and in many ways, they do practice many of the same activities non-Amish people do. They go to church, they have schools at least for a period of the children’s lives, they hang out, they spend time with their families, and they even play sports. However, they are very more strict and serious with their values and try to limit, as much as possible, their communication with the outside world because it is said to be a bad influence and leads the Amish people to the devil.
The Amish are a traditional community of a protestant and Anabaptist background. They are derived from a group who fled during the Protestant Reformation in
The Amish culture in general try to withhold the same traditions, values, and language as the original Amish. This individual Amish subculture in Indiana displayed in the Devil's Playground goes to show just how culturally diverse society can be. Though the ultimate desire of the Amish is to be a good example of Christ, the community encourages a positive deviance of their teenagers called Runspringa. Starting at age sixteen Amish teens are allowed the opportunity to explore the English world to better educate their decision to commit their life to the church and the simple way of living or leave the community turning to a life of relative deviance. This value contradiction often results in role conflict within the young people.
In the Amish world, children are brought up following all Amish family traditions and church traditions. At age 16, Amish teenagers do away with these traditions for several months to several years and go out into the “English”, modern world to experience what life is like outside of the Amish community in a tradition called Rumspringa. The hopes of Rumspringa are that Amish teenagers will see the evil in the modern world and turn back to the Amish church and community and will choose to be baptized into the faith. At this time, the parents of these Amish teenagers choose to overlook the new habits and actions of their children. The Amish parents want the best for their children and feel as though allowing them to party and live wild for a time away from them is the best way to teach their children. The parents have the approach to be hands off and ignore the behavior during Rumspringa. This is not an effective manner of parenting for these teenagers at such an influential time in their lives.
Decisional Conflict R/T Cultural, religious and family beliefs AEB Amish typically do not believe in preventative medicine (Prenatal testing and immunizations).
In fact, Native American medicine men belief is firmly grounded in age-old traditions, legends and teachings. Healing and medical powers have existed since the very beginning of time according to Native American stories. Consequently they have handed down the tribe's antediluvian legends, which i...
All students should take notice and interest in cultural diversity. There are numerous different cultures in America. One in particular is the Amish culture, which I would like to familiarize you with.
Appalachian culture covers thirteen states in Northern America. It is beneficial to medical staff to be familiar with this culture’s beliefs in order to successfully treat their patients. Without knowledge and education of their social status, environment, nutrition, beliefs, and unhealthy habits, the medical staff can fail in treatment and can misdiagnose their patients.
There are many different cultures throughout the world. They each have their own distinct customs and beliefs relating to marriage, rites of passage, conflict resolutions, education etc... The most interesting aspect of each culture is how they incorporate their religious beliefs into the healthcare they receive. Some cultures are not affected by their religious beliefs when dealing with healthcare. They are not regulated in the terms of medical procedures and practices they can obtain from healthcare professionals. However, this is not true for every culture in this world. The Amish and Mennonite culture is depicted upon separating themselves from this world and living a plain life. These two cultures are heavily rooted in their religious beliefs and have tendencies not to stray away from those beliefs regardless of the possible benefits of modern technology. Amish and Mennonite culture may share some similarities, but they have some differences also. A culture’s religious beliefs will be the main determining factor in the healthcare they choose.
This book addresses one of the common characteristics, and challenges, of health care today: the need to achieve a working knowledge of as many cultures as possible in health care. The Hmong population of Merced, California addresses the collision between Western medicine and holistic healing traditions of the Hmong immigrants, which plays out a common dilemma in western medical centers: the need to integrate modern western medicinal remedies with aspects of cultural that are good for the well-being of the patient, and the belief of the patient’s ability to recuperate. What we see is a clash, or lack of integration in the example of the story thereof. Lia, a Hmong child with a rare form of epilepsy, must enter the western hospital instead of the Laotian forest. In the forest she would seek out herbs to remedy the problems that beset her, but in the west she is forced to enter the western medical hospital without access to those remedies, which provided not only physical but spiritual comfort to those members of the Hmong culture. The herbs that are supposed to fix her spirit in the forest are not available in the western hospital. The Merced County hospital system clashes with Hmong animist traditions.
In healthcare organizations, medical staff must conform to their hospital and their country’s code of conduct. Not only do they have to meet set standards, they must also take their patient into consideration. When making a decision upon a patient, medical staff must recognize religious backgrounds and spiritual beliefs. By understanding a patients’ beliefs and their belief system, a medical worker can give the patient their deserved medical assistance without overstepping boundaries or coming off as offensive. The practices and beliefs of four religions will be articulated throughout this essay to fully understand how religion can either help or hinder the healing process.
An individual’s culture and belief may significantly impact the type of services they require. In addition, it may affect the time, place, and method in the delivery of health care
In conclusion, I believe that by educating ourselves on the Muslim culture we can gain a better understanding of their needs. Knowing that we must not only address the physical aspect of care but also the spiritual aspect when caring for a Muslim patient will lead to a positive patient experience. Involving the family as much as possible will help further effective communication and help us acquire the insight we need to meet their health care expectations.