Amish Religious Diversity In America

Introduction

The United States of America was a country founded on the principles of religious freedom. It was this principle that sparked a vast diversity in the religions founded in the New World; A diversity that the founding fathers had not imagined. While many religions can be found in America now, it is the Protestant faith and the sects that broke off from it that began the religious diversity in America. The Amish religion is one of theses sects that helped develop the diversity in America. This paper will cover the history of the Amish, their ideals and practices, and the challenges they have faced.

History

In order to understand the ideals and practices of the Amish faith, it is important to know why the Amish sect came into

While some religions may be a little more lenient on their tenets, the Amish strictly follow the tenets set forth by Menno Simons and the tenets established by each individual community. As stated by David Holmes and Walter E. Block, "The Amish culture owes it longevity, and stability to the institution of ordung, the rules and regulations by which Amish society organizes itself" (Holmes 372). At the core of the Amish religion is the Confession of Faith. The tenets listed underneath the Confession of Faith include adult baptism, the church as a covenant community, excommunication of errant members, literal obedience to the teachings of Christ, refusal to swear oaths, pacifism, and social separation from the evil world (Kraybill 6). The most interesting of these tenets are that children are not considered part of the church until they are baptized at the age of eighteen though they must still follow the tenets, and that shunning is practiced to the extent that families are expected to not eat with shunned members of their families. Another big ideal practiced by most Amish communities is the idea of simplicity. Amish refrain from using modern technology, trimming their beards, and wearing fashionable clothes. While the dress code for men and women are different there is a common set of guidelines. These guidelines include the use of plain durable fabric that is of one color, and the replacement of buttons with hook and eyes. Men are expected to wear dark pants, dark socks, dark shoes, a plain shirt, a straw hat in the summer, and a felt hat in the winter. While women are expected to wear plain single-colored dresses no shorter than the calves with a black or white apron and a hat to cover their