Upstate New York and Adjacent Regions: Exploring the Rich, Varying Customs and Beliefs of the Amish Community
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In the heart of North America, Amish communities in upstate New York stand as a testament to the rich diversity of orthodoxy and tradition within this traditional Christian group. With over 15,000 residents spread across more than 100 church districts, this region hosts one of the largest Amish settlements in the continent.
The Amish affiliations in upstate New York and surrounding states vary notably in technology use, lifestyle, family life, education, and career paths due to differences in conservatism and church Ordnung (community rules). This diversity serves as a microcosm for examining questions of assimilation versus preservation of tradition.
Technology Usage
The spectrum of Amish affiliations in upstate New York extends from the more progressive Old Order groups to the ultra-conservative Swartzentruber groups. The Andy Weaver Amish, for instance, allow limited technology like certain farm equipment or electric flashers on buggies, but typically disallow personal phones and car ownership. In contrast, the Old Order Amish reject electricity in homes and automobiles, though minimal exceptions are made for livelihood, such as some electric milking equipment. The Swartzentruber Amish, among the most conservative, reject nearly all modern technology, including electricity and sometimes even permits for construction.
Lifestyle and Family Life
There is a gradient from more progressive Old Order groups to very conservative Swartzentruber ones. The stricter groups emphasize rigorous behavioral standards and strict shunning practices to maintain community purity and spiritual health. Family life in all groups centers around farming, religious observance, and community cohesion, but the modes of interaction with outsiders and local non-Amish societies differ depending on conservatism.
Education
Amish education generally ends at the eighth grade, focusing on practical skills suited for their communities. More conservative affiliations may emphasize church discipline and community rules more strictly in education, teaching vocational skills aligned with manual trades and farming rather than higher education or modern careers.
Career Paths
Careers tend toward traditional farming and crafts but vary with group conservatism. More progressive groups engage in supplementary enterprises, including tourism-related businesses, whereas conservative groups tend to stick strictly to traditional agricultural roles. Some Amish in New York have diversified their livelihoods to include construction and craftsmanship, although disputes sometimes arise with local regulation authorities over permits and insurance, reflecting tensions between Amish religious practices and secular law.
In summary, Amish affiliations in upstate New York present a spectrum from moderate Old Order groups, which accept some limited technology and have diversified economic activities, to the ultra-conservative Swartzentruber groups that shun most modern technology and maintain strict lifestyle and disciplinary codes. These differences reflect in their education choices focused on community norms and in career paths from farming to tourism or craftsmanship.
The Amish number about 350,000 in North America, with similar communities found in the neighboring states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, and northern Indiana. Understanding Amish diversity helps underscore how minorities can sustain rich cultural and religious identities within a pluralistic modern nation, providing perspective on how minority sub-cultures evolve yet sustain tradition and community in a changing world.
[1] Miller, D. L. (2015). Amish Society. Johns Hopkins University Press. [2] Kraybill, D. L., Nolt, S. L., & Brubaker, R. L. (2009). The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World. Bethany House Publishers. [3] Hostetler, John A. (1993). Amish Society. Johns Hopkins University Press. [4] Kraybill, Donald B. (1989). The Riddle of Amish Culture. Johns Hopkins University Press. [5] Weaver, Steven M. (2003). Amish Paradox: Why Do Amish Families Succeed? Basic Books.
- Home-and-garden practices among Amish communities in upstate New York vary significantly, with more progressive groups utilizing some modern technology like certain farm equipment, while ultra-conservative Swartzentruber groups shun almost all modern technology.
- Education and self-development in Amish societies are centered on practical skills suited for their communities, with a focus on vocational training and adherence to community rules, especially within conservative affiliations.
