The Amish: history, beliefs and practices

Overview

There is no single consensus about where the Amish fit within Christianity. They are commonly understood as an Anabaptist people, while some reference works place them within a wider family of European free-church traditions.

• Amish communities share historical connections with Mennonite and other Anabaptist movements.
• Local congregations differ in rules, technology, clothing, worship and relationships with wider society.
• The term “Amish” therefore describes related communities rather than one uniform denomination.

The movement emerged in Europe in the late seventeenth century under the leadership associated with Jakob Ammann. It developed from reform debates among Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists, especially questions about discipline, church membership and the practice of shunning.

Amish religious life also draws on earlier Anabaptist teaching, including the writings associated with Menno Simons and the Dordrecht Confession of Faith. During the eighteenth century, Amish migration brought communities to North America, where they established settlements and continued to develop distinct local patterns.

Many Amish groups seek a disciplined form of Christian community. Their practices may limit participation in aspects of modern culture, but the details vary substantially from one settlement and affiliation to another. Community expectations are generally expressed through the local Ordnung, an understood set of rules and customs.

Membership is usually received through birth, upbringing and adult baptism. Converts from outside Amish communities are uncommon, partly because joining involves adopting a demanding communal way of life. Some smaller, relatively closed populations also face inherited health concerns, which researchers discuss in medical and demographic contexts.

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