The Amish Experience

Day Three of our trip took us from Philadelphia to Gettysburg. Through Pennsylvania Dutch country with a stop in Lancaster County.

What a stop! We had lunch in traditional Amish fashion. Toured a standard, albeit smaller, Amish house and school and saw a film called "Jacob's Choice". All were wonderful, but I want to share what I learned. Hopefully I'm recalling it all correctly.

In the Amish culture, you are not truly considered "Amish" until you are baptized in the faith. Your baptism cannot occur before age 16.

At age 16 the youth in the community are given the opportunity for "rumspringa" - a period of adolescence. (My research indicates that not all Amish sects offer this choice but many do). During this time the teens are able to live as the "English" (non-Amish) do. They wear, if they want, clothes like you and me. They drive cars, play sports, use computers, go to movies, watch television, and so forth. After a period of time they make a choice. They can continue living this lifestyle, or they can be baptized in the Amish faith and live in their community.

I think it is so totally cool, on a lot of levels, that they can make this choice for themselves.

The Amish want those that live in their community to truly WANT to be there. They want their members to know what else is out there, experience it, and then choose where they want to stay. They want their members to be fully aware of what they are giving up. Then, there's no regrets. It's an informed decision they are making.

A couple getting married in this faith know that their future spouse has the same commitment to faith, family, community that they themselves do.

So many of us grow up following our family traditions and beliefs without really knowing why. We're Methodist or Baptists or whatever because that is what we've always been. And there is certainly nothing wrong with that but there is also nothing wrong with asking questions, learning, exploring and expanding and then making an informed choice on our own.

I've thought about this for a very long time, but more so in the last several days. Especially after the newspaper coverage of Chelsea Clinton's wedding. She was raised a Methodist and married a man of the Jewish faith. A conservative Jew I think he was called. USA Today went on to show that over the last couple of decades there has been a rise in mixed-faith marriages and had a long article on how couples make this work.

Not to anger anyone, but this one area that I have considered quite a bit. Faith and religion are important factors in a marriage and raising a family. I was raised Protestant. I married a Catholic. This was fine to me because the core of both faiths were similar. We both believe in God and that Jesus is his Son and the Messiah.

I knew a woman years ago that was Protestant and married a Jewish man. I'm pretty sure she later converted to Judaism. I remember thinking that was a big leap for me. One of believing the Messiah had come and we're waiting for the return visit to one of Jesus was a prophet and we're still waiting for The One.

Of course, it is none of my business. As long as she studied and researched and reached that conclusion on her own then so be it.

I actually applaud faiths that do require some study and thought before you're allowed to belong. If you don't really understand the basis of a religion then how do you know you can follow it? I don't want to proclaim myself to be a follower and then live my life in a contradictory manner. Or to think I can pick and choose the pieces of a faith that I like and just ignore the rest. Some of you are thinking "but nothing is perfect and no religion is going to meet all our needs. We have to go with the one that we agree with the majority of the principles."

Your choice.

And now I've gotten off on a long tangent. But my point is not lost, I hope. To be an Amish you have to choose to want to be Amish and you make that desicion with all the facts in front of you.

Other things I learned - the Amish do not "hate" technology. Their view is that technology can fine as long as you control it and not vice versa. Most of us in today's world can't say that we're not controlled by technology - cell phones, computers, email, faxes, planning our evenings around the TV Guide. If there is a need, the Amish bishop can permit the technology. One example was a young girl who needed a respirator. One outlet was added to the home and wired for electricity. She wasn't going to be allowed to die just because electricity is a no-no. But they found the way to control the addition of technology, not the other way around. Also, they don't like to have their picture taken. Consider it be like a graven image, which is prohibited by the Big Ten (Commandments). I only wish I could have taken a picture of the two youngs boys we bought painted horsehoes from. I don't know that I've ever seen eyes that blue!

The Amish don't need much. They care for each other. Their sense of community is unlike anything else that exists. They each know if they have a need it will be met. And met by those from within. No dependence on a big government for things they can do themselves. The "English" in the surrounding communities also know that the Amish willingness to help and be good neighbors extends beyond their own borders.

So, our trip was both fun and educational. As it was meant to be. Maybe we could all learn some lessons about good honest living from the Plain People - their term, not my assessment.

And for those that are wondering, our guide told us that 95% return to the Amish faith after rumspringa. Makes you think a little, doesn't it? I wonder how many would return to our lifestyle if we spent a few years living as the Amish do?