Have you ever considered becoming Amish? When schoolwork and life become too much, the quaint and quirky lifestyle of the Amish becomes very appealing. But is this idealistic Amish lifestyle really obtainable? Or more importantly, is this lifestyle for you?
The Amish are not whimsical woodland creatures; they are real people who dedicate their lives to wearing bonnets and not using electricity. The Amish are a secluded, religious group that practices a traditional lifestyle.
There are three main Amish denominations: Old Order, New Order, and Beachy Amish. Students seeking out a new Amish life are recommended to join the Beachy Amish because they are more accepting of modern technology, allowing the use of cars, electricity, and even the internet (with varying restrictions). They are much more accepting of outsiders; almost every Beachy Amish church has a member not born into the community.
Beachy Amish
The Beachy Amish are a division of the Old Order Amish that allows for more technology use and is generally more progressive. Students who look for a more easily adjustable lifestyle should look towards the Beachy Amish. Those seeking to become the newest member of the Beachy Amish community should find an Anabaptist (Amish) church and regularly attend their church services for an extended period of time (several months to a few years). After this point, speak to the church’s bishop about joining. You go through a “proving period” where for the next six months, you engage in Amish cultural and belief practices to show you are ready for your new life. Afterward, you are now a certified member of the Amish commune.
Old Order Amish
For hardcore Amish seekers, joining a new or old order Amish group is a much more difficult task. The Old Order Amish have only been recorded to have accepted only a few hundred outsiders into their community since 1950.
New Order Amish
The new order is more accepting of outsiders joining. To become a member of these groups, you must be incredibly dedicated to the Amish lifestyle. If you are serious about joining the Amish community, keep in mind that their rules and values are not suggestions; these are requirements that must be followed. The Amish don’t take in posers, and you must fully commit to their lifestyle to show you are serious about joining. To join the New Order Amish, you must first live near an Amish community and be allowed to regularly attend their church services. You must learn German and immerse yourself in their culture. You can do this by living in Amish housing (some take in guests) or working a job with Amish colleagues. After a year of this, you will be tasked with learning about the church and its religious practices/beliefs. Then, the community takes a vote on whether or not to let you join their commune.
Someone interested in joining should try to ease themselves into their lifestyle instead of diving in headfirst. Can you really go from 10 hours of daily screen time to being chronically offline in a day? Probably not. So, here are some recommended daily practices to prepare you for your new life:
-Adjust your clothing choices, don’t wear jewelry or printed fabrics
-Practice pacifism and refuse any military service
-Prepare to have little to no free time
-Practice eating and preparing Amish cuisine
-Learn German (most Amish groups worship or regularly speak in German)
-Limit technology use as much as possible
-Sew your clothes by hand. If you don’t have any fabric on hand, practice by taking apart your clothes and sewing them back together
-Start using horse-drawn carriages to make your daily commute, instead of using sinful motor vehicles (some Amish communities allow electric bicycles, so you can use those)
-Practice doing manual labor (ex., Practice carrying around large rocks in your free time)
-For at least 15 minutes a day, practice turning off all the lights in your home and sitting in silence
-Churn butter in your spare time
-Set a goal to have more than 4 children (aim for 7-10, but start off small)
-Practice shunning those different from you (ex, left-handed people, gingers, people who slightly disagree with you)
But before you seek out your local Amish community, think: Is this really a good choice? The Amish are not without criticism. Their old practices come with old values and beliefs. Remember before joining; being Amish is not just a phase, it’s a lifestyle.
Resources:
http://www.beachyam.org/FAQs.htm
https://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/social-organization/family/
https://www.discoverlancaster.com/amish/lifestyle/
https://www.the-daily-record.com/story/news/2007/09/04/so-you-think-you-want/983988007/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish#Religious_practices
https://www.ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/the-health-of-the-amish