Readers and writers of Amish fiction have discovered certain “rules” about the Amish–lifestyle choices that almost never vary from one Old Order district to the next, from one state to another. But the more I research this fascinating culture, the … Continue reading
At every Amish gathering I’ve been to, there’s been a lot of visiting going on. For the Amish, simple living involves spending time with their family and friends. Try visiting with a friend of family member without the distraction of … Continue reading
The first American Amish settlements were begun in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the 1730’s. In 1737, a ship called the Charming Nancy sailed to America with 21 Amish families on board. More Amish followed in the years to come, and … Continue reading
Passed along through an oral tradition, the Ordnung by necessity changes and evolves with every new issue that arises and every new technology that presents itself for consideration. When deciding whether something should be allowed, church leaders focus on key … Continue reading
Limitations on Amish life are dictated by the Ordnung, which is what the Amish call the unwritten set of rules and regulations that dictates their day-to-day life. The Ordnung deals with a wide variety of topics, such as clothing, transportation, … Continue reading
Though few of us would choose to limit our clothing options as severely as the Amish have, there is something to be said for the simplicity of the Amish way of dressing. Think about the amount of time you spend … Continue reading
Author Mindy Starns Clark shares some wonderful insights regarding our technology choices in today’s post, taken from her helpful little book A Pocket Guide to Amish Life. On a recent vacation to upstate New York, my family and I stayed … Continue reading
The Amish are allowed to use telephones when necessary, but they may not have one inside their home. Several families will get together to install and maintain a “public” phone inside a small building often built for that purpose. The … Continue reading
Hello, AmishReaders! Every Friday for the month of May, we’re going to be sharing fascinating facts about the Amish and their way of life. Our thanks go out to Mindy Starns Clark and her very helpful book A Pocket Guide … Continue reading
The following excerpt is from an article on my website about the Amish school shooting. It was written as supplemental material for my book A Pocket Guide to Amish Life, but given the Lifetime movie of the same topic, I thought I … Continue reading
