Part 2 of The Amish Way interview and 10-book giveaway
“Brimming with many children,” write the authors of The Amish Way, “most Amish homes produce eight or more sets of dirty dishes three times a day. That means at least twenty-four glasses, dozens of plates, and countless pieces of silverware, not to mention pots, pans, mixing bowls, platters, and serving utensils.”
Yet you won’t find an automatic dishwasher in any Amish home.
For the Amish, use of technology is just one aspect of everyday life influenced by religious beliefs. Indeed, Amish daily living is tied into religion in ways most non-Amish would find intrusive. “Would any of us,” ask the authors, “consult a pastor, rabbi, or any other spiritual leader before buying a BlackBerry or flat screen TV?”
Why the Amish choose to restrict technology is one of a number of puzzles deciphered in The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World. Others include: Do Amish encourage Bible study? Why do Amish hold church every other Sunday? Do Amish accept outsiders who wish to join them? And just how do Amish ministers manage to preach, without notes, for up to an hour?
The Amish Way is an accessible and compelling read answering these and many other questions on Amish faith. Today we have part 2 of an interview with Amish Way authors Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt, and David Weaver-Zercher. If you missed part one of the interview you can read it here.
The Amish Way 10-book giveaway contest
10 copies of The Amish Way are up for grabs in this month’s contest. If you’d like a chance to win one, here’s how:
Leave a comment on this post for 1 entry, share this contest on Facebook for 3 entries, or mention this contest on your blog for 5 entries (or do all three, for a possible total of 9 entries).
If you share on Facebook or on your blog, email me at amishamerica@gmail.com to let know that you did and I’ll include your extra entries in the drawing.
Winners will be drawn and announced in 2 days, on Wednesday the 13th.
The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World, interview Part 2
Amish America: How do Amish view Bible study?
Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt, David Weaver-Zercher: Like many other Christians, Amish people read the Bible as part of their private and personal devotional lives. Many families have morning and evening devotions, during which the father reads scripture to the family.
But even though they use the Bible in devotional settings, they understand it to be primarily the church’s book, a resource that cannot be properly or fully understood by a lone individual, or even a small group of individuals apart from their local church. So while private devotional reading of scripture for personal inspiration is encouraged, in-depth Bible study that might lead to individualistic or novel interpretations is not. Those who show off their biblical knowledge or claim special revelation are seen as haughty and divisive.
AA: What does the term “Amish” actually refer to? Is “Amish” a culture, a religion, something of both?
Kraybill, Nolt, Weaver-Zercher: Participants in Old Order Amish life are participants in a religiously-rooted culture that has certain markers. The most important markers are (a) a commitment to an Anabaptist understanding of the Christian faith, including adult baptism and nonresistance; (b) plain dress; and (c) horse and buggy transportation. Of course there are many other markers that characterize the Amish way: they way they worship, the unique dialect they maintain, and their commitment to rural living.
It’s a religiously-rooted culture in this sense: the markers identified above flow from a religious sensibility about ultimate matters. In other words, Amish conceptions of God and what it means to live a godly life have resulted in these markers. Other religious people, including other Christians, have their own set of religious commitments and resulting cultural characteristics. The ones listed above are particular to the Amish way.
It is the case, however, that Amish practices reflect more than their religious commitments; their particular practices also reflect the fact that the Amish are Swiss-German in ethnicity, that they migrated to the United States, and so on. So in that sense, Amish culture cannot be reduced to their religious commitments. This is why some people who leave the Amish church—and abandon many Amish religious commitments—continue to think of themselves as Amish.
AA: Amish retention rates are high, even exceeding 90%. What are the main reasons so many Amish youth choose baptism?
Kraybill, Nolt, Weaver-Zercher: There are many factors that push Amish young adults in that direction. The vast majority of their family and friends are Amish, and they know that choosing another way of life will complicate and perhaps undermine those relationships. They are also socialized into the Amish way, and while they do have plenty of contact with the outside world, they are best equipped to be Amish (and, with only eight years of education, are not always well-equipped to pursue other things).
In addition to those sociological factors, we think that most Amish children believe their way of life has more spiritual depth, and potentially more spiritual rewards, than other ways of life. Although Amish individuals are reluctant to claim with certainty that they are saved, they almost all believe that the Amish way is a safer way to attain salvation than more “worldly” religions. All these factors tend to push Amish young adults toward baptism.
AA: Many Amish youth choose the Amish way, but Amish do not actively seek converts. In The Amish Way you note that only a few hundred outsiders have joined the Amish over the last century, with some converts later leaving. Why don’t Amish proselytize? What response might someone wanting to join the Amish receive?
Kraybill, Nolt, Weaver-Zercher: The Amish don’t proselytize via personal evangelism for two related reasons. First, they believe their communal way of life—their example—is the best form of public witness. Second, they believe that spreading the Christian faith through words is hollow and potentially prideful. They believe that the best way to judge a person’s faith is to see it lived in context, in community. As one Amish man said, “We believe in letting our light shine, but not shining it in the eyes of others.”
A non-Amish person who wanted to join the Amish would receive different responses depending on the person or community that person approached. Some Amish communities would tell the seeker that there are other valid ways to be Christian, and that the seeker would be best served to find a non-Amish Christian community. In other words, they would basically turn the potential convert away.
Some Amish communities, however, are more open to considering converts. They may talk with the seeker to see if he or she is serious about exploring the Amish faith, and if the seeker is, invite the person to move nearby and begin learning about Amish life more fully. Only after the person has observed Amish life up close for a year or so—and only after the Amish community has learned to know the person well—will the Amish community extend an invitation to church membership. It’s quite possible, however, that the seeker or the Amish community will have decided by then that the person will not make a good Amish church member, i.e., a church member who is committed to the Amish way and able to submit him- or herself to the church community.
AA: To what degree can non-Amish incorporate ideas for living from the Amish? What pitfalls might exist in seeking to apply the Amish way to a non-Amish life?
Kraybill, Nolt, Weaver-Zercher: There’s a whole spectrum of possibilities here. Some people (though not very many) actually convert and become Amish. Still others seek to emulate their resistance to modern technologies, with the aim of devoting more of their energy to what technology scholar Albert Borgmann has called “focal practices”—practices that command a focused, locally-oriented engagement as opposed to practices that undermine our patience and undercut our attentiveness to our local contexts (for more on Borgmann, go to http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2901).
We do think there are pitfalls here, or at least an overly optimistic view by some people who think they can pick and choose particular Amish practices in ways that increase their spiritual depth. It’s hard to imagine a spiritual approach that’s more resistant to faddishness than the Amish way, so it’s ironic when aspects of Amish life become fads—things people try for a few weeks in hopes of transforming their lives.
That’s why we think the best way to apply the Amish way to our non-Amish lives is to look for broader principles. For instance, we all know we live in an instant society, where we can often get what we want in a matter of minutes. Many people approach their spiritual lives that way. They look for quick, easy, and painless ways to grow spiritually, and they often end up disappointed with the amount of spiritual growth they see. The Amish point us to the importance of patient practice. They remind us that engaging in everyday practices, some of them quite tedious, over long periods of time is the most trustworthy way to foster spiritual depth.
What an informative interview/discussion. I am in awe of the strong commitments and bonds of the Amish. I appreciate the information provided in this interview. It helps me to see more clearly, their views on the Bible and Bible study, what the “Amish” term refers to and it’s markers, and why there is such a high percentage of youths that stay in their community and become Baptized. I hope and pray that I win this book because I would truly love to learn more about the Amish Way of life
Please do include me in the giveaway. I really enjoy your blog.
Being a small farmer in Iowa and having Amish friends and neighbors has given me an insider look into the “Amish Way”. The discussion above is absolutely accurate from my experience. I would love to win the book in order to gain more information that I would not ever ask my dear friends lest I embarras them or myself in the process. Thanks for all your good work.
Hi Erik,
Enjoyed the second part of the interview. I have often wondered why some communities are so encouraging to outsiders to seriously seek the Amish the faith, and others discourage it. It would make an interesting study.
Please enter me in the contest for the book.
Thank you!
Hi Erik,
your book seems incredible and can’t wait to read it….i just returned from a vacation in lancaster county and really want to learn more.
Of course, i hope i win 🙂
I just love reading these articles and love reading any book about the Amish I can get my hands on. Keeping my finger’s crossed I can win one of the copies of The Amish Way. I’m sharing this on my Facebook page as well.
I can’t wait to read this book. The Amish culture has long been an interest of mine.
Please also include me in this contest, I am very much interested in the Amish Cultures too and would love to read thjis book. If I found it in the store I would buy it, anything that has to do with the Amish I am interested in it…. Thanks a Bunch!!
i love reading about the Amish they are sooooo interesting , please enter me in the contest
Please include me in the contest. I enjoy learning more about the Amish community. Thank you.
Hello Erik,
your blog is always a good read. Please take me into the lot. Thank you very much.
I would love to get this book.The Amish way.–
Hi Erik – I really enjoyed reading these two interviews about Amish religious and spiritual life. Please enter me in the giveaway for a copy of The Amish Way. It sounds like a really good read. Thanks, and I really enjoy your blog. Take care, from Casey Co KY.
Would really love a copy of this book. More and more I am learning from the Amish Way and incorporating much of their philosophy and way of living into my life. This book would hel me much in doing that.
Please enter my name in your giveaway. Your posts are fascinating and I love your photos.
Thanks everyone for the great response and kind comments–I’m really looking forward to doing the drawing in a couple of days!
Erik
Nice article! Thanks for posting.
Christina
Excellent post! I love your website, and I would love to win this book. Like a previous poster, I am puzzled by the fact that some Amish communities would turn away a potential convert (though the “trial period” adopted by others makes perfect sense). Are they afraid that allowing “outsiders” in would dilute their culture, or have they had bad experiences with would-be converts in the past? It would be interesting to find out.
Please enter me in the contest. Thank you.
I so enjoy reading your articles and interviews and learn alot reading them. Very interesting material. Can’t wait to read this book. Would be so nice to win it, but if I don’t I’ll have to buy it because I do want to read it. Thanks for taking the time to do this for those of us that enjoy reading the articles. Always something new to learn about.
I have so enjoyed reading these articles and have posted a link on my facebook page. I would love to win the book as I enjoy so much learning more about the Amish.
I’m enjoying learning more about the Amish. Please enter my name to in the drawing for the book. Thank you!
I loved both Part l and Part ll of The Amish Way interview and would love a copy of the book. I don’t know anything about feedbook or bog-I am an old lady. I really enjoy all your Amish America.
Marilyn
Thank you for this interview. I’ve always been interested in the Amish, having had family in the Lancaster, PA area.
Thanks also for the giveaway; I’d love to be entered.
Blessings,
Karen
Would love to be entered into your contest for the 10 book giveaway.
I just love to read (all the amish books i can get my hands on)keep them coming and i will keep buying them may god bless
Just as always, Erik, a very interesting blog. Please enter my name for the giveaway. Thanks!
Count me in. FB and blogged.. http://pastoralmusings.com/2010/10/the-amish-way-book-giveaway/
Hi Erik I love your website and I thoroughly enjoy listening to you when you are on Amish Wisdom with Suzanne. Your article is very profound and I hope that you continue to write in your blog. I find I am trying to live a more simpler life as I can. I hope that you would consider me in your giveaway. The more I learn and read about the Amish Faith the more I am drawn to it. I look forward to your next blog Erik. Thanks for sharing that part of our life with us. May God continue to Bless you!
Sounds like an interesting book…would love to win.
I would love to win this book! 🙂 Thanks for the chance
love these ‘interview’ posts – great ‘teasers’ for the book – looking forward to reading it! The only way I think I coulc enjoy it more would be to win one of the 10!! of course – still holding out that two entries will get it since I continue to refuse FB and Blogging… for now… thanks again Erik – really do love this web site (and it is great getting the emails about he posts, too!)
I am blessed to have a few good amish friends, even though I am “English”. As a seeker of a life more grounded in the Bible and less wordly, the amish actually guided me to the Conservative Mennonites. They thought this would be an easier transition. Now, as a mennonite for the last few years, with plain dress, no TV, minimal outside influences, I have found that there is no going back. I feel closer to God than I have ever been. No distractions…it is a blessed life. I am greatful to my amish friends for helping me start this journey.
I have always been intrigued with the Amish way of life. Found this post while helping my 9 year old search for facts about the Amish for a project she is doing. Would love to win this book!
Great article about the Amish. I go to college at Ashland University (which is on the brink of Ohio Amish Country). Loved the insight this gave me to understand more about their ways and lifestyle!
I am a Hutterite and last night got the oppertunity to watch Amish grace, I really liked it there were a few scenes which I don’t think they protrayed properly but overall it probably would get a few people interested in the real facts of the amish shooting that happened in nickle mines. Please include me in your draw it would be nice to know the true differances between the Amish and the hutterites. Thank you
very informative interview. I will look for the first part. I do think there is something to be said for the high rate of baptism into the Amish faith by Amish young people, especially given that many went through a running around period and sampled a bit of the outside (Englischer) way of life.
Cant wait! What a great birthday present!
I just love to read your articles. Think the Amish take us back to simpler times but more than that they put an emphasis on important values. Please enter me in your contest.
Thanks all for your great comments! 10 winners to come tomorrow, but you can still enter until then!
Erik,
Great interview. I’m a big fan of all three author’s and look forward to reading this study.
How interesting. I try to apply basic Amish-like principles to my life like slowing down and approaching God more in the midst of everyday life. It seems to be O.K.
Contest results are up! Thank you to all for commenting, find out who won here: https://amishamerica.com/the-amish-way-10-contest-winners-and-book-excerpt/
Would love to be entered in the giveaway.
I love anything about the amish and i would love to win a book I have lots of them
I just love your books I can’t put them down,once I start reading.Keep up the good work,and may god bless you
I have been in touch with an Amishperson
and they ask me if I was Amish. I explained to them about Amish ancestory and said my heart is Amish and I love the Lord. Am interested in joining into their way of believing but have never heard back on how I could begin that. will they not answer me because I am not Amish?
Thank you for all your info. Great work!
Rusty