Valerie Weaver-Zercher delves into that question in her new book Thrill of the Chaste: The Allure of Amish Romance Novels. Romance is a genre traditionally popular with women, as is Christian inspirational fiction. So it’s no surprise to learn that most readers of Amish fiction books are female. But what about the men? In Thrill of the Chaste, Valerie shares evidence of male interest in Amish…
Though they’re known to put in long hours, Amish life is not all work. Today’s question for Pennsylvania Amishman John Stoltzfus: What kind of things do Amish do for fun? John’s answer follows. Do you enjoy any of these pastimes? This is a very interesting question, however first I needed to look up the description of “fun” -enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure. Entertainment or amusements…
Lately I’ve noticed a recurring theme across Amish America correspondence. Amish are known as “Plain People”, but given the many different Amish groups, what does “being Plain” actually mean? Is there a litmus test for Plainness? For example: Is it based on width of hat brim, or style of prayer covering? Should your lawn be full of weeds, or is having a flower garden okay?…
Mark Curtis let me take a few photos of his two-seater buggy while in Ohio last month. We took this to supper on the night I arrived. Very chilly that evening, so the extra-thick blanket you see below came in handy. I don’t know how many people you could fit in one this size (brings to mind the stunts with clowns cramming into a VW…
We had a look at the Lancaster County Mud Sales yesterday. Today, Terry Berger shares a few photos from one that happened just a week-and-a-half ago, at Gordonville. Terry adds, “One of the best parts of going is being with so many people that l look like and getting lost in the crowd so to speak.” End of the day buggy jam up on Route…
Will Amish ever face military conscription again? We can’t know the answer to that question, but Amish and other conservative Anabaptists are preparing for such a worst-case scenario. Amish beliefs about non-resistance include not doing violence against others, extending into prohibitions on serving in law enforcement, political office, and even bringing lawsuits. Amish have faced the military draft many times in the past, with a…
Today’s question springs from a new study on a genetic mutation which causes a form of mental retardation among some Amish people. Like other genetic research involving the Amish, this study will probably help them health-wise. It’s really the language used to describe it which may not be quite so helpful. The meaning of “inbreeding” In the article describing the work, researcher José Luis Rosa of the University…
Taken in Wayne County, Ohio. Many Amish hire “taxis”; some, when available, ride buses or trains. There is, of course, a third transport option for Amish: they feed you, you drive them. I have been participating in this for some time now. But I only recently learned the (un)official name of this Amish-English program: “Meals for Wheels”. This photo reminds me of waiting on a…
Since 1974, David Luthy has periodically released a directory of Amish communities appearing in Family Life, with updates appearing every 5 to 10 years (the last was in 2008). Writing in last July’s issue of Family Life, Luthy observes “with 62 counties in its 49,109 square miles, New York has in the past ten years become a popular state for Amish landseekers. Such, however, was…
Daylight saving time (DST) kicked in yesterday, so if you haven’t tweaked your clocks yet, here’s a reminder. I mean, of course, your non-computerized timekeepers, those grandfathers and cuckoos and analog wristwatches, since these days the ones in our phones and laptops do our remembering for us. Also your alarm clock, though if you had to be at work today, it may be a little…