Questions on the Amish, sexuality and reproduction
- Do Amish use birth control?
- Do Amish accept homosexuality?
- Is sex education taught in Amish schools?
- Does premarital sex occur among Amish?
- Does inbreeding happen in Amish communities?
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Can Amish use birth control? Amish officially oppose artificial methods of birth control, basing their beliefs on Biblical principles and the injunction to “be fruitful and multiply” found in Genesis 9:7, among other places.
However, this does not mean that all Amish abstain from using birth control, including natural methods of family planning as well as barrier methods. More on the Amish & birth control.
Do Amish condone homosexual behavior? No. Amish feel strongly that homosexual relations are sinful. Homosexual individuals within the community may seek counseling or otherwise keep their preferences secret. Open homosexuality is not condoned or seen among the Amish. Read more on the Amish and homosexuality.
Is sex education taught in Amish schools? No, Amish schools do not provide formal sex education. In Amish Society, John A. Hostetler writes that “adults purposely ignore any mention of the subject, especially in the presence of children. Very little sex instruction is given to the ordinary Amish child.”
Amish children and youth learn about the birds and the bees informally. Hostetler adds that “the child acquires gradually, piece by piece, an elementary knowledge of the process of biological reproduction. The Amish child most certainly does ask questions about the sexual behaviors of animals on the farm. To satisfy his curiosity, the child more often than not talks such matters over with associates his age” (see Amish Society, p. 160).
Does premarital sex occur among the Amish? Yes. As in any community, premarital sexual relations may occur in Amish relationships, sometimes resulting in pregnancy and accelerated or out-of-season weddings. If sexual relations occur out of wedlock, Amish couples may be obliged to make a confession before being baptized or taking marital vows.
Does inbreeding happen in Amish communities? Since the Amish population pool is limited, and few outsiders join the community, it’s not surprising that married couples might be distantly or even more closely related (second cousins, for instance), in some cases.
Amish are aware of the potential hazards of endogamy. In some smaller settlements finding marriage partners for youth can be an issue. With this in mind, Amish youth of courting age may be encouraged to visit other communities. Read more.
References:
- Hurst, Charles E, and David L. McConnell. An Amish Paradox: Diversity & Change in the World’s Largest Amish Community. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010.
- Hostetler, John A. Amish Society. 4th ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993.
- Stevick, Richard A. Growing Up Amish: The Rumspringa Years. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014.
To Cite this Page: Wesner, Erik J. “Sex.” Amish America. Erik Wesner, 9 Apr. 2015. Web. [Date Accessed]. <https://amishamerica.com/sex/>.
Image credits: bird and bee- ritavida/flickr
meeting an amish girl
I am wishing to come over from New Zealand to meet a amish girl and talk to her?
Yes
Intercourse Only For Reproduction
Is it true with in the Amish community the intercourse is only use the reproductive reasons?
Intercourse Only For Reproduction
Is it turn to say that was in the Amish community that intercourse is only use reproductive reasons ?
V/r
Aaron
Sex
When the Amish have sex is it through a hole in a sheet? I herd that it was.
No, some Catholics used to do that.
Are you serious
Amish people are a lot like other people so I can’t believe the comments on here are for real. Wow
Sex wife
How can I find me a amish young woman to make love to and have her for keeps like to start a family it’s always been my dream
SEX WIFE??? Lancaster Amish Country native speaking up
Amish people are still people, and you absolutely should not be fetishizing them. You don’t get to “have” an Amish woman like a collectible toy to start you fantasy family.
What you’d actually want is to fully join Amish society (incredibly difficult, practically unheard of). To marry an Amish woman, you’d need to become Amish and be fully accepted into a church, learn Pennsylvania Dutch, and give up all modern luxuries (including deoderant).
You’d need to be willing to work from before dawn to after dusk each day, and do your share of housework and child rearing. Amish fathers don’t just leave the house 9-5 and leave all the kid stuff to their wives to raise children, you’d likely take children with you to work and teach them manual labor skills.
Without Amish parents to set up a match marriage for you and chaperone, you’d likely never even court a lady. Since you haven’t grown up in an Amish church, you wouldn’t have been in youth group with other teens and young adults, where most unwed meet their future spouse.
You could never divorce. You would likely never have sex or perform sexual acts for fun, only to bear many children. You wouldn’t own a car or even gasoline-powered farm equipment. You wouldn’t even have the convenience of zippers on your clothig anymore.
Why are you, and a few others here, referring to sex as if you are an animal? I know sometime people can be clumsy, inexperienced, or ignorant but did you read the previous posts? Cause the answers can be found there. Not sure if your trying to be offensive and mock our Creator, but it’s coming across that way. We are children of God and He ordained Holy Matrimony as the way to fill needs for sex. I’d recommend sincere prayer, scripture study, and research.
Comment on
Fidelity is strong and well among the Amish; this explains why their families are solid, loving and numerous, separations are very rare and children are invariably raised by a two parent household, which is a blessing. In contrast, promiscuity and infidelity is tearing the English society apart which creates all sorts of problems. As opposed to the English who constantly fail to keep their vows, how can the Amish maintain fidelity as an unquestionable value that everyone in their community adhere to and will last forever?