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Indiana Builders Show 2008
Archive for the 'Amish Community Information' Category
Author: admin, October 5, 2008
Today me and my wife leave for the 2008 builders show. WOOHOO(!?!?)
. Dont get me wrong it’s nice to see the builders again and of course all the new furniture they have created. But from the perspective of a city dweller and a non-Amish person Amish country is, to put it kindly, boring. Everything shuts down early, 10 pm is as late as it gets. The movie theater is about a year behind on it’s “new releases”. The most hoppin’ place in town is walmart!! LOL! The greatest thing about trying to get around indiana Amish country is the way the roads are laid out. If you’re used to it it’s fine. But those of us that are used to roads being named rather than numbered and having the cardinal directions added it gets confusing!!
To give you an example, you’ll find streets like ## west 200 south or #### east 450 north. To make this even more fun you’ll run into the same road number and address in the next county! Woohoo!! You really have to pay attention down there or you’ll get lost quick. Throw in narrow back roads, semi’s and truck blazing through, wandering livestock, Amish riding their bikes and the occasional Amish buggy & it’s a regular riot driving around down there.
I have to say overall a trip to Amish country is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for me and my wife though. Plenty of time to catch up on some sleep & reading.
This year were going to bring back bunches of pictures and a complete review of the B&B were staying in. We were surprised to find that the prices for the B&B are comparable to those of the major hotel chains so we thought we’d give it a try. Should be interesting.
Author: admin, October 5, 2008
The Amish Religion is not an officially recognized religion though there are millions of followers all over the world. The Amish have some beliefs that are shared by Christians though there are certain beliefs that are not shared by Christians. The Amish’s important beliefs that are not shared by Christians are salvation, rituals, the Outside World, Non Militaristic, Local Control, Customs and sex roles.
Amish belief has a secondary place for women. Their family life has a patriarchal structure. They say that the roles of women are considered equally important to those of men. Nevertheless, women are very unequal in terms of authority. The unmarried Amish women remain under the control of their fathers. Wives are submissive to their husbands. The important Amish rule is that only males are eligible to become Church officials.
An Amish girl is grown up without knowledge about sexuality or pregnancy. They have less freedom in sexual matters as well. Amish women play a subordinate role in family life. Some Amish teens sneak out at night to drink alcohol. Amish women are not supposed to drink alcohol. They even take illegal drugs experimentally.
Some Amish teens sneak out with their boy friends and when they become pregnant, they are truly surprised and shocked. The Amish women are taught to live with the traditional ways. They always have to live under the control of the men of their family. Some Amish women do not like it though they continue to live as Amish women.
The most miserable thing about Amish women is that they can learn only Pennsylvania Dutch and English languages. Nevertheless, the Amish use a Bible written in High German. The Amish women cannot attend school past the 8th grade. Bible study is prohibited to Amish women. Nevertheless, the Amish women have learnt to live with these traditions.
The way the Amish dress sets them apart from modern day life. It is distinctive and unique. Amish women cannot wear jewelry. Amish do not allow tattoos. The Amish women cannot cut their hair, and it is parted at the middle. Men live with beards and when they get married, they live without a moustache. Some Amish use buttons while some reject them.
The dress of Amish men indicates to which type of Amish group they belong. The hat they wear tells their group. The Amish woman wears a white prayer cap. Girls who are in the age between 12 and marriage wear a black cap instead of a white cap for Sunday dress. They wear a white cap at home. According to the Amish, marriage means that a young man and young woman should give up their not so good adolescent behavior and start to live as respectable members of the community.
Marriage is a very important event for the Amish. Most Amish marry between the ages of 19 and 25. Raising a family is the real career of Amish adults. An Amish couple wants to have many children .In Amish community big family is very desirable. They believe it is a blessing from God. Therefore, they are against birth control. The Amish are given baptism after 18 years. The Amish life between 16 years and baptism is liberal as they are neither under the control of their parents nor the churches. The Amish culture is truly distinctive.
Author: admin, October 5, 2008
The Amish Religion is not an officially recognized religion though there are millions of followers all over the world. Amish have certain beliefs that are shared by the Christians though there are some beliefs that are not shared by Christians as well. One of the important Amish beliefs that are not shared by the Christians is Salvation.
Salvation is very important to Amish. They consider it as a gift from God. Evangelical Christians view the salvation experience as an intense emotional event. They think that it happens suddenly when the convert repents of his sins and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The Amish have a different concept of salvation. They look upon salvation as being experienced in everyday living. According to Amish, salvation is not a sudden happening in life. Salvation is realized as one’s life is transformed day by day into the image of Christ.
Evangelicals and other conservative Protestants believe that salvation is an experience which happens definitely as soon as when one trusts Jesus. However the Amish beliefs are different. They don’t believe that some one will be given salvation as a result of a conversion , baptism, joining the church and so on.
The Amish consider the act of claiming certainty of salvation as arrogance or pride. According to them God would access every one’s obedience to the church and then decide whether the person is eligible for the reward of Heaven or the punishment in Hell.
The Amish have a belief that if a person who is offered baptism into the Amish church leaves the church later or if he does not have communications then he cannot attain Heaven. Therefore, an Amish believer lives his life and dies without knowing whether he is saved and will attain Heaven.
This uncertainty has made the other Christian evangelists to raid the Amish churches at various times in history. The Amish strongly support the principle of separation of church and state. They believe that their church has all powers given by God. According to Amish Submission to church is submission to God.
To summarize Amish believe in adult baptism after one makes a commitment to the church. They believe in the Trinity, the virgin birth, incarnation, sinless life, crucifixion, resurrection ascension, and atonement of Jesus Christ. They believe that one will live after death either in Heaven or in Hell. Salvation is a gift and grace from God. The true followers of Amish will certainly get salvation and live in Heaven after death.