The Amish (Research Paper Sample)

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Abstract
The Amish are a group of people who have a common kind of belief yet very peculiar and old school so that it has been very hard to know which part of Christian faith they may be placed in. This kind of faith has been able to develop over the last centuries and being able to spread into different parts of the world. This paper shall give a discussion on the Amish and their cultural dispositions and beliefs which they have been showing and effectively being able to exclude themselves from the modern forms of civilization. This is also a discussion of some of the problems and conflicts related to the Amish and such the government and the international community can address the problems faced.
Introduction
Currently, there has not been a consensus or a common understanding on what the on Amish group can really fit when it comes to the elements and denominations of Christianity. Having been having a number of varied opinions and progressions, the Amish have been seeing themselves as conservative Christians, the Protestants (Susan, 2003). At the same time, larger groups of the Amish have been noted to pronounce themselves as Anabaptists. Some scholars and experts in religious faith and affairs have been able to come up with suggestions that the Amish should be seen as a part of what is known as the Free-Church European Family which has similar operations and performances as the Mennonites and the infamous Brethren Quakers. This paper hence gives an overview of The Amish and related culture and the problems that seem to come together with the group (Susan, 2003). While giving the discussion, the paper tries to give some of the possible solutions which might be adopted towards getting a long lasting solution, and also the necessary approaches which the government and the national community can do towards resolving the conflict.
The Amish: Background Information
From historical knowledge for the last few decades, it is well known that the Amish group or movement must have begun way back between the years of 1640s and 1720s. This has also been attributed to be the derivation of their name. According to the historians, there is a very strong belief that the movement must have started or began as reform and ideological group, and this was within the historical Mennonite movement. The Mennonite movement was an attempt group which was aimed in restoring the earlier practices within the ideologies of the Mennonites and their progressive activities (Steven, 1992). Basically, the practices and the beliefs of the Amish are known to have been based entirely on the writings passed forth by the beginner and proponent of this Mennonite faith by the name Simons Menno between the year 1496 and1561. Later a different dimension was pushed for in the year 1632 leading to the Dordrecht Faith Confession (Melissa, 2001).
The Amish are hence known to have split probably from the Mennonites who were living in Switzerland. Other groups had also been living in Rhineland. During the last years of the seventeenth century, the Amish group separated due to the fact that they had the strong perception that such Mennonites were greatly having lack of discipline (Michael, 2003). Later in the eighteenth century, some of the Amish decided to migrate and went to live in United States. Upon arrival in the United States, these Amish groups initially came to settle in Pennsylvania. After a number of years, more waves of the Amish immigrants came to the country and went to establish their settlements in places like New York, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri Ohio, Iowa, and some other states in the country. This faith group has hence been noted to have been attempting to effectively come up with means and ways through which they have been able to preserve their elements and practices since the years of the seventeenth century (Oldaker, 1987). This has seen the groups having similar practices which were common in the European culture during the later medieval ages and beginning of human civilization. With such kind of approach, such groups have hence been trying to effectively avoid all the major common features within the modern society. This has been achieved by ensuring they only manage to develop such practices or behaviors which see them isolated from all forms of modern human practice and culture (Oldaker, 1987).
Practices and Beliefs of the Amish
While they are a group Christians in real sense, and in that they do believe in the Bible entirely, there have been a number of issues which still remain peculiar and only for themselves. This has been seeing them having a secluded kind of life which sees them separated from human kind of civilization and engaging in what they think is purely appropriate for them. For instance, the Amish have been known to greatly believe much in remaining so separate and not interacting from the other world, either socially or even physically. This may have been due to the fact that the have a strong hatred for the pains shown to their ancestors by earlier political and government missions (Holmes, 2003). This has also been seeing the Amish homes not in any way drawing any kind of energy such as electricity since they see it as a pure element of the world. Basically, a great deal of their beliefs and cultural practices have a great deal of differences with what has been preached within the other Christian faiths across the world. This has been seeing the groups not involved in missions of evangelism. They have also been noted to discipline their children through force, although they believe in not using any form of force against fellow men (Holmes, 2003). This has makes them never be engaged in any form of military activities and missions altogether. Another outstanding difference is that these people do not take oaths in courts and hence they instead take affirmations on what they hold or believe to be the right truth. Generally, there has been a great deal of differences with the cultural, social and spiritual orientations of the Amish in general.
Problems and Conflicts
From historical findings, it shall be noted that there have been a great of problems which have been faced by the Amish ranging from diseases to cultural issues. It is very true that the people have greatly rejected all forms of civilization and hence a result there has been the occurrence of elemental issues which have been seeing proliferation of diseases within them. Also, with the issues of diseases, there has been a linkage that such people have not been able to develop a variation in their genetic pools and make-up and this has led to a great deal of problems which have continued to see the people having major problems and disease outbreaks. These exclusions have hence been costing them and seeing them unable to develop. While that has been going on, a number of conflicts have been realized in all societies which have a percentage of these individuals (James, 2006). This has been causing them to be at loggerheads with governments and state officials due to the issues of land, education systems, and so on.
Some cases have as well been reported of attacks which have been attributed to the Amish persons in different parts of the country, and in the word as well. This has mainly led to ideological differences in a number of operations and performances in specific societal spheres. This has been a major problem which has been able to hinder human development in particular. Wh...