I have always been wondering. Why don't amish people advance. there are so many things that can help them out. I guess they just want to live like their ancestors. does anybody have a definite reason?
200469
They don't like manmade items because they think that God meant for them to live a difficult life without modern conveniences.  They want to use things that only God made.  Also, they shun people who are not like them because they believe that they will not be going to heaven.  Amish do not use modern things such as electricity.  Mennonites use electricity.  Some Mennonites drive cars instead of buggies.  There are all sorts of branches off of the Mennonites.  It is a little known fact that the Mennonites came before the Amish; the Amish branched off of the Mennonite church.  The old Amish just want to keep things the way it is and resist change.  If an Amish, Mennonite, etc. violates a church rule such as "no computers," they can get excommunicated.  Some Amish, Mennonites, etc. choose to leave the church too, but then they aren't allowed to see their family because they are disowned.
377649
The Amish have the right to register and vote if they choose, as they are American's.....but....I believe that their culture prevents them from voting.
214356
No one's perfect, not even the amish. . . and lifestyle is a choice . . . and that lifestyle has much to be said for it. Don't critcize what you don't understand....just because you don't understand it.
492723
woohoo finally someone has the same thoughts on this as i do.... hello people every history book will tell you that the native Americans where here first and that the Europeans ran them out of all their homes... yes, Mexicans came and did the same to the Indians when they took over Arizona, new Mexico and California but seriously how much better is white people than brown people if they both stole this land from the true natives??\n\nedited-what I'm saying is yes the Indians where here first but i do not agree with new immigrants or Americans taking advantage of welfare.. i have three children and can't get any help to send them to preschool because my husband  makes a HAIR more than the limit. now my oldest son is behind in kindergarten. \nI'm not trying to contradict myself i just don't like to hear white people say they where here first. and i don't like the fact that because people don't work they get hand outs, and the middle class can't get any help at all...\n\nedited- i don't get what is this discussion about dirty jobs? i love the show but i don't understand what you are all talking about? email me..thanks in advance..
261891
DEAR HEAVENS!!  To the person who said something about forefathers, your logic is not flawed ~ it is non-existent!\n\nWhen the SETTLERS came here, they came to SETTLE.  Did they do the indigenous peoples wrong?  After a while, without question they did.  However, that is not the point right now.\n\nThe point is that there was, at *that* time, ROOM here.  People could go carve their world out of pieces of wilderness, risking life and limb on a daily basis.  They could worship freely; they could hunt and feed their family without fear of being sentenced to death for it; and on and on it goes.\n\nWe no longer NEED any more people here.  We're loaded to capacity as it is.  Every Country should do its best to improve itself and the citizens of that Country should HELP ~ not go elsewhere and burden another Country.\n\nIn answer to the actual question:  I don't think we should keep our borders open.  In fact, I think they should be closed until our current crises are repaired.  Once repaired, we could re-open our borders with more stringent and specific laws.  As another Responder said on another question, if we need an example of how to limit immigration, we need look only so far as the Mexican Constitution and their requirements for citizenship.\n\nTO TOPCAT420:  Amen!  I have difficulty justifying "fixing" things for other Countries when we have so much fixing we need to do right here!  I have long been a believer in restoring more lands to the Native American people, along with any and all mineral rights thereto.  And that's why i said we are loaded to capacity as it is!  We have enough for now.  We need to right a whole list of wrongs committed against the Native Americans, we need to stop children starving here in the U.S., we need to clean up our own interurban areas .. we have a LOT to do at home, for ourselves and by ourselves, before we can consider re-opening borders and helping others.\n\nThe U.S. has helped others until we've helped ourselves right into a hole.
292807
Just to make things clear, Amish have conservative ideals based upon living conditions that they live in. Their conservative ideals are based upon something completely different from what Conservative America is. Honestly I see this country being equally liberal as it is conservative. Based alot upon where you are, hence Boston is more liberal than Texas for instance. Being an independent, I beleive in both sides of issues and do not follow a single line. So, instead of rellying upon the news or media to tell you what to think, do it for yourself...
179186
yes i think there are people out there that have morals and still live by their culture...look at the Amish and Menonites
433303
"Native" Americans (Indians) are everywhere. They don't all live on reservations. They mix and mingle with other 'native' Americans. They aren't all poor either. So get off the pity train. My family is of Native American descent and we don't consider ourselves 'poor'. We have average to above average incomes, own our own homes and have college degrees (we have attorneys,doctors and business owners in our immediate family). Open your eyes, we're everwhere.\n\nIf you are talking about Americans who are 'native', meaning born here, not immigrants. We are everywhere, too. Are you blind?
319991
My grandfather told me about a cousin who did this back in the forties. The cousin went up North to live and didn't contact anyone.  My grandpa went to visit him one time; the cousin made him come at night and he had to enter the house through the back.  After that no one ever saw the cousin again.  My mother told me about some Blacks who "passed" for a time in order to get a better education, but then returned to their families once they were done.  I can see why some Blacks would pass in earlier times, but not now.  I don't agree with what they did, but to some extent I understand why.  Personally even if I could "pass" I wouldn't; I love my family, my people and my culture too much.  People who "pass" had to stay away from all Black people.  Can't take a chance on someone's "Blackdar" finding you out!
588317
I'm OK with it. Why shouldn't they have a shot at the American way of life just like my grandparents and great grandparents did? I think the whole argument of there's not enough room, etc. is just an excuse.
530555
You're right that they are born into it, but outsiders are allowed to convert to their religion if they wish. \nAlso, if a person wants to remain a member of the Amish community, they must marry an Amish person.  Intercultural marriages are not allowed in the Amish religion, so I think that you're right; most are German/Dutch.
622203
I find the Amish and similar cultures fascinating.  To reject the most modern conveniences as sinful and wrong is an amazing way to express thier faith in God.  As I understand it (and I know I am way oversimplifying it), the less man-made, the closer it is to God's own creation.  Simple foods, simple trasportation, simple communication, simple way of life.\n\nThese folks don't exactly reject technology.  They resist the temptation to embrace a technology if it only makes life easier.  Survival is equally important to them, but massive power generators, fast cars and televisions don't particularly make the  rest of us better survivors.  It's not that they won't take a train or a plane, but reject the idea that they have to travel far enough to have to do it.\n\nFascinating culture, but I wouln't want to live that way if I had a choice.  I like my conveniences.
403447
I use this forum to witness to others about God and Christ. To each their own but I will continue to do what I do. Quakers are, as far as I know, very nice folks and they have their beliefs as I have mine. I was in the Army with a Quaker and he was a conscientious objector and would not go to combat. I respect him for that.
304251
Hi.  This is a very interesting question and one that is close to home for me. I am a home educator and when I first began home schooling my children, like the year before, I brushed up on history.  So many things were difficult to tell my children, namely, the beginning when so many lives were lost during the Europeans taking over the land. I think what we walked away with year after year (now 10 years of teaching this topic) is that the native americans at first were quite puzzled as to why anyone would want to fight over this land, as they did not even view it as their own. The land didn't belong to them any more than the white man. If I am correct, they believe the land was there by \nGod(s) and we are to replenish it and respect it. White believed what ever they could take by force, should be theirs. Now I do not set around blaming Europeans any more than I hold present Native Americans responsible for the killings that some of tribes attributed to. But I do believe that lack of compassion is taught in our school books, when introducing America to our children. There are many Christian history books that I have bought and read and taught from however, that do teach this compassion to the original people, the Native Americans.  Interesing also is that some folks do not believe "native Americans" were the native people, but that vikings such as Leif Ericson were the first in North America.  Or maybe the Asians, who came across the Bering St. before the ocean covered it...and that is where native americans come from?  Sorry to be so lengthy. I just love history of America and this topic is near my heart.  God bless!
89176
well the amish live without electricity. they have very strict rules about religion and their group standards. women do not wear pants, they cannot wear showy colors (black, browns, blues only) they work very hard constantly.  when an amish turns a certain age, they are allowed to experiment with other cultures to decide what they want to be for their lives. there are so many things about the amish, i would get a book about them
401479
I will never really be able to understand why people follow these people!  I have decided it must be because they are people who do not feel they have much self worth, people whose lives are not very happy and fulfilled, and they are desperately searching for someone to ''build them up''.\n\nCults reach out to people who are this way----------people who are needy in spirit and hope.  I think these Evangelical Christians reach out for the same type of people.  And, there are alot of them.\n\nP.S.  These are the same people who criticize Muslims---they have to feel there is someone beneath them, to give them a good feeling about themselves.
344282
I have a great friend who lives in Kenya. I would love to be able to visit there. I had the opportunity to go but didn't have the money to make the trip. Our church is actually helping to get wells put in there. So far there are 2 we want at least 2 more.