The Amish And The Law: A Complex Relationship

The Amish are a religious group known for their simple way of life and separation from modern society. They have their own set of rules and regulations, known as the Ordnung, which guides their daily lives and is passed on through oral tradition. While the Amish are subject to the laws of the land like everyone else, they have been known to defy certain laws that go against their religious beliefs, such as those related to military participation and education. They also have a history of resisting government interference and regulations that they deem unnecessary or intrusive. The Ordnung covers various aspects of Amish life, including marriage, dress code, physical appearance, spirituality, and technology use.

Amish law on marriage with outsiders

The Amish are a close-knit community, and members tend to marry people they have known since childhood. While they are not forbidden from interacting with outsiders, their opportunities to do so are limited. Amish youth usually date and marry members of their own community, and marriages between Amish and outsiders are forbidden. However, this is not completely unheard of. If an outsider wishes to marry an Amish person, they must convert to the Amish faith and be baptised into the Amish community.

The Amish are guided by a set of rules known as the Ordnung, which may be revised depending on the community's needs, but most of these laws have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. The Ordnung dictates that marriage is only permitted between baptised Amish community members. If a baptised member were to marry an outsider, they may be shunned by their community. However, if the outsider converts and is baptised, the marriage is allowed.

The Amish are highly law-abiding, except when it comes to "important issues" of conscience, such as military participation and schooling. They have their own unique customs, traditions, and community rules, which are heavily influenced by their beliefs and set out to protect and preserve Amish culture. While these laws are not enforced by the state, they are considered steadfast and immutable rules for life by community members.

The Amish do not proselytise or encourage outsiders to join their community. They focus on maintaining the status quo within their settlements and believe that dating outside of their community could expose their youth to worldly temptations that distract from their faith. Amish courtship is taken very seriously, as its intention is to find a life partner and start a family. Marriage is deemed sacred, and Amish weddings are a major step in Amish society. The sequence of events leading up to the wedding is quite involved, and the wedding service itself lasts for many hours.

Amish law regarding modesty in dress

The Amish are a group of people who follow the traditions and beliefs of Anabaptists, or those who have been baptised anew. They live a simple, rural lifestyle, avoiding many modern comforts and technology. This extends to their dress code, which expresses their principles in an outwardly visible way.

The Amish believe in humility and strive to avoid drawing attention to themselves. As such, their clothing is functional and non-flamboyant in design. Amish clothing is generally muted in colour and subtle in design, though styles may vary slightly between genders.

Amish women are expected to follow the same dress code as the men. Women typically wear mid-calf-length skirts with a long-sleeved blouse or shirt underneath. They also always have their heads covered, usually in the form of a bonnet. The bonnets are often made from black, navy blue, or purple material, signifying a woman's commitment to her faith and humility.

The colours and fabrics that Amish women choose to use in their clothing are also important. All fabrics must be solid colours, and women may not wear any printed fabric or patterns. The skirts should also always fall to the ankle or lower. Amish women are expected to abstain from wearing any ornamentation, including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, as they believe that material goods can lead to vanity and greed.

Married Amish women are expected to wear a white head covering known as a Kapp, which signifies their commitment to their marriage and faith. They also wear long skirts that fall at least two inches below their ankles, along with a black cape and apron to church services or other formal gatherings.

Amish men dress conservatively, focusing on practicality and modesty. Their clothing is generally made from natural, durable materials such as wool, cotton, and linen. Men usually wear a solid-coloured, long-sleeved shirt with a vest or jacket worn over the top. They may also wear a suit coat or overcoat, depending on the weather and occasion. The shirt is typically tucked into a pair of trousers held up by suspenders.

Amish men don't wear jewellery or other decorative items and typically avoid bright colours and patterns in their clothing. They usually wear hats made of straw or felt, with men in more traditional communities tending to wear hats with broader brims.

Amish law on physical appearance

The Amish are a conservative Christian sect who live in close-knit communities in the US and Canada. They are known for their simple lifestyle and refusal to adopt many modern technologies, instead opting for a more old-fashioned way of life. The Amish follow a set of rules called the Amish Ordnung, an unwritten code of conduct derived from biblical teachings, Amish traditions, and common sense. The Ordnung prescribes behaviour, appearance, and other aspects of Amish culture.

The Amish style of dress is the most obvious outward manifestation of their faith, purity, and social separation from the world. It demonstrates group allegiance and identity, as well as the willingness to yield to group standards. The common theme among all Amish clothing is plainness; clothing should not call attention to the wearer by cut, colour, or any other feature.

Pennsylvania Amish men wear dark-coloured suits, straight-cut coats with no lapels, broadfall trousers, suspenders, solid-coloured shirts, black socks and shoes, and black or straw broad-brimmed hats. They generally wait until after marriage to grow beards and do not wear moustaches.

Amish women wear modest, solid-coloured dresses, usually with long sleeves and a full skirt, a cape, and an apron. The clothing is fastened with straight pins or snaps. Hair is never cut and is worn in a bun on the back of the head, concealed by a prayer covering. Single women in their teens and twenties wear black prayer coverings for church services, while a white covering is worn at most times by women of all ages. Pennsylvania Amish women are not permitted to wear jewellery or printed fabrics.

Women are expected to wear simple and modest clothing at all times. This includes wearing long skirts and dresses that cover the arms and legs, as well as using only natural fabrics such as wool or cotton. Using too many colours or patterns is discouraged, as the Amish believe this can be a source of vanity. Therefore, Amish women typically stick to more subdued colours such as black, blue, or grey.

Women must make their own clothes and are not allowed to buy them from stores or use sewing machines, as this is considered a form of mechanization that goes against Amish values and traditions. According to Amish church rules, women must also wear a bonnet covering on their heads when attending church services. Married women wear black bonnets, while unmarried women wear white ones.

Amish women are not allowed to cut their hair, following biblical guidelines that state that a woman's hair is her glory. As a result, when they are within their homes, they must wear their hair pulled back in a bun or braid, with only the front left loose. However, they must cover their hair when outside of the house, using a scarf or bonnet.

The Ordnung differs slightly from community to community, and within a community, from district to district. What is acceptable in one community may not be acceptable in another. For example, the use of tobacco (excluding cigarettes, which are considered "worldly") and moderate alcohol consumption are generally permitted, particularly among older and more conservative groups.

Amish law on voting

The Amish are a highly law-abiding people, but they do not always vote in elections. They are entitled to vote, but they generally do not, and Amish voter turnout is always lower than the norm for a secular society. In the 2016 election, only 7% of the state of Pennsylvania's Amish voted. In Holmes County, Ohio, 43% of Amish were registered to vote, but only 13% did so. In the 2004 election, voter turnout among the Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was higher than usual, but still only around 13% of the adult population.

The Amish are not prohibited from voting, but they tend to keep their distance from the world, and voting conflicts with their religious beliefs and cultural norms. They follow a "Two Kingdoms" theology, believing there is a spiritual kingdom (God's Kingdom) and a material kingdom (Man's Kingdom). They prioritise the laws of God's Kingdom, which is where they want to end up. They respect the rules of Man's Kingdom, but they limit their interaction with it. Voting ties them closer to the world and could result in them electing politicians who may use force or go to war, which goes against their beliefs in nonresistance.

The Amish are more likely to vote in local or regional elections, where the outcome will directly affect their cultural identity, use of the land, or livelihood. They are also more likely to vote when issues that directly affect them are on the ballot. For example, in 2016, the Amish dairy farmer Amos Miller became a cause célèbre in his community when he was banned from selling raw milk. This resulted in an increase in Amish voter registration.

Amish voter turnout may also be affected by the fact that they do not always have photo ID. Some states have made allowances for this, such as Ohio, where an Amish person without photo ID would complete an Affidavit of Religious Objection form. However, this issue may be overblown, as some Amish do accept photo identification for practical purposes, and those who vote tend to be among the more progressive members of the community.

When the Amish do vote, they tend to vote for the Republican Party, as they align with conservative values such as smaller government and lower taxes.

Amish law on technology

The Amish have a complex relationship with technology. While they are often thought to reject all modern conveniences, this is not the case. The Amish do use modern technology, but with restrictions and adaptations. The Amish regulate their use of technology through a set of church rules or guidelines known as the Ordnung. The Amish leaders aim to slow or prevent changes if a given technology is seen as a threat.

The Amish generally see dangers in technologies that provide easy contact with the outside world and its ideas and values (e.g., television, automobiles, and the internet). They also try to avoid technologies that may break down the family or community by serving as distractions or eliminating the need to rely on others in the community. Many Amish people feel that certain labour-saving technologies can take more than they give, robbing their children of the ability to learn the value of hard work.

The Ordnung is not uniform across all Amish churches, and different churches arrive at different conclusions regarding technology use. For example, while some Amish churches may permit the use of smartphones, others may forbid them. Similarly, while some Amish churches may allow the use of motor vehicles, those that do are no longer considered Old Order Amish.

The Amish do not view technology as inherently evil, but they are cautious about the potential negative impact it can have on their community. They carefully weigh the potential effects of adopting a given technology and make decisions based on their Biblical interpretation.

The Amish use technology selectively and adapt it to fit their needs and values. For example, they may use diesel generator-powered laundry machines or solar panels. They may also use pneumatic or hydraulic power as a substitute for conventional electric power. While the Amish restrict the use of public electricity, they do use batteries and other forms of power to operate devices.

The Amish's approach to technology is driven by their desire to preserve their community and way of life. They are aware of the potential benefits of technology but aim to limit its negative impact on their families and communities.

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