This paper provides an introductory overview of Amish culture in the United States, examining the community's core religious beliefs, dress codes, social rules, and practices such as shunning and confession. It explores the role of women in Amish society, the community's approach to education, and how disputes and crimes are handled internally. The paper also touches on the historical agricultural contributions of the Amish during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Drawing on peer-reviewed sources, the paper presents the Amish as a complex and evolving culture that, while often perceived as frozen in time, continues to adapt in measured ways while maintaining its foundational commitment to humility, separation, and faith.
The paper demonstrates effective use of direct quotation combined with contextual explanation. Rather than simply dropping quotes, the author introduces each citation, then unpacks its significance for the broader argument — for example, using the 1972 Supreme Court case reference to frame the discussion of Amish education and community participation.
The paper opens with a general introduction to Amish identity, then moves systematically through thematic sections: rules and dress, core religious beliefs, social control practices, the role of women and education, crime and dispute resolution, and historical agricultural contributions. A brief conclusion ties these themes together and situates the Amish within the broader landscape of American Christian communities. This thematic structure suits an introductory survey paper well.
The Amish are a well-known religious group in America. "The Amish culture is known for simple living, reluctance to use modern technology, and a heavy emphasis on church and family relationships" (Rogers, Horst, Rogers, Lee, & Reihart, 2013, p. 916). They are recognized for their beliefs and practices and for their desire to live in a clean and virtuous environment. They are hard workers who discourage lives of excess and greed. A brief look at their religion and beliefs helps illuminate one of the most popularly researched and examined religious groups in the United States.
Some key aspects of Amish culture involve rules and dress. The Ordnung — the list of oral or written rules that outlines the fundamentals of Amish religion — defines how to live and be Amish. The Ordnung can and does dictate every facet of an Amish person's life, including hair length, beard length for males, manner of dress, and even how Amish people farm. Importantly, the Ordnung differs from community to community. Some Amish, for instance, drive automobiles, while others do not use electricity.
Amish dress is another important aspect of Amish culture. It is a symbol of their faith and encourages humility and separation from the outside world. Amish fashion is simple, avoiding most ornamentation. Clothing is typically made at home using simple fabrics and is usually dark in color. Amish men wear coats with no collars, pockets, or lapels, while women wear full-length skirts, aprons, and capes, along with some form of head covering — usually a bonnet. Any stockings worn are typically made of black cotton.
The fundamental beliefs of the Amish include a commitment to the Bible, which they regard as the inerrant and inspired word of God. They practice Communion twice a year, in both the spring and fall. The Amish strongly believe in humility and reject the doctrine of eternal security. Although they once prioritized spreading their beliefs to others, in recent times they have made this less of a priority, choosing instead to live in greater isolation. Like many Christian sects, the Amish believe in baptism and practice adult baptism specifically, on the grounds that an adult is old enough to make a genuine decision of faith. The Amish also believe in heaven and hell, and members are expected to follow the church's rules in order to attain salvation.
Certain forms of social control are practiced by the Amish to regulate behavior within the community. These include separation and shunning. Separation means the Amish deliberately isolate themselves from broader society and treat this isolation as a fundamental religious principle. They believe that secular culture contaminates their religion and its members. In order to maintain this separation, they prohibit or avoid radios, televisions, computers, and other modern appliances, typically living off the grid.
Shunning is a controversial Amish practice involving the social and business avoidance of community members who violate the rules. Because of its controversial nature, shunning is not applied frequently and is used only as a last resort. Members who are excommunicated may be welcomed back into the community if they demonstrate genuine remorse and repentance.
Howley, A., Howlet, C., Burgess, L., & Pusateri, D. (2008). Social class, Amish culture, and an egalitarian ethos: Case study from a rural school serving Amish children. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 23(3), 1.
Rogers, A. B., Horst, M., Rogers, F., Lee, J., & Reihart, M. (2013). From the barn to the operating room and back: The Amish way of life leads to improved throughput and outcomes following trauma. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 75(5), 916.
Thompson, W. E. (1984). Old Order Amish in Oklahoma & Kansas: Rural tradition in urban society. Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, 12(1), 40.
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