Let's say it's not forever. Make it just one year. You wouldn't have to conform to the religious practices, but would have to abide by any social rules, including gender or age based roles and expectations.
Obvioulsy, this would include no electricity, or products run on electricity. It would mean abiding by the dress code, and abstaining from using birth control.
Two Questions:
- What about the experience would you dislike the most?
- What about the experience would you like the most?
I would hate missing my shows! Man did you see the Grey's Anatomy Season Finale last night? Good stuff. Nah, you know I'm kidding. Let's hear from a few of you before I chime in.
I would hate the fact that, according to custom, I would be expected to be a very "obedient", submissive wife, and that I wouldn't enjoy the same social status as my husband. I would also rather not go without birth control and have a child unexpectedly. And missing LOST would stink.
I would probably like the temporary simple living - but only temporarily. I would also like the cheese.
Posted by: Amanda | May 16, 2006 at 01:56 PM
That's a tough question. I think I'd have the most issues with the lack of electricity and computers. I use the internet everyday and love my computer at work. I'd also have issue with the idea of being subservient (spelling?) to my husband and father - losing the feeling of equality would push my buttons.
What would I like? Well, and Amanda mentioned, the simple living to a point. The idea that you're not out there trying to impress people with money and the way you look all the time. Not keeping up with the Jones all the time.
But missing out on TV would be a bummer. No LOST, no CSI ...
Posted by: Mandy | May 16, 2006 at 03:50 PM
Although I admire the Amish, how they help each other, how they are free of the burdens that come with our lives, how they are close to their families and church.
I guess I will never be that enlightened. I love my electricity, store bought hygeine products and clothes. When I visit family in Kentucky, I am always amazed at their clothing in mid-summer. Not to mention their mode of transportation (this is fun once - I prefer my horses in my GM)
Posted by: D | May 17, 2006 at 06:07 AM
I would love to be Amish. I have no love for this fast paced world, technology and all its intrusions into my life. You can have the horrible Tv. The Amish call it the sewer pipe in the living room and they are right. Buying everything does not bring the same satisfaction as making it or cooking it yourself.
I'd enjoy a peaceful life with silence, no noise all around me.
wonderful. i would have close friendships with like minded people who are not interested in this world, only by working hard and obeying the lord.
Sounds great to me.
Posted by: Julie Turner | January 24, 2007 at 05:05 AM
I would love to live like the Amish for a year, and I cannot think of one thing that I wouldn't like about it. I am a conservative Christian, so I believe in gender-based roles already. I also abhor the grip that technology has on our culture, so I would happily give up all the "pluses" of technology for the benefits of an Amish life. In fact, having done it for a year, I'd probably never stop.
Posted by: Sarah Hirsch | March 24, 2008 at 01:24 PM
It is amazing how America as a society has moved so far away from the things that matters most. Food, Clothes and shelter. It is easy for most of us to go to the store and buy what you need without a second thought. It takes away from the God/creation relationship that was meant for us to experiance. What happens tomorrow if one of our creations destroys all electricity? How would you live? I have never experianced the life of the Amish, but I would in a heart beat.. In fact, I long for it!
Posted by: Alan | November 20, 2008 at 01:23 PM
I believe that the Amish culture have a lot to teach us. If the world as we know it ends, what are we going to have in the inner cities? Riots, burglaries, breaks-in, etc. The New Survivalist group here in America, it's learning exactly that, to live like an Amish. Everything in life have a price to be paid, but what is good about paying a price for this high tech world and then one day because of the nature or because of a psycho it's all over, and you don't know the first thing on how to live without all this high tech. Anyway our human nature adapt fast to anything, faster than we can believe, specially when you can't have it. If I will have the opportunity to live as an Amish a year, I wouldn't waste any time to learn everything I could from them, for survival. Better ready than sorry!
I know that God wants us to be adjustable to any circumstance, in another words strong and capable under any situation!
Posted by: mgj | January 05, 2009 at 07:21 PM
i don't know what i would like or not, but i know that i would love to have that experience. i'm a portuguese women, and in Portugal we don't have the amish people. my knowledge about they way of living is based on researchs that i've made in the net. i'm conscience that it does exists things that i wouldn't like.but if i could it would be a great experience
Posted by: teresa | April 05, 2009 at 07:54 AM
I know that I could do without TV in fact it is the one reason my husband and I fight! The internet I could do without I only use it for bill paying (if amish,no bills to pay), or research the occasional question or ideal (like now!). If the economy keeps up the amish are going to bo the ones teaching us how to survive, and I have always wanted to know how to farm and garden and to teach my children the value of life and what can come from truly working hard. The only thing I cannot abide is the education, my children have a very high curriculum, and I am aware that in the amish community you have no need for alot of education,ie. computers,physical,etc, they don't use electricity therefore computer studies is not needed, and with a vast farmland I am sure the children get all the exercise they need. In short I would love the chance to live like the amish for a year, I really believe I would come away alot better off, and feel more confident knowing that I could survive without all of this.
Posted by: Desiree | August 17, 2009 at 11:18 AM
- 1. What about the experience would you dislike the most?
2. What about the experience would you like the most? -
Okay, 1#: I'd hate the fact that I'd have to wake up really early and do chores
2#: I'd like the fact that everyone dresses in the same type of style, "Plain".
I'm 16 and I want to live with an Amish family for a year. I'm sick of my computer addiction, and having a computer would enforce it even more!
So, me, wearing Emo and Scene type of clothing, unlike other teenage girls at my high school, who wear opposite of what I wear.
So me, wishing to be Amish for weeks, bought a bonnet and dress off of eBay, having nowhere to wear the attire at because I'd "stick out".
'Meh' now. Hope I get there soon.
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Posted by: bridesmaiddresses | April 19, 2011 at 07:32 PM
We have Amish friends in the "Old Amish", Gap area of PA. Our son went to live with them for a week to learn some woodworking. Some of the things written here are not altogether true. Like any other ethnic group, there are good and 'bad' Amish, or so our Amish friend told us! Yes, some make their women subservient and some do not! Some do allow photos, our friends did. They are definitely not uneducated & in fact do very well with computers if they have permission to work for "English!" They run most of their 'electric' equipment with gas powered compressors. It was fun to see the sewing machines run by a compressor hose. Our friends have interesting cultural traditions like praying both before and after a meal. I told my hostess her pickles surely must have won a blue ribbon and was gently chided that competing and winning would not be considered 'humble." We were sent to several of their friends to buy things we wanted like an Amish hat, instead of having to go to the tourist areas. They were just as curious about us as we used to be about them. They were amazed when we shared our faith and they discovered unity in the basics. I simply said 'Let's forget the differences and just agree at the foot of the cross." They were very happy to know I believe in the free salvation provided by grace and bought by Jesus on the cross. Then 'Grand da' asked me "You believe in Jesus but you have a TV in your house?!" I laughed and agreed I questioned that myself given the moral decadence these past few years! Then I said "But we don't believe in smoking and obviously you do." He looked startled and asked "Well, how would you keep the mosquitos away when you are working outside?" I had to agree he had me on that one and laughed with him!
According to my friends, they have the same problems we 'English' do like drugs and teen pregnancy. But the thing that bothers them the most is losing their kids to the 'outside world.' It hurts them deeply when their children turn their back on their faith and way of life, just like when our kids do. If you think of their plain clothes as being funny, go somewhere and do some people watching. My 10 year old grandson asked "Why don't girls wear enough clothing?" (10 yrs old!) And let's compare their old fashioned male and female hair styles to multi-colored mohawks, etc! And the 'civilized world' thinks the Amish are strange! I think it's too broad a statement to say "I'd like to live like the Amish" just as it would be if one of them said "I'd like to live like the English." One of the best things I learned from my Amish friends is they actually strive to remain humble knowing pride is a root of many human problems. They deliberately make a tiny 'mistake' in their quilts or other crafts so they can confess they are 'not perfect.' That's been the biggest gain for me...I'm not perfect and I don't expect perfection from anyone else.
Every religion, every people, every culture has both good and bad in it, past, present and most likely future. Go ahead and try to be 'more Amish' by walking away from the evil, embracing the good, ignoring the ignorant, not speaking ill of others, forgiving quickly, striving for humility, working hard, being a friend, recognizing and shunning sin while loving the sinner and above all, seeking a personal relationship with God.
Posted by: Carol | June 27, 2011 at 05:37 PM
The Amish, as a group, have been relatively unscathed by the recession. You can learn a lot about money management from them, even if you don’t put on a bonnet or turn off your electric power. Author Lorilee Craker has a helpful but humorous book on what we can learn from Amish financial practices, titled Money Secrets of the Amish. She’s also got a great blog that I really enjoy reading, with lots of money tips, most of them based on Amish practices, at www.lorileecraker.com
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