Random Fascinating Facts About Amish Beliefs and Culture (21 items)

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  (#11) They Have No Private Access To Electricity Or Technology

  Amish people reject the use of electricity in their homes. The goal of forsaking technological advancements lies in maintaining a focus on community rather than the individual. The Amish believe that if people have the capacity to do complete a task alone, it will prevent the pursuit of community bonds.

  Contrary to popular belief, this doesn't stop the Amish from using technology when it becomes a necessity. Many Amish communities have a public phone used by everyone. They also have a computer marketed specifically to them: The Deskmate, used for business transactions, has no video, music, or Internet capabilities.
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  (#20) Puppy Mills Are A Common Amish Business Venture

  Despite the Amish's widely virtuous public perception, one aspect of their society strikes many as morally ambiguous. In the wake of rising prices of farmland and decreased demand for small-scale agriculture, some Amish have taken to a new occupation: dog farming.

  This practice entails keeping large numbers of dogs in one location with the intent of breeding them and selling their offspring. Many outside of the Amish community, especially animal rights activists, take issue with the dogs' treatment and conditions within these puppy mills––massive amounts of animals are kept in cramped, poorly maintained areas such as cages and barns. Additionally, this process often causes dogs to contract illnesses and pass on genetic defects.
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  (#14) The Amish Don't Allow Musical Instruments

  With very few exceptions, the only musical instrument the Amish use is the human voice. They believe playing instruments promotes self-expression, hubris, and individuality, and thus, musical instruments are prohibited. One exception is the harmonica, which is permitted on occasion. For Amish adults, dancing is forbidden as it is considered immodest. Young people are permitted to dance and listen to music during Rumspringa.
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  (#7) Church Takes Place In The Home

  Unlike most Christians, the Amish hold religious services in homes rather than in churches. Members of Amish communities are divided geographically, with every family in a region hosting a church service at their home as part of a rotation. During the services, which can last up to three hours, men and women sit separately. Their sermons and songs are in Pennsylvania Dutch and German.

  The pastor often has to move between rooms to preach to people seated in different areas of the house. Pastors are not formally trained, but are drawn by lot from nominations by the congregation. Church is held every other Sunday, with lunch and time for socializing after the service. 
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  (#10) Faceless Dolls Protect Children From Vanity

  The faces of Amish dolls are meant to be left blank and lack distinguishing features like faces, hair, fingers, and toes. The origin of this practice is not known, though a number of reasons have been hypothesized. For example, as they believe that only God can create life, they may consider even semi-accurate replications of human figures to be idolatrous.

  Similarly, faceless dolls promote uniformity and prevent one doll from looking better than another, which they believe could spawn vanity. While these dolls were popular among the Amish 
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  (#21) Beards Reveal The Wearer's Relationship Status

  Like many aspects of their lifestyle, the Amish maintain certain expectations regarding men's facial hair. Men remain clean-shaven until marriage, at which point they begin growing beards. They continue to shave their upper lips, however, as mustaches are perceived to bear ties to the military, an association the Amish seek to avoid due to their pacifistic lifestyle.

  As an Amish man's beard is directly tied to his marital status and, thus, his identity, beards are a particularly personal staple of the Amish faith. As such, beard-cutting attacks are considered religious hate crimes and may be punishable by prison time. 

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