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(#9) They Are Not Allowed To Use Any Musical Instrument Besides Their Own Voice
The Amish have nothing against carrying a tune, as long as it’s only with your voice. The Amish don’t believe in musical instruments. They see the ability to play an instrument as vain self-expression that puts the individual above the rest of the Amish community. However, they do have a long and interesting history of hymns. Their church songs come from the Ausbund, which was originally published in 1564, and is the oldest collection of Protestant hymns still in use today. The hymns have no notes, perhaps because the ability to read music is another example of vanity. All the tunes are passed down through generations.
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(#5) Kids Have To Play With Creepy Faceless Dolls
Amish children are allowed to have some simple toys, one of which is a creepy faceless doll. There are a couple of lines of reasoning as to the purpose behind the faceless doll. In the Bible, the Book of Deuteronomy forbids the creation of “graven images,” which means that people cannot create an idol with human characteristics, as only God can make humans. Another belief is that a doll with a face (a pretty face, at that) will make the child vain. Vanity is severely looked down upon in the Amish community. Also, the Amish believe in equality among members of their community. A faceless doll lacks any particular identity, and it can therefore not be considered better than the rest. But, nowadays, many faceless dolls are made to satisfy an English demand for Amish crafts.
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(#7) An Amish Child Can Not Get More Than An Eighth Grade Education
Amish parents only let their children go to school until eighth grade. Amish children learn reading, writing and basic math, as well as Pennsylvania Dutch. This is done out of practicality. The Amish are a community that prioritizes agricultural and vocational trades, so a loftier education tends to threaten their simple way of life. Their schooling policy eventually conflicted with the American set standard for education, which makes school mandatory until the age of 16. A lawsuit was brought to the supreme court in 1972, in Wisconsin vs. Yoder, over the issue. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the Amish, stating that forcing them to go to school past eighth grade was a violation of their First Amendment rights.
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(#10) Once You're Excommunicated, Church Members Have To Give You The Cold Shoulder
The greatest punishment in the Amish community is excommunication. If a member violates a tenet of the Ordung, they risk being excommunicated. This can be for something as small as using a cell phone to something as serious as assault. The Amish derive this practice from several Bible passages: “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed,” Thessalonians 3:14.
If all efforts to reconcile a transgressor into the faith have failed, community leaders will vote on excommunication. Once the member has been excommunicated, the shunning, or "Meidung", goes into effect. Once an individual is shunned, they will lose all contact and support from the community. While shunning is mostly permanent, it is possible to return to the community if extraordinary repentance is demonstrated.
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(#13) No Rest For The Pregnant
You won’t catch a pregnant woman lazing about in the Amish community. They work right through the entire pregnancy. The Amish also don’t believe in birth control, so they tend to be pregnant a lot. The only birth control they approve is Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM), which is a natural form of birth control that is found in woman’s body while she is nursing a child. Also, a pregnancy is not to be discussed in the Amish community with anyone besides the husband and midwife. So, a woman must continue to toil away at her work as though it’s business as usual, essentially till her water breaks. Then all babies are born at home, without pain medication, unless there is an emergency, when they will allow the woman to go to the hospital.
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(#2) Rumspringa Is The Only Time They Don't Have To Follow All Those Strict Rules
When Amish teens turn 16, they can leave the community for a trial run of the English life known as Rumspringa, which translates to “running around.” During this time, teens can indulge in drugs, partying, technology, and pretty much anything that the Amish would consider a vice. While a handful of Amish teens choose to stay in the English world, the majority of teens on Rumspringa return to the community. However, once they return they must shun English living and devote their life to the Amish church. If they return, become baptized, and then decide to leave the community again, they risk being excommunicated.
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Amish strictly adheres to the Christian Amish doctrine and still wears traditional black-tone clothing. Men wear broad-brimmed straw hats. They must not grow beards before marriage, and only grow beards on the lower jaw after marriage. Women wear long skirts and aprons. They maintained a humble lifestyle in the Middle Ages and rejected all modern mobility facilities including electricity and cars. Because children do not go to school, the United States also has special legislation that stipulates that Amish people are not subject to universal compulsory education.
Amish is a traditional and strict religious organization, they do not join the army, do not receive social welfare, or any form of government help. The random tool introduced 13 strict rules that all Amish should follow.
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