Amish: Secluded From Society
I don't know if this sect has been discussed here very much, but it is not an uncommon thing in my area of Pennsylvania to see an Amish farm, or Amish horse and buggy along side a public road.
There is an awful lot that could be discussed, but I'm only going to start the conversation with a brief summery and a few of my thoughts relating to them.
The Amish consider the Bible a trustworthy guide for living but do not quote it excessively. To do so would be considered a sinful showing of pride. Separation from the rest of society is based on being a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people"(1 Peter 2:9), not being "conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2), avoiding the "love [of] the world or the things in the world" (1 John 2:15) and the belief that "friendship with the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4).[26]
These are a group of religious people who are completely secluded from the rest of the world for the most part. So much so that they sometimes marry members within their own family. Most modern technology is shunned unless it is used in an emergency or if they can find a way to use it without connecting themselves to the outside world. This group of people refuse medical treatment, Don't pay taxes and take the status of conscientious objector in war time.
Now, I said "for the most part" because certain groups in this religious sect still retain the tax exclusion status even though they DO use modern technology, public services and get Social Security benefits.
They often have small businesses that are tax exempt, even though they use public services such as telephones, roads, transportation and etc.
Speaking of roads, route 45 in my area is a popular route that you will see Amish horse and buggy's traveling. This road is actually badly grooved from the metal wheels of these buggies.
Another problem with these beliefs are the many heath problems relating to inbreeding. Children are often abused and are not able to live normal lives.
Amish populations have higher incidences of particular genetic disorders, including dwarfism (Ellis-van Creveld syndrome), various metabolic disorders, and unusual distribution of blood-types. Amish represent a collection of different demes or genetically closed communities. Since almost all Amish descend from about 200 18th century founders, genetic disorders from inbreeding exist in more isolated districts (an example of the founder effect). Some of these disorders are quite rare, or unique, and are serious enough to increase the mortality rate among Amish children. The majority of Amish accept these as "Gottes Wille" (God's will); they reject use of preventive genetic tests prior to marriage and genetic testing of unborn children to discover genetic disorder. Amish are willing to participate in studies of genetic diseases. Their extensive family histories are useful to researchers investigating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and muscular degeneration.
These groups also haven't been effected by child labor laws or other human rights movements.
Because Amish bishops mete out punishment for sins (generally in the form of shunning), they keep discipline within the authority of the church; thus, abuse may be less often reported to law enforcement. Since men dominate their society, women and children who have been mistreated have little recourse. They themselves may be shunned for seeking outside help.
So..Thoughts? Opinions? Should Amish be tax exempt? Why would anyone want to be THAT secluded from society?
Read a lot more!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish
There is an awful lot that could be discussed, but I'm only going to start the conversation with a brief summery and a few of my thoughts relating to them.
The Amish consider the Bible a trustworthy guide for living but do not quote it excessively. To do so would be considered a sinful showing of pride. Separation from the rest of society is based on being a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people"(1 Peter 2:9), not being "conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2), avoiding the "love [of] the world or the things in the world" (1 John 2:15) and the belief that "friendship with the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4).[26]
These are a group of religious people who are completely secluded from the rest of the world for the most part. So much so that they sometimes marry members within their own family. Most modern technology is shunned unless it is used in an emergency or if they can find a way to use it without connecting themselves to the outside world. This group of people refuse medical treatment, Don't pay taxes and take the status of conscientious objector in war time.
Now, I said "for the most part" because certain groups in this religious sect still retain the tax exclusion status even though they DO use modern technology, public services and get Social Security benefits.
They often have small businesses that are tax exempt, even though they use public services such as telephones, roads, transportation and etc.
Speaking of roads, route 45 in my area is a popular route that you will see Amish horse and buggy's traveling. This road is actually badly grooved from the metal wheels of these buggies.
Another problem with these beliefs are the many heath problems relating to inbreeding. Children are often abused and are not able to live normal lives.
Amish populations have higher incidences of particular genetic disorders, including dwarfism (Ellis-van Creveld syndrome), various metabolic disorders, and unusual distribution of blood-types. Amish represent a collection of different demes or genetically closed communities. Since almost all Amish descend from about 200 18th century founders, genetic disorders from inbreeding exist in more isolated districts (an example of the founder effect). Some of these disorders are quite rare, or unique, and are serious enough to increase the mortality rate among Amish children. The majority of Amish accept these as "Gottes Wille" (God's will); they reject use of preventive genetic tests prior to marriage and genetic testing of unborn children to discover genetic disorder. Amish are willing to participate in studies of genetic diseases. Their extensive family histories are useful to researchers investigating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and muscular degeneration.
These groups also haven't been effected by child labor laws or other human rights movements.
Because Amish bishops mete out punishment for sins (generally in the form of shunning), they keep discipline within the authority of the church; thus, abuse may be less often reported to law enforcement. Since men dominate their society, women and children who have been mistreated have little recourse. They themselves may be shunned for seeking outside help.
So..Thoughts? Opinions? Should Amish be tax exempt? Why would anyone want to be THAT secluded from society?
Read a lot more!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish
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Comment by Jon Heim on October 17, 2010 at 10:56am -
I know Pa is a popular state for these beliefs, I mean..a great deal of them speak Pennsylvania dutch. I'm just curious if anyone else has seen these interesting people.
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Comment by Atheist Exile on October 17, 2010 at 11:58am -
The inbreeding and health issues associated with a limited population remind me of Adam and Eve. If such problems can develop from a limited gene pool of 200 founders, what about the gene pool of Adam and Eve? Humanity must have got off to a very unhealthy start.
But even in the scientific view of our ancestry, we all trace back to an African "Eve" . . . don't we? I know I'm woefully uninformed on this topic but that's my understanding. Whether or not we're talking about the Bible or Science, genetics boils down to a lot of incest.
Does anybody have clarification for this?
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Comment by Jon Heim on October 17, 2010 at 12:06pm
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well I suppose genetics and heath issues have evolved over time as well. But certainly not in the short time period of the biblical creation till now.
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Comment by BryanPaul on October 17, 2010 at 1:08pm -
Lol @ AE! Adam and Eve huh? No we don't all follow a line back to Eve. Your thinking along the biblical line. We didn't all originate with the African Eve specimen. She is simply the oldest ancestor to modern man we have. I'm sure there were thousands of Eve like ancestors. She is just one of a species. There is most likely no one single ancestor.
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Comment by BryanPaul on October 17, 2010 at 1:17pm
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Sorry I got off topic jon. I don't know much about the Amish people. If they make money off of products they sell (they do if I remember the little I do know correctly) they should pay taxes on that as income tax.
On the subject of genetics. You have to expect trouble with a culture that cut of from new genetic material. It will eventually lead to there extinction one way or another. Genetic mistakes are copied just like any other genetic trait. Some more than others.As far as there being secluded, I don't see a problem except the genetic one. It's kept there culture alive this long. Let'um have it if they like it.
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Comment by Jon Heim on October 17, 2010 at 2:56pm
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Great information jean! here is a picture of an Amish horse and buggy traveling on the road I was talking about earlier.
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Comment by James on October 17, 2010 at 2:56pm -
Should Amish be tax exempt?
As long as they are ineligible for government programs (medicare, social security, welfare, unemployment, etc...) then I'm okay with them being exempt. I'd have to double check this, but I think that may already be the case.
I know Pa is a popular state for these beliefs, I mean..a great deal of them speak Pennsylvania dutch. I'm just curious if anyone else has seen these interesting people.
My wife lived in Chambersburg when I met her, so we saw our fair share of both Amish and Mennonites. Mostly Mennonites though as the Amish are typically more to the north. They dress like the Amish for the most part, but drive and shop at Walmart, Lowe's, etc...
But even in the scientific view of our ancestry, we all trace back to an African "Eve" . . . don't we?
Yes and no. African "Eve" is the oldest ancestor found, but we aren't all from her line. There would have been more than just her around, she's just the only one we've found fossilized. Also, in evolution, very early variations can typically interbreed with the new variations and the root line giving a large pool to build from. By the time the new species can no longer breed with the old, the gene pool should be rich with individuals to breed further.
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Comment by Jon Heim on October 17, 2010 at 2:57pm
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In my area, a few Amish families own and operate stores. There are at least 6 popular ones that I can think of. And that's just in a 25 mile radius.
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Comment by Jon Heim on October 17, 2010 at 3:01pm
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James, They are ineligible for government programs...but what about property taxes? or sales taxes? and who's gonna pay to fix up the darn ruts in the road! lmao.
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Comment by Jesus_Was_A_Man_Or_Myth_Or_Both on October 17, 2010 at 3:08pm -
Black Bonnet Girls Lyrics
(written by: Carl Goodman)
Send "Black Bonnet Girls" Ringtone to your Cell
Ohhh, you gonna paint that barn tonight
Ohhh, down beside da lantern light
Ohhh, you gonna finish all your chores
Black bonnet girls you make the Amish world go round
Yah
I was just an Amish boy
Full of purity und joy
Knew damn well that I was holier than thee
Left alone with Cousin Greta
What a naughty baby sitta
Heathen woman, you made a Mennonite out of me
Yah Yah
I know girls who never curse
Chicks who know their bible verse
Every one of them wore a dress down to da floor
Though their chastity and charm
Made them quite pleasant on da farm
There ain't nothing like a good old Amish whore
Ohhh, you gonna paint that barn tonight
Ohhh, down beside da lantern light
Ohhh, you gonna finish all your chores
Black bonnet girls you make the Amish world go round
Yah
Black bonnet girls you make the Amish world go round
Hey Carl
Yah Graeber
What's the difference between Greta and my buggy.
I don't know Graber what is the difference
Well, not everybody has been in my buggy.
Ha ha ha ha
Yah listen now
I've been on my knees all day
All I do is sit and pray
Thought I saw the Lord but I can't really tell
But I knew from da beginning
With this lust and all this sinning
Black bonnet girls and me will surely burn in hell
Yah dig this
Ohhh, you gonna paint that barn tonight
Ohhh, down beside da lantern light
Ohhh, you gonna finish all your chores
Black bonnet girls you make the Amish world go round
Yah
Black bonnet girls you make the Amish world go round
Get on your buggies and ride
Black bonnet girls
Man that Greta's built like a brick outhouse
Black bonnet girls
As long as I've got a pew, she's got a place to sit
Black bonnet girls
Yah, she could churn my butter anytime
Black bonnet girls
Hey Greta, show us your ankles
Ooooh
Send "Black Bonnet Girls" Ringtone to your Cell
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