While it seemed that the Amish were behind and somewhat removed from society, within their groups, there’s a great sense of community and belonging. The Amish are sharing, generous people, and regularly host communal meals. Basically, families put on a big spread for their Amish brothers and sisters, using food and drink as a way to bond the community tighter.
It is extremely important to keep this tradition because the sharing of meals provides a place to communicate and enjoy oneself. The way it works is that each family brings something to the table to share. Whether one family specializes in meat or dairy, or another in baked goods, each will provide a plate or dish to share with the community.
Being Banished
'Meidung' and 'Ordnung' are terms that you definitely don’t want to hear when you’re living in an Amish community. It comes as no surprise that the Amish people have a number of rules and regulations when dealing with their lifestyle and the customs they keep. But despite these rules, the Amish are in fact interested in the individual coming to their own personal conclusions without interference.
But of course, for those who overstep the line, there are consequences. In Amish terms, an individual, if in violation of Amish ethics or the code, is then deemed Ordnung. And if a person keeps misbehaving after punishment, they can be deemed 'Meidung', which basically means that they're banished from the community!
The Scary Dolls
To Amish kids, who’ve grown up with these dolls, this is just like getting a Barbie. There is, of course, a reason for these homemade, simple dolls. They have no faces because they teach kids that looks don't matter.
In many ways, this is a wonderful idea, and could indeed help combat body image issues that have plagued generations of people. Not to mention more recently with the increase in social media use.
Avoiding Serious Ailments
There must be something in the water, or maybe it's just the traditional, organic lifestyle that allows the Amish to reap lots of health benefits. For example, it has been reported that the Amish rarely get cancer. We wonder if modern technology is to blame.
Health professionals will probably agree that their “simple” lifestyle contributes greatly to their health. Living within an Amish community seems to decrease your chances of contracting any sort of serious illness. The secret? Organic, homegrown produce. No mass-produced, genetically modified, preservative-filled nasties. Also, the fact that they keep away from alcohol and cigarettes surely has a lot to do with it too.
But Why the Pacifism?
It is important to the Amish to uphold their Christian duties and keep the peace – specifically the zen haven that they’ve created for themselves within their community. It’s also crucial that they not use any type of force on another human being. Because they cannot do any harm to their fellow humans, they avoid the military like the plague.
There probably isn’t even any type of law enforcement individual in their community – maybe just a spiritual leader or two.