1. Who invited Amish to America?
2. What kinds of traits do Amish have, even this century? List them.
3. Can Amish get education and instruction like ordinary American?
4. Which way do Amish prefer to work by trade or by profession?
5. In case of emergency, who help Amish?
6. Have you ever known about Amish?
7. What do you think of the lifestyle of Amish? Do you want to live your life in Amish Community?
Monday, July 9, 2007
The Amish In Northern Indiana
Goshen College lies between two of the most prominent Amish settlements in the mid-west:
Skirted on the east by the third largest Amish settlement in America, Goshen students rub shoulders with this unique otherworldly community with relative ease and comfort. Highlighted by the newly-completed Shipshewana visitor center, Menno Hof, the community attracts more than a million visitors each year.
Smaller in numbers and territorial size is the Amish community southwest of the college. It is equally rich in Amish life and culture and includes the converted farmstead, Amish Acres, sporting a new red round barn-theatre that gives daily performances of "Plain & Fancy," and features a popular restaurant along with entertainment.
The Amish broke away from the Mennonites nearly 300 years ago when differences arose among Anabaptist leaders in Switzerland and Alsace. Seeking a stricter lifestyle including the Streng Meidung, or shunning, which includes the social avoidance of erring church members. Tensions ran high and eventually in 1693, a complete split occurred. Forty years later, many Amish responded to William Penn's invitation to come to America and settle the land. No Amish now remain in Europe. Currently there are approximately 145,000 Amish men, women and children living in 22 states in the United States and in Ontario, Canada. There are 220 Amish settlements accommodating over 900 geographically determined church districts.
Persistence of tradition and slowness to modernize have characterized the Amish as they have steadily sought to carve out their lifestyle which is a culture apart from the world. Even at the dawn of the 21st century, Amish are characterized as humble folk--hard working, neighborly, otherwordly, agrarian, God-fearing, ethnically homogenous--who live the simple life and live it well.
Searching for general characteristics that encompass all Old Order Amish groups even in their cultural and religious variations, the following seem dominent:
Separatism. Otherworldliness, non-conformity based on Biblical teachings in Romans 12:1-2 and II Cor. 6:14. This pervades the entire lifestyle of the Amish (dress, language, work, travel and education).
Simple Life. Simplicity and humility (demut) are stressed in Amish community. Education and training is limited to elementary levels. Amish warn of the "pagan" philosophy and the intellectual enterprise of "fallen man." Historically, they avoid all training associated with self exaltation, pride of position, enjoyment of power and the art of war and violence.
Family Life. Amish marry Amish. No intermarriage is allowed. Divorce is not permitted and separation is very rare. They are strictly monogamous and generally patriarchal. Sex roles are clearly defined. The average family size is 7-8 children. Homosexuality is not recognized as an acceptable lifestyle.
Harmony with the soil and nature. Manual labor is good (Amish have little regard for labor-saving devices). Hard work and thriftiness are virtues. Amish believe that God is pleased when people work in harmony with nature, the soil, the weather and care of animals and plants. Amish always live in rural community. By contrast, the city is viewed as a center of leisure, non-productive spending, and often as the stage for evil and wickedness.
Mutual Assistance. Amish do not survive outside of community. There is much neighboring in the community, and helping each other is the most common way of socializing. They carry no life or property insurance; the church assists in cases of major loss. Large families generally give assurance of care for the elderly. Only rarely do Amish retire to places other than the dawdyhaus, a small house built next to the main farm house. Retired Amish farmers do not receive Social Security.
Disciplined Church Community. Discipline in the Amish community can be sometimes harsh and uncompromising. Baptized members are morally committed to church rules. Erring members are generally excommunicated and shunned until there is forgiveness and restoration to full fellowship.
The Mennonite Historical Library located on the campus of Goshen College contains approximately 45,000 volumes, an unrivaled collection of Anabaptistica and Mennonitica that includes substantial source materials on the Amish, on family genealogies, local history, and Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
Skirted on the east by the third largest Amish settlement in America, Goshen students rub shoulders with this unique otherworldly community with relative ease and comfort. Highlighted by the newly-completed Shipshewana visitor center, Menno Hof, the community attracts more than a million visitors each year.
Smaller in numbers and territorial size is the Amish community southwest of the college. It is equally rich in Amish life and culture and includes the converted farmstead, Amish Acres, sporting a new red round barn-theatre that gives daily performances of "Plain & Fancy," and features a popular restaurant along with entertainment.
The Amish broke away from the Mennonites nearly 300 years ago when differences arose among Anabaptist leaders in Switzerland and Alsace. Seeking a stricter lifestyle including the Streng Meidung, or shunning, which includes the social avoidance of erring church members. Tensions ran high and eventually in 1693, a complete split occurred. Forty years later, many Amish responded to William Penn's invitation to come to America and settle the land. No Amish now remain in Europe. Currently there are approximately 145,000 Amish men, women and children living in 22 states in the United States and in Ontario, Canada. There are 220 Amish settlements accommodating over 900 geographically determined church districts.
Persistence of tradition and slowness to modernize have characterized the Amish as they have steadily sought to carve out their lifestyle which is a culture apart from the world. Even at the dawn of the 21st century, Amish are characterized as humble folk--hard working, neighborly, otherwordly, agrarian, God-fearing, ethnically homogenous--who live the simple life and live it well.
Searching for general characteristics that encompass all Old Order Amish groups even in their cultural and religious variations, the following seem dominent:
Separatism. Otherworldliness, non-conformity based on Biblical teachings in Romans 12:1-2 and II Cor. 6:14. This pervades the entire lifestyle of the Amish (dress, language, work, travel and education).
Simple Life. Simplicity and humility (demut) are stressed in Amish community. Education and training is limited to elementary levels. Amish warn of the "pagan" philosophy and the intellectual enterprise of "fallen man." Historically, they avoid all training associated with self exaltation, pride of position, enjoyment of power and the art of war and violence.
Family Life. Amish marry Amish. No intermarriage is allowed. Divorce is not permitted and separation is very rare. They are strictly monogamous and generally patriarchal. Sex roles are clearly defined. The average family size is 7-8 children. Homosexuality is not recognized as an acceptable lifestyle.
Harmony with the soil and nature. Manual labor is good (Amish have little regard for labor-saving devices). Hard work and thriftiness are virtues. Amish believe that God is pleased when people work in harmony with nature, the soil, the weather and care of animals and plants. Amish always live in rural community. By contrast, the city is viewed as a center of leisure, non-productive spending, and often as the stage for evil and wickedness.
Mutual Assistance. Amish do not survive outside of community. There is much neighboring in the community, and helping each other is the most common way of socializing. They carry no life or property insurance; the church assists in cases of major loss. Large families generally give assurance of care for the elderly. Only rarely do Amish retire to places other than the dawdyhaus, a small house built next to the main farm house. Retired Amish farmers do not receive Social Security.
Disciplined Church Community. Discipline in the Amish community can be sometimes harsh and uncompromising. Baptized members are morally committed to church rules. Erring members are generally excommunicated and shunned until there is forgiveness and restoration to full fellowship.
The Mennonite Historical Library located on the campus of Goshen College contains approximately 45,000 volumes, an unrivaled collection of Anabaptistica and Mennonitica that includes substantial source materials on the Amish, on family genealogies, local history, and Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
7-wonders-rationale advanced3
1. The Acropolis of Athens (450 - 330 B.C.) Athens, Greece. I selected this site because this site is composed of not only temples, but also statutes, monuments, and theatres, such as Parthenon (Chief Temple of Athena), the statue of Athena Promachos, Propylaea (monumental gateway), the Theatre of Dionysus, and forth. In addition, Athens is a largest city and capital of Greece, and is famous for the city, which hosted the first modern Olympic Games and the 2004. Looking at Athens from different point of view I think Athens deserves to be one of new 7 Wonders of the World.
2. Angkor (12th century) Cambodia. The district of Angkor consists of many significant sites, ranging from simple brick towers to huge stone temple complexes, and which is why I voted for Angkor to be a Wonder of the World. Besides, I have been thinking of visiting to Angkor, particularly Angkor Wat, which is most famous there, so I picked this candidate.
3. The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy. Since this stadium, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, was used for gladiatorial competitions and public spectacles, I opted for it. It was in use until 217, harmed by a major fire from lightning, and four earthquakes between 442 and 1349 devastated the arena, which was then converted into a fortress with a Christian church built into one small area.
4. The Great Wall of China. I elected this location as a Wonder of the World because of the appreciable distance of the Wall. The Great Wall is one of the existing megastructures and the world's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) from Shanhai Pass in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. Those facts make me feel the magnificence of the China and the grandeur of a human being.
5. The Kremlin and Red Square (1156 - 1850) Moscow, Russia. I am fond of the color, design and uniqueness so that I nominated this site as a Wonder of World. Red Square is often considered the central square of all Russia, and the name of it stems from Russian word “krasnaya”, meaning either "red" or "beautiful." I personally feel aversion towards Russia due to its socialism, yet I want this superb place to be one of the 7 Wonders.
6. Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru. I picked out this site for a couple of reasons. First of all, I deem that the location of it is spectacular. It is located at 2,430 m (7,970 ft) on a mountain ridge, deep in the Amazon jungle above the Urubamba River in Peru, about 70 km (44 mi) northwest of Cusco. Secondly, it has some of the mystery. For instance, all of the construction in Machu Picchu uses the classic Inca architectural style of polished dry-stone walls of regular shape, nevertheless how they moved and placed enormous blocks of stones is a mystery.
7. The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India. I chose this site because of its having line symmetry. As well as the beautifulness of this building, you can be entertained by its symmetrical structure. In addition to it, both the exterior and interior decorations are astonishing. Furthermore, I like the reason why this architecture was built. It was constructed when the second wife of Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal's period of greatest prosperity, died. Hence, I selected this dedicated site.
2. Angkor (12th century) Cambodia. The district of Angkor consists of many significant sites, ranging from simple brick towers to huge stone temple complexes, and which is why I voted for Angkor to be a Wonder of the World. Besides, I have been thinking of visiting to Angkor, particularly Angkor Wat, which is most famous there, so I picked this candidate.
3. The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy. Since this stadium, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, was used for gladiatorial competitions and public spectacles, I opted for it. It was in use until 217, harmed by a major fire from lightning, and four earthquakes between 442 and 1349 devastated the arena, which was then converted into a fortress with a Christian church built into one small area.
4. The Great Wall of China. I elected this location as a Wonder of the World because of the appreciable distance of the Wall. The Great Wall is one of the existing megastructures and the world's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) from Shanhai Pass in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. Those facts make me feel the magnificence of the China and the grandeur of a human being.
5. The Kremlin and Red Square (1156 - 1850) Moscow, Russia. I am fond of the color, design and uniqueness so that I nominated this site as a Wonder of World. Red Square is often considered the central square of all Russia, and the name of it stems from Russian word “krasnaya”, meaning either "red" or "beautiful." I personally feel aversion towards Russia due to its socialism, yet I want this superb place to be one of the 7 Wonders.
6. Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru. I picked out this site for a couple of reasons. First of all, I deem that the location of it is spectacular. It is located at 2,430 m (7,970 ft) on a mountain ridge, deep in the Amazon jungle above the Urubamba River in Peru, about 70 km (44 mi) northwest of Cusco. Secondly, it has some of the mystery. For instance, all of the construction in Machu Picchu uses the classic Inca architectural style of polished dry-stone walls of regular shape, nevertheless how they moved and placed enormous blocks of stones is a mystery.
7. The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India. I chose this site because of its having line symmetry. As well as the beautifulness of this building, you can be entertained by its symmetrical structure. In addition to it, both the exterior and interior decorations are astonishing. Furthermore, I like the reason why this architecture was built. It was constructed when the second wife of Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal's period of greatest prosperity, died. Hence, I selected this dedicated site.
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