Definition
Amish is a Christian religious group known for simple living, plain dress, and a refusal to adopt many modern technologies. Originating in 17th-century Europe as part of the Anabaptist movement, the Amish emigrated to North America in the 18th century and now live primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. They are known for their horse-drawn buggies, their rejection of electricity and cars, and their close-knit communities governed by the Ordnung — a set of unwritten rules. The Amish are also a frequent subject of tourism, reality TV, and internet memes, which often reduce their complex culture to a caricature of simplicity.
Why It Matters
The Amish are a Rorschach test for how Americans think about technology, community, and tradition. To some, they are a model of sustainable living and strong social bonds. To others, they are a curiosity — people who live in the past, photographed by tourists who then get back in their SUVs. The Amish are also more complex than their image: they do use technology selectively (some use solar power, cell phones for business, and even computers in limited ways), and their communities are not immune to problems like substance abuse and domestic violence. The internet loves the Amish as a meme: “Amish party” jokes, “Amish hacker” references, and the general absurdity of imagining a people without electricity in a digital world. The Amish matter because they are a living question: is progress always good? Is simplicity always virtuous? They don’t answer. They just live differently.
Example
“He drove through Lancaster County and saw an Amish buggy on the road. The driver was 16. He was staring at a smartphone. The horse was staring at the road. The passenger was staring at nothing. He took a photo. He posted it. The comments were divided. Some said the Amish were hypocrites. Some said they were adapting. The horse said nothing. The horse was Amish. The horse understood silence.”
Related Terms
- Anabaptist — The religious tradition the Amish belong to
- Pennsylvania Dutch — The language and culture of the Amish
- Ordnung — The unwritten rules that govern Amish life
- Rumspringa — The Amish tradition of adolescent exploration
- Simple Living — The philosophy the Amish embody