I was recently reading about the Amish culture and I was quite fascinated by how it enforces separation from the materialistic world. So I thought it would make for an interesting discussion and I would also love to read about any other unique and fascinating cultures that you might like to share in this thread.
The Amish are one of the Christian denominations. They are extremely religious in every aspect of life and their philosophy is to “keep themselves unspotted from the world”. Members refrain from drinking and smoking, do not enter the armed forces and do not vote or take oaths. They forbid premarital relationships.
They shun modern technology and conveniences. They do not have electricity or telephones in their homes. They use candles and old-fashioned lanterns for light. They do not watch TV or listen to the radio. They don’t even use automobiles, instead they drive horse-drawn carriages and some prefer not to use any machinery on their farms either.
The Amish dress according to an agreed ‘plain’ dress code. Women are not into fashion and beauty, they don’t use appliances and makeup, they don’t wear bright colours etc. The men usually wear beards and pants with buttons instead of zippers. Belts are forbidden as are sweaters, neckties and gloves. The women wear white head coverings and plain dresses, usually without buttons.
It is against their belief to take photographs or to be photographed, because the practice promotes vanity. The Amish also forbid education after the equivalent of the eighth grade, suggesting that higher education contributes to a feeling of self importance. Because of the lack of technology in their isolated lives, they don’t really know much about the “outside world”.
Some of their teachings sound similar enough to Islam, don’t they? The core difference is that Islam doesn’t require us to separate from the world and obviously doesn’t forbid the technology and other conveniences of life. It also places huge emphasis on education for both men and women. And of course all the other differences between Christianity and Islam also apply. But overall, the Amish people are good, hard-working, God-loving people who want to avoid all the negativeness of the world and stay on the right path for a brighter afterlife.
Interesting :hmmm: especially the no fashion part.
And I agree some of their teachings are seems like us ( muslims).I would love to read more about them.
i live among Menninites [similar to Amish people]...i see buggies on the regional roads, i've eaten in their restaurants, i see their buggies in farmer markets [parked like cars] and a row of horses with their eating bowl [bakhaarii] and in their traditional garbs...women dress like Muslim women dress up in Burq'a.
The core difference is that Islam doesn’t require us to separate from the world and obviously doesn’t forbid the technology and other conveniences of life. It also places huge emphasis on education for both men and women. And of course all the other differences between Christianity and Islam also apply. But overall, the Amish people are good, hard-working, God-loving people who want to avoid all the negativeness of the world and stay on the right path for a brighter afterlife.