Amish Ways Foundation
Pioneers of Simplicity and Sustainability
Amish Ways Foundation
Promoting the traditional lifestyles and simple ways of the Amish People living in the world today. There is much that can be learned about zero-carbon and fighting climate change from the peaceful resistance of the Amish. Website focus is on the appreciation of Amish Heritage, Traditions and Ways, not on the Amish Religion.
Culture Based on Religion or Simplicity
The cultural and traditional simple lifestyle of the Amish is one that becomes more appreciated and envied as we grow older and think more about life and its true meaning. To the non-Amish the ideal of simple living and sustainability is very romantic with those who want to get back to basics; however the experience of living life like the Amish is not viewed as well from within the culture, for some and is a chore of discipline to manifest much of their own lives.
There is really little you can truly learn about the Amish on TV shows like Breaking Amish and Amish Mafia, who use Amish clothing style, motif and ex-members of the Amish community, because both fail to incorporate the guiding Ordnung which is the unwritten law that governs behavior, conduct, lifestyle and purpose in all of our communities. It is true that most Amish that are excommunicated embrace technology and modern culture, with little option to live like they must, very few find their way to an Intentional Community.
The Ordnung governs for whatever reason everything that the Amish do not speak of, it most often though is used to justify unreasonable and illogical conclusions often steeped in personal feelings between what is right and wrong or prohibited. The Ordnung and its interpretation has created over 30 schisms of the Amish lifestyle, however despite the disagreements there are still common beliefs, factors and order that are prevalent.
The fact of the matter is it is possible to be an Amish Atheist or an Amish Jew; that is if you were born Amish, by embracing the education, techniques, methods, traditional crafts and adopting the lifestyle a person can live, and many do, a completely sustainable carbon neutral life. Living without electricity is not a bad thing, it is a good one!
About the Amish
These is a lot of good information online about the Amish people, lifestyle and the religion.
Visit us in Pennsylvania
As many people know shortly after the difference of opinion which led the Amish people to live a stricter lifestyle than their Anabaptist brothers the Mennonites there was a schism which led most of the Amish to move to Pennsylvania to escape religious persecution which was potentially extremely serious during the 1600's when many protestant religious faiths and denominations were formed.
We crossed the seas from Europe at the public invitation of William Penn who offered religious freedom. Penn granted the Amish the right to settle and live across several regions of Pennsylvania mostly in the East around what is known as Lancaster.
Today we live in ten other American states, several provinces in Canada, Belize and Bolivia. We may have members of our faith living in other places as well.
Page Photo Credits
The header photo for our website is by Alvin Trusty, who has licensed it for non-commercial use in the Creative Commons. The photo was taken in 2011 and these kids are now grown.