[Goanet] Amish Community: Model for Community Life
The book on Jesuits of Goa is authored by Fr Gregory Naik and not Fr Pratap Naik. Regards, Marshall Mendonza Roland Francis: PS I ordered for and enjoyed reading Fr Naik?s book on the Jesuits of Goa Province.
Re: [Goanet] Amish Community: Model for Community Life
I can sense the admiration of Fr Pratap Naik for the Amish Community given his birth and background in a strict Mangalore Catholic family and later the equally strict Jesuit order (both are the closest to being the equivalent of ‘Catholic Amish’), but there is the other side to the Amish as well. This young woman who left that community at 18 describes her experiences. What is not described in this video but can be gleaned from several other YouTube videos is the sexual abuse of women in that community where male domination is total and any admiration for that way of living, dims. https://youtu.be/WvFaEM2uX80 Roland. Toronto. PS I ordered for and enjoyed reading Fr Naik’s book on the Jesuits of Goa Province. > On May 15, 2021, at 6:31 AM, Pratap Naik wrote: > > Amish Community: Model for Community Life > Amish, also called Amish Mennonite, member of a Christian group in North > America. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, Christian > pacifism, and slowness to adopt many conveniences of modern technology, > with a view to not interrupt family time, nor replace face-to-face > conversations whenever possible. The Amish value rural life, manual labour, > humility, and Gelassenheit, all under the auspices of living what they > interpret to be God's word. > > History and church structure: > The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a > group of Swiss in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann (c.1644-c.1730). Those who > followed Ammann became known as Amish. In the second half of the 19th > century, the Amish divided into Old Order Amish and Amish Mennonites. When > people refer to the Amish today, they normally refer to the Old Order > Amish. Amish communities sprang up in Switzerland, Alsace, Germany, Russia, > and Holland. The Amish began emigrating to North America early in the 18th > century; they first settled in eastern Pennsylvania, where a large > settlement remains. Schism and disruption occurred after 1850 because of > tensions between the “new order” Amish, who accepted social change and > technological innovation, and the “old order,” or traditional, Amish, who > largely did not. During the next 50 years, about two-thirds of the Amish > formed separate, small churches of their own or joined either the Mennonite > Church or the General Conference Mennonite Church. > > Most traditional Amish are members of the Old Order Amish Mennonite Church. > As of 2020, over 330,000 Old Order Amish live in the United States and > about 10,000 live in Canada, a population that is rapidly growing, as the > Amish do not generally use birth control. Amish church groups seek to > maintain a degree of separation from the non-Amish world. Non-Amish people > are generally referred to as "English". The largest groups were located in > Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas, and others were > found in Wisconsin, Maine, Missouri, and Minnesota. Their settlements are > divided into church districts, autonomous congregations of about 75 > baptized members. If the district becomes much larger, it is again divided, > because members meet in each other’s homes. There are no church buildings. > Each district has a bishop, two to four preachers, and an elder. > > Beliefs and way of life: > Two key concepts for understanding Amish practices are their rejection of > Hochmut (pride, arrogance, haughtiness) and the high value they place on > Demut (humility) and Gelassenheit (calmness, composure, placidity), often > translated as "submission" or "letting-be". Gelassenheit is perhaps better > understood as a reluctance to be forward, to be self-promoting, or to > assert oneself. The Amish's willingness to submit to the "Will of Jesus", > expressed through group norms, is at odds with the individualism so central > to the wider American culture. The Amish anti-individualist orientation is > the motive for rejecting labour-saving technologies that might make one > less dependent on the community. Modern innovations such as electricity > might spark a competition for status goods, or photographs might cultivate > personal vanity. > > Humility, family, community, and separation from the world are the > mainstays of the Amish. Everyday life and custom are governed by an > unwritten code of behaviour called the Ordnung, and shunning (Meidung) > remains an integral way in which the community deals with disobedient > members. Members who do not conform to these community expectations and who > cannot be convinced to repent are excommunicated. In addition to > excommunication, members may be shunned, a practice that limits social > contacts to shame the wayward member into returning to the church. > > Amish lifestyle is regulated by the Ordnung (rules), which differs slightly > from community to community and from district to district within a > community. What is acceptable in one community may not be acceptable in > another. The Ordnung is agreed upon or changed within
[Goanet] Amish Community: Model for Community Life
Amish Community: Model for Community Life Amish, also called Amish Mennonite, member of a Christian group in North America. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, Christian pacifism, and slowness to adopt many conveniences of modern technology, with a view to not interrupt family time, nor replace face-to-face conversations whenever possible. The Amish value rural life, manual labour, humility, and Gelassenheit, all under the auspices of living what they interpret to be God's word. History and church structure: The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann (c.1644-c.1730). Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish. In the second half of the 19th century, the Amish divided into Old Order Amish and Amish Mennonites. When people refer to the Amish today, they normally refer to the Old Order Amish. Amish communities sprang up in Switzerland, Alsace, Germany, Russia, and Holland. The Amish began emigrating to North America early in the 18th century; they first settled in eastern Pennsylvania, where a large settlement remains. Schism and disruption occurred after 1850 because of tensions between the “new order” Amish, who accepted social change and technological innovation, and the “old order,” or traditional, Amish, who largely did not. During the next 50 years, about two-thirds of the Amish formed separate, small churches of their own or joined either the Mennonite Church or the General Conference Mennonite Church. Most traditional Amish are members of the Old Order Amish Mennonite Church. As of 2020, over 330,000 Old Order Amish live in the United States and about 10,000 live in Canada, a population that is rapidly growing, as the Amish do not generally use birth control. Amish church groups seek to maintain a degree of separation from the non-Amish world. Non-Amish people are generally referred to as "English". The largest groups were located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas, and others were found in Wisconsin, Maine, Missouri, and Minnesota. Their settlements are divided into church districts, autonomous congregations of about 75 baptized members. If the district becomes much larger, it is again divided, because members meet in each other’s homes. There are no church buildings. Each district has a bishop, two to four preachers, and an elder. Beliefs and way of life: Two key concepts for understanding Amish practices are their rejection of Hochmut (pride, arrogance, haughtiness) and the high value they place on Demut (humility) and Gelassenheit (calmness, composure, placidity), often translated as "submission" or "letting-be". Gelassenheit is perhaps better understood as a reluctance to be forward, to be self-promoting, or to assert oneself. The Amish's willingness to submit to the "Will of Jesus", expressed through group norms, is at odds with the individualism so central to the wider American culture. The Amish anti-individualist orientation is the motive for rejecting labour-saving technologies that might make one less dependent on the community. Modern innovations such as electricity might spark a competition for status goods, or photographs might cultivate personal vanity. Humility, family, community, and separation from the world are the mainstays of the Amish. Everyday life and custom are governed by an unwritten code of behaviour called the Ordnung, and shunning (Meidung) remains an integral way in which the community deals with disobedient members. Members who do not conform to these community expectations and who cannot be convinced to repent are excommunicated. In addition to excommunication, members may be shunned, a practice that limits social contacts to shame the wayward member into returning to the church. Amish lifestyle is regulated by the Ordnung (rules), which differs slightly from community to community and from district to district within a community. What is acceptable in one community may not be acceptable in another. The Ordnung is agreed upon or changed within the whole community of baptized members prior to Communion which takes place two times a year. The Ordnung include matters such as dress, permissible uses of technology, religious duties, and rules regarding interaction with outsiders. In these meetings, women also vote on questions concerning the Ordnung. Religious practices: In formal religious doctrine, the Amish differ little from the Mennonites. Holy communion is celebrated twice each year, and foot washing is practiced by both groups. Amish church membership begins with baptism, usually between the ages of 16 and 23. It is a requirement for marriage within the Amish church. Once a person is baptized within the church, he or she may marry only within the faith. Church districts have between 20 and 40 families and worship services are held every other Sunday in a member's home or barn. The district is led by a bishop and several ministers and deacons
