|
Post by Get off of TMB on Nov 30, 2018 18:11:49 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by xna on Nov 30, 2018 19:57:28 GMT -5
A story of hope. Good for her! I wish they would have went into her present god belief if any, and how she now deals with that. I guess I will need to buy the book. I too grew up on a farm with outdoor plumbing and lots of hard labor, it was a life as hard as any Amish. I grew up next to the Amish and we lived close to how they lived. I learned how to live off the land with no need of a Walmart. However, within a few years of leaving home I was living a very modern life and traveling the world. I have lived in about four technology lifestyle generations of the normal person. The way I grew up was like most modern people's grandfather's. The good part is if WW III breaks out I can still feed and build shelter for myself, make my own clothes, soap, etc. The lifestyle transition part was easy, but I suspect leaving the childhood god belief indoctrinations behind will be the hard part for her. Yet today with the ease of getting information and joining like support groups on the internet it will be easier for her generation. amishamerica.com/ex-amish/www.facebook.com/groups/examishexmennonites/
|
|
|
Post by BobWilliston on Nov 30, 2018 20:35:01 GMT -5
A story of hope. Good for her! I wish they would have went into her present god belief if any, and how she now deals with that. I guess I will need to buy the book. I too grew up on a farm with outdoor plumbing and lots of hard labor, it was a life as hard as any Amish. I grew up next to the Amish and we lived close to how they lived. I learned how to live off the land with no need of a Walmart. However, within a few years of leaving home I was living a very modern life and traveling the world. I have lived in about four technology lifestyle generations of the normal person. The way I grew up was like most modern people's grandfather's. The good part is if WW III breaks out I can still feed and build shelter for myself, make my own clothes, soap, etc. The lifestyle transition part was easy, but I suspect leaving the childhood god belief indoctrinations behind will be the hard part for her. Yet today with the ease of getting information and joining like support groups on the internet it will be easier for her generation. amishamerica.com/ex-amish/www.facebook.com/groups/examishexmennonites/Very well put.
|
|
|
Post by Get off of TMB on Dec 1, 2018 10:37:52 GMT -5
Some like the simplicity and structure of the group. But spiritual leaders often get full of themselves and try to control people. And beat people into a sense of shame and guilt for not being willing. Some like communal living feeling that being around other separated people keeps them from being away from worldings.
But if you can't handle the free will that God's gives you, you really don't know how you would act away from the protective walls of the commune. The ability to be out in the world -without becoming influenced by the world proves that the Holy Spirit and not group pressure is at work.
|
|
|
Post by snow on Dec 1, 2018 14:34:11 GMT -5
A story of hope. Good for her! I wish they would have went into her present god belief if any, and how she now deals with that. I guess I will need to buy the book. I too grew up on a farm with outdoor plumbing and lots of hard labor, it was a life as hard as any Amish. I grew up next to the Amish and we lived close to how they lived. I learned how to live off the land with no need of a Walmart. However, within a few years of leaving home I was living a very modern life and traveling the world. I have lived in about four technology lifestyle generations of the normal person. The way I grew up was like most modern people's grandfather's. The good part is if WW III breaks out I can still feed and build shelter for myself, make my own clothes, soap, etc. The lifestyle transition part was easy, but I suspect leaving the childhood god belief indoctrinations behind will be the hard part for her. Yet today with the ease of getting information and joining like support groups on the internet it will be easier for her generation. amishamerica.com/ex-amish/www.facebook.com/groups/examishexmennonites/Modern day Amish go to Walmart. When we were in Ohio in the midst of Amish communities, they actually have covered parking stalls for the horses and carriages. I got a picture of it because it was the last thing I thought I'd ever see.
|
|
|
Post by xna on Dec 1, 2018 14:57:52 GMT -5
Group living arranged around religious beliefs are interesting. The USA has a long history of communes and utopian communities, most of which have died out. I don't know what drives the rise and fall. I also have wondered if some of the more conservative 2x2 might breakaway and form their own commune. The 2x2 in some parts of the country have a more concentrated level of adherence, but I suspect this is the effect of fertility rate and time. When I think about the Amish way of life, I am also reminded of the times I have spent in a Kibbutz. Those in a Kibbutz admire the Amish, and want to know more about them. I find the Amish are mainly concerned about keeping a traditional & separated lifestyle. Those in a Kibbutz also seek a separated lifestyle, but less so than the Amish. Their main aim is to collectively grow an economic advantage to expand their control ie. zionism. Both see their life's mission as to live the way of life god has chosen for them. The Amish model is increasing, but the kibbutz is not. The Amish are experiencing explosive population growth due to a high fertility rate, with about 251,000 Amish people in America and Canada. In contrast the kibbutz population is about 116,200 and has been in decline since 1984 due to a low fertility rate. JMT
|
|
|
Post by xna on Dec 1, 2018 15:01:31 GMT -5
Modern day Amish go to Walmart. When we were in Ohio in the midst of Amish communities, they actually have covered parking stalls for the horses and carriages. I got a picture of it because it was the last thing I thought I'd ever see. Yes I too have seen hitching posts at Walmart and also at McDonalds (but in the west they are not for Amish). I find a lot of variation among individual Amish settlements. Some have no tractors only horses, some have tractors but with steel wheels, others have tractors with rubber tires, and on, and on,...
|
|
|
Post by snow on Dec 2, 2018 12:45:36 GMT -5
Modern day Amish go to Walmart. When we were in Ohio in the midst of Amish communities, they actually have covered parking stalls for the horses and carriages. I got a picture of it because it was the last thing I thought I'd ever see. Yes I too have seen hitching posts at Walmart and also at McDonalds (but in the west they are not for Amish). I find a lot of variation among individual Amish settlements. Some have no tractors only horses, some have tractors but with steel wheels, others have tractors with rubber tires, and on, and on,... Yes I've experienced that too. Some don't even allow the orange danger slow moving vehicle sign. Depends on the bishop in the area and it can vary from one bishops domain to the next that might be right next to each other. I watched then thrashing at one place. That was interesting. Again, it was an electric motor but only allowed because it wasn't on wheels. All the legalistic rules to learn. Somewhat like the 2x2's but imo, worse.
|
|
|
Post by snow on Dec 2, 2018 12:50:41 GMT -5
Group living arranged around religious beliefs are interesting. The USA has a long history of communes and utopian communities, most of which have died out. I don't know what drives the rise and fall. I also have wondered if some of the more conservative 2x2 might breakaway and form their own commune. The 2x2 in some parts of the country have a more concentrated level of adherence, but I suspect this is the effect of fertility rate and time. When I think about the Amish way of life, I am also reminded of the times I have spent in a Kibbutz. Those in a Kibbutz admire the Amish, and want to know more about them. I find the Amish are mainly concerned about keeping a traditional & separated lifestyle. Those in a Kibbutz also seek a separated lifestyle, but less so than the Amish. Their main aim is to collectively grow an economic advantage to expand their control ie. zionism. Both see their life's mission as to live the way of life god has chosen for them. The Amish model is increasing, but the kibbutz is not. The Amish are experiencing explosive population growth due to a high fertility rate, with about 251,000 Amish people in America and Canada. In contrast the kibbutz population is about 116,200 and has been in decline since 1984 due to a low fertility rate. JMT That is why some biblical scholars thought that Mary and Joseph and therefore Jesus were part of the Essenes. Of course Mary couldn't live amongst them but some of the men were allowed to marry and go to their wife at certain times of the year. Which could explain the odd story about Jesus birth. They also had a practice that they had one 'marriage/engagement' period where they were allowed to try for a male child and if the woman did produce a male heir then a second marriage would take place to make the whole thing legitimate. The Essenes were considered quite a pure branch of Judaism and they kept to themselves because they didn't agree with the priests charging for healing they considered was from god. Sounds a bit like what Jesus also believed so I can see where those who think he might have been an Essene got that notion from.
|
|
|
Post by openingact34 on Dec 2, 2018 13:08:26 GMT -5
The incredible sustained success and growth of the Amish prove the "mainstream" Christians and ex-2x2s wrong on 2 key points: 1) Shunning DOES work. It is incredibly effective if applied strictly and impartially 2) You do NOT need to evangelize and recruit new members. If your birth rate and retention rate is high enough, your religion can not only sustain itself, but become the fastest growing religion in America
The 2x2 fellowship should take note. I don't think the solution to the decline is liberalization. They could be much more successful with a return to extreme legalism. The problem is really the corruption and inequity. You can't have wealthy families getting special treatment regarding how their children and dress or what they can participate in.
|
|
|
Post by snow on Dec 2, 2018 13:22:28 GMT -5
The incredible sustained success and growth of the Amish prove the "mainstream" Christians and ex-2x2s wrong on 2 key points: 1) Shunning DOES work. It is incredibly effective if applied strictly and impartially 2) You do NOT need to evangelize and recruit new members. If your birth rate and retention rate is high enough, your religion can not only sustain itself, but become the fastest growing religion in America The 2x2 fellowship should take note. I don't think the solution to the decline is liberalization. They could be much more successful with a return to extreme legalism. The problem is really the corruption and inequity. You can't have wealthy families getting special treatment regarding how their children and dress or what they can participate in. That's the truth. I have seen the inequality of the wealthy families and what they can get away with. If you're going to be legalistic you can't play favorites and hope to retain your membership. It's not worth it for those they aren't favoring.
|
|