Amish population growing steadily
Categories: In the news
They may seem old-fashioned with their overalls, straw hats, and long dresses, but the technology-avoiding Amish are managing to succeed quite well living an antiquated lifestyle in a modern world. A recent study found the Amish population has grown 4% a year since 1992, blossoming from 125,000 then to 231,000 today. Interestingly, the group hasn't built its numbers by recruiting outsiders, but instead by all but banning them. Amish are required to marry within their religion, and can be excommunicated if they marry someone from outside the community. Researchers attribute their population growth to large families -- many couples have 5 to 6 children -- and better health care, which means longer life spans and lower infant mortality.
Not knowing much about the Amish, I did a little digging. Though they don't allow themselves to hook up to electrical lines, they aren't completely cut off from the modern world. For instance, the Amish are not forbidden from seeking health care, and many Amish women have their children in modern hospitals.
Teenagers go through a period of rumspringa, or running around. It's kind of like the Amish version of rolling their eyes at adolescence -- a little misbehavior is expected. (Though according to this NPR report, rumspringa can often go far beyond "misbehavior.") When teens reach the ages of 18 to 21, they can choose to be baptized, or to leave the community for good. Though it may seem surprising, 85 to 90 percent of teens decide to stay, marry, and raise a family, contributing to this group's rising population.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ginny Rhoads 8-23-2008 @ 12:50PM
I just got back from Hershey, Pa. While I was there I had the great opportunity to go on a tour to visit Amish Country and found them to be very loving and a very spiritual people.
On the tour and we had the pleasure of being allowed to visit two farms. We were able to visit their grounds at one and shop at their gift shop, which is located on their property. Then we were served lunch in the home of another family.
They are a very close knit community and rely on each other. They are self insured, which means if someone needs help monetarily and/or physically they all pitch in to help.
I observed that they have been modernized somewhat. i.e. that Instead of being hooked up to the city electriciy they use gas generators to provide their electricity. I noted that some were allowed the modern luxery of a telephone, fax machines,etc., because they are having to open themselves up by selling their goods, ie. quilts, milk crops, etc to the "english" (which they call all of us who are not Amish) in order to survive in our modern world.
I had a very beautiful experience seeing their culture and I would recommend anyone wanting to know more about them, to make a point when you are in Pa to book a tour of the area.
Many times we judge what we don't understand. I felt it was a very positive and interesting day.
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