The Amish Struggle with Modernity

Book Overview

A distinctive American subculture responds to the forces of social change.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874516846
• ISBN13: 9780874516845
• Release Date: September 1994
• Publisher: University Press of New England
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A great look at a fascinating group

This fascinating text was written to explore various facets of Amish culture and how these help and/or hinder the existence of this group of the modern world. There are two main authors, Kraybill and Olshan, however this book is a collection of essays about different topics. These articles are carefully organized to build the reader a base of Amish culture and then introduce some of the major conflicts within their society. It is concluded by theoretical pieces summarizing the effects of the issues already explored. Although this book is comprised of separate works, it is clear that three basic questions are approached in the course of reading the collection. The first question is dealing with the what and the why. It discusses the premises and doctrines of Amish religion and why the people hold these beliefs. The most basic core of the belief structure is simply the Bible and their practices all stem from their interpretation of that. The book delves into those interpretations with such items as the appropriate usage of telephones, the dangers of pneumatic tires, and sources of approved energy. The second aspect dealt with in depth is the outside world's reaction to them. Once again we get a vast array of information from the tourist who reserves a special Amish cooked meal to the feminist who critiques the submission of Amish women. More importantly the unfair stigmas we put on these people are brought out into the open, even the most seemingly harmless are questioned. Finally, as the title tells, the struggle is related in the best detail possible without getting overly exhaustive and without being Amish oneself. The struggles entailed in the life of the Amish are due to the pressures of living within a "progressive" nation. Amish have been forced to recreate boundaries in practices when the education, economic security and organization of their commune are threatened by modernity.