Professor debunks myths about Amish society
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - In our fast pace society, it's hard to slow down and imagine how a very traditional group can not only survive but thrive.
Donald Kraybill, Professor of Sociology at Elizabethtown College, and one of the country's foremost scholars on Amish society spoke at Westminster College Thursday night.
He explained, "The fact of the matter, across North America and in Ohio and in Pennsylvania, the Amish are doubling every 20 years."
That's in part because Amish families average 7 to 8 children, and despite the illusion some television shows give, at least 85% of the young adults choose to join the church.
"A lot of people think the Amish brainwash their children and they don't stay Amish, the fact of the matter is the young children, young adults have a choice," said Kraybill.
And what about technology? Many believe the Amish shun modern-day conveniences, yet they're seen using it, like when Amish women are "taxied" around in vans.
"Confuses a lot of outsiders who would say, 'Well, they're hypocrites or they are inconsistent'. But the fact of the matter is from a sociological perspective, it's a really smart tactic," said Kraybill.
A tactic that allows them to benefit from modern day progress, without letting it affect their values.
"They try to evaluate each item of technology to see is this going to harm our community. For example the car, they would say, 'Well, if we were to own cars that would fragment the community, it would pull the community apart'," explained Kraybill.
Another popular myth is that the Amish don't vote or pay taxes. Both are false. They pay all taxes with the exception of social security.
"So, they don't pay into it, they also don't tap it's benefits," said Kraybill.
Although, the Amish lifestyle may at times seem far away from us, there are lessons that can be learned. Like the importance of community, hard work and family.
Donald Kraybill has been involved in writing more than a dozen books on Amish Culture. He also served as an expert witness in the trial following a series of Amish on Amish beard cutting attacks, that gained national attention.
His most recent book talks more about those attacks and is now available. It's called "Renegade Amish: Beard Cutting, Hate Crimes, and the Trial of the Bergholz Barbers."
