Devil’s Playground: The Amish
Devil’s Playground: The Amish
The Amish is a small group of individuals that belong to the Amish church. They believe that baptism ceremonies for children are wrong. They believe that children should be allowed to grow to adulthood where they can decide whether to be baptized or not. Due to persistent persecution, the Amish population migrated to US by 1860. The Amish have mingled with the western cultures for decades. They live side by side with the western culture. However, the Amish have maintained their culture to date. This paper is an organizational analysis of the Amish with reference to the documentary Devil’s Playground.
The Life Cycle of the Amish
The Amish way of life stipulates that God is the most important being in a man’s life. This ideology is implanted in a child life from birth. Christianity forms the basis of the lifestyle and upbringing of the Amish children. The second important individual according to the culture of the Amish is the parent. The Amish expect their children to respect them, and an occurrence of disobedience is unacceptable. The Amish live a secluded lifestyle and strive to have no contact with the outside life. The Amish do not have the modern form of communication. They do not have televisions, radio or the internet. Children are expected to adhere to the rules and conditions of the Amish until they turn sixteen.
At sixteen, an Amish teenager gets an opportunity to explore the western world. This period is known as the Rumspringa. The Amish teenager is granted the autonomy to make his own choices. This is with regards to upholding the Amish culture or exploring the western culture (Hulu.com. 2002). The western culture is viewed to introduce an Amish teenager to alcohol, dating, western fashion, watching television etc. Rumspringa is considered a self-seeking journey in which an individual determines whether to join Amish church or not. This period can be short for those who are quick to make up their minds. However, it can take years for those that are undecided and still curious about the western lifestyle.
Believes of the Amish
The Amish people have numerous believes that they rely on to guide their lifestyles. First, they believe in upholding their traditions. The Amish believe that their fore father upheld the traditions and live according to God’s will. The current Amish society should also strive to live by the traditions the found as it is God’s will. The Amish believe that men are the head of household. They are the bread winners and decision makers. The women, on the other hand, are the weaker sex. Their main responsibility is child bearing and home care.
The Amish believe that one should have as many children as possible; children according to the Amish culture are a blessing from god. The Amish also believe that man should not strive to make life too easy (Hulu.com. 2002). This means that man should deprive himself off life pleasures and material things. The material things such as electricity, western clothes, and jewelry are vanity and are not geared towards accomplishing God’s will. The Amish also believe in working and keeping oneself busy as an idle mind creates room for evil thoughts and actions.
The Cultural Differences in Amish and English Societies
The cultural differences between Amish and English communities are evident. The Amish prefer to live a secluded lifestyle; they choose not to interact with other cultures. The English societies are social. They interact with other cultures with ease. Individuals in the western culture also do not mind adopting new cultures and lifestyle. Some individuals of the English society believe that the culture of the Amish is unrealistic and does not fit in the real 21st century.
English society allows their children to enjoy the world. The English child is introduced to activities such as parties, driving automobiles, television and technology from an early age. English children are free to choose the lifestyle they want without question. This is different from the Amish culture in which children live under the rules and guidance of the Amish culture. Interaction with the English society is not allowed until one is 16 years. Activities such as parties, driving automobiles, television and technology are viewed as material things that are the cause of evil.
Cultural differences between the Amish and English societies are also evident in religion. Christianity is a religion that is common in the Amish and the English culture. However, in the Amish culture a child is not to make a choice on whether to follow Jesus Christ or not. The decision to follow Jesus Christ or not is an individual choice. The Amish believe that only from 16years that an individual can make the choice and be held accountable for the choice that he makes. In English societies, a child brought up in Christianity is free to make the decision to follow Jesus Christ at any age.
The Amish pay little emphasis to education. They believe that education beyond 8thgrade leads to pride and arrogant behavior. The Amish, therefore, teach their children in one roomed Amish schools up to 13years. They then join the work force by seeking employment. The English societies, on the other hand, value education. Children study from kindergarten to college before joining the workforce. In English societies, only mature adults join the workforce.
The Ethical Dimensions Facing the Amish Children
When an Amish child reaches 16 years, he is faced with the dilemma of making a life changing decision. The adolescent decides whether to join the Amish church. If he decides to join the church, he makes a public declaration to the community and before God to wholly join the church. Joining the church is lifelong choice that the individual cannot change. The individual promises to adhere to the teaching and the rules of the Amish church for the rest of his life. This is permanent decision that the individual cannot change his mind on in the future. Those that join the church and later choose to leave face excommunication and shun from the Amish society. This life changing scenario leaves the individual in a sort of dilemma.
On one hand, he can opt to live like his parents and the Amish community. On the other hand, he has a choice to adopt the English culture and be in a position to make his own choice. The western lifestyle gives an individual a sense of freedom compared to the Amish lifestyle. In the western culture, an individual gets an opportunity to make personal choices (Hulu.com. 2002). An individual chooses his dressing and lifestyle. This degree of freedom is limited in Amish culture. When it comes to life aspects such as marriage, an Amish man is expected to pick a wife from the Amish community.
At the age of 16, the Amish teenager is given an opportunity to explore the western world. They mingle with the English children; engage in the western lifestyle such as dressing, alcohol etc. However, this period is the self seeking period and the teenager is expected to make a choice. He or she must make a choice between joining the Amish church and abandoning it. During the period of Rumspringa, the adolescent enjoys the western culture. If s/he decides to join the Amish church, it is expected that he drops the western habits acquired and abide by the rules of the church. An adolescent may thus desire to join the Amish church but is unable to shun the western lifestyle that he experienced. The cultural differences between the two cultures are evident as the youths embark on new world (Hulu.com. 2002).
Conclusion
The documentary devils playground discusses the culture of the Amish people. The discussion focuses on the lives on Amish youth and their exposure to the English society at the age of 16. The life cycle of the Amish is strict, and their belief in god is strong. The Amish believe that God is the most important power in society; the second is the parents. At 16years of age, an Amish youth undergoes a life changing journey known as Rumspringa. The youth enjoys the English culture. However, this is the period where the youth makes a decision to join the Amish church or be banished. Overall, the Amish remain among the few communities that have managed to live in seclusion without the influence of the western lifestyle.
Reference
Hulu.com. (2002). Devils Playground. Retrieved http://www.hulu.com/watch/359598
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