Thursday, September 11, 2025

It is the 11th of September 2025. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

It’s mailbag week- I’m somewhere in Germany.

This one reads quite succinctly:

“Hello!

Long time listener, first time caller. I was wondering if you could help breakdown what exactly the Amish believe and how they've persisted for so long. 

Thank you,

Matthew M. in Westfield, Indiana”

He tells me that he’s from “Terra Haute,” which is what WKRP in Cincinnati has taught us about pronunciation.

Westfield, home to Joey Chestnut, the competitive eater- you must all be so proud. Westfield was settled by Quakers, and there’s an Amish connection there as they both come out of the “Radical Reformation”- that is, neither Lutheran nor Reformed; these are the groups that didn’t have state or government backing and so often found themselves on the run. Like the Pietists, they met in small groups that were often outlawed.

We can narrow the Amish down into the “Anabaptist” group- so those that “rebaptized” or held that infant baptism wasn’t valid and thus did a second baptism. And furthermore, they came out of the “Mennonite” movement within that- the pacifist group led by Menno Simmons.

The Amish are called thus because they are the Anabaptist, Mennonite followers of Jakob Ammann, a Swiss pastor who led a schism amongst some Swiss and German Mennonites in 1693 and took on his name- the followers of Ammann, later “Amish”. They came to America in the 17 and 1800s, many landing in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The theological reasons for division from the other Mennonites came down to Ammann’s increasingly “anti-worldly” teachings. Not only were they not to wear fancy clothes or cut their beards, but they were also to shun anyone who left the group.

Later came the practice of the yearly “Ordnung” or community rules, which would be read at one of the two yearly foot washing and communion services. It is from these that we get various rules about the use of technology- each group, supposed to be 150 or so, will decide what and when they can use. Some are stricter than others, some use limited technology, while some try to use none at all. Once a group, like the Beachy Amish, begins to use automobiles, they tend to be classified as something else. You might see the Amish then referred to generally as “horse and buggy” Amish.

Along with the Bible, the Dordrecht Confession of Faith, and a collection of Marty’s stories, they hold to a general creed of faith, family, community, and simplicity, which almost reads like a sign out of Hobby Lobby.

They hold generally standard Christian beliefs regarding God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but people asking about the Amish rarely wonder if they are some kind of Arians… they want to know about the horses and buggies and no electricity and the like. Maybe, like me, they saw Kingpin with Woody Harrelson and got some of the stereotypes. As far as movies go, I do recommend the documentary “The Devil’s Playground” which follows some Amish on their “Rumspringa”, this is a rite of passage where they are allowed to join outside groups and have rules relaxed during a part of adolescence when they have to decide whether or not to stay in the community. Practices vary, and it’s not all like in the doc, but it gives you a picture.

Matt wondered about how they’ve been able to survive, and I think there are two main answers. First is the Rumspringa. One study suggests an 85% retention in the church of those who do practice the period of “worldliness”. I would have a hard time making an argument as to why we should, but it does seem helpful, at least for those who can say, “I’ve been out of the group and I prefer it in the group,” instead of fantasizing about “out there” and then perhaps drifting in that direction.

A study in 2022 counted some 370,000 Amish in North America today, and the same study suggests that the Amish population doubles every twenty years. This takes the place of evangelizing, as they tend not to get outsiders unless one is a former bowling champion who joins in order to get a young Amish bowling phenom played by Dennis Quaid… wait.. that’s Kingpin…

Matt in Westfield, thank you for the email- super to the point and hopefully you got a better picture of our horse and buggy brethren.

You can send me your questions at Danv@1517.org.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and Psalm 14:

The fool] says in his heart,
    “There is no God.

”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;

    there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven

    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,

    any who seek God.

All have turned away, all have become corrupt;

    there is no one who does good,

    not even one.

Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;

    they never call on the Lord.

But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,

    for God is present in the company of the righteous.

You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,

    but the Lord is their refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

    When the Lord restores his people,

    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 11th of September 2025, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man some have suggested looks a little amish, but others suggest is on a permanent Rumspringa… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who is not a professional competitive eater but is opting competing with my waist… you know what I mean… I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.