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The Impact Of Persecution On Amish Culture - Online Term Paper

The Impact Of Persecution On Amish Culture

The Amish belief system is based on a very literal interpretation of the Bible, which has frequently brought them into conflict with mainstream society. This is especially true in the case of the principle of non-resistance to violence, based on the verse "whoever hits you on one cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt from him either" (Luke, 6:29). Actually, it has caused antipathy from the beginnings of Amish society in the 16th century (Karybill 4). On the other hand, the Amish interpretation of this specific verse has contributed a great deal to the survival of the Amish culture to the present day, despite all the problems that ...

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nor even life with physical resistance. Death was no real threat for them. They think this life is just preparation for the afterlife (Hostetler 189), and so their only response to persecution is and always has been avoidance. They moved away, and tried to escape the authorities by all possible non-violent means. If they were caught, however, they accepted their "God-given" destiny with passivity.
But instead of destroying the Amish, these persecutions shaped the Amish culture and gave rise to the traditions that persisted associated though time. Being persecuted, the Amish were forced to meet in private houses. They met at one of their houses to worship and, in order to avoid disclosure, they took turns hosting the services. This was the beginning of the house church (Kraybill). It originated as a necessity because they had to stay "undercover," but soon became a tradition that distinguished the Amish from other Christian groups.
The persecutions also were the reason for the ...

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The Impact Of Persecution On Amish Culture. (2007, January 13). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Impact-Of-Persecution-Amish-Culture/58641

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 1/13/2007 03:25:07 PM
Category: Social Issues
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 944
Pages: 4

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