Considering it a violation of the Second Commandment, which prohibits the making of "graven images," the Amish believe any physical representation of themselves (whether a photograph, a painting, or film) promotes individualism and vanity, taking away from the values of community and humility by which they govern their ...
It's actually NOT against an Amish person's religion to be photographed. The Amish religion does, however, prohibit POSING for photographs. The Amish community is known for their strong beliefs and traditions, one of which is their refusal to pose for photographs.
While the Amish do not take pictures of themselves, they do use mirrors. The use of a mirror is allowed because unlike a picture, it is not a graven image. Women use mirrors to do their hair and men use mirrors to shave. If you take our guided farmhouse tour, you'll spot a few mirrors in the house.
As part of their Ordnung, Old Order Amish forbid owning automobiles; tapping electricity from public utility lines; owning televisions, radios, or personal computers; attending high school or college; joining the military; and initiating divorce. All Amish groups expect men and women to wear prescribed clothing.
Amish beliefs are notable for a commitment to humility, harmony, and community. To preserve these values the community turns away from individualism and pride as threats to their community. To that end, the Amish do not look at themselves in mirrors or take photos, since these activities can encourage pride.
Amish women's dresses are generally made from generous amounts of fabric so that they don't emphasize the woman's figure, and fully or nearly-fully cover legs. The white or black head covering Amish females wear is known as a kapp or prayer covering.
Considering it a violation of the Second Commandment, which prohibits the making of "graven images," the Amish believe any physical representation of themselves (whether a photograph, a painting, or film) promotes individualism and vanity, taking away from the values of community and humility by which they govern their ...
All types of birth control, and also all forms of natural family planning such as calendar-based methods, are forbidden in Old-Order Amish communities. However, especially in recent years, more Amish women have begun using contraception.
Feminine Hygiene
Female Amish wash their hair and wear it in a bun. As for makeup, Amish women aren't allowed to wear cosmetics or adornments considered worldly. This includes lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, and jewelry.
Instead, they drive horse drawn buggies, a common sight in Lancaster County. For shorter distances, they may use scooters, but bicycles are also banned. It is believed that cars and bicycles move too quickly over long distances, therefore connecting the Amish to the outside world.
One of the most popular hobbies among Amish females is quilting. In fact, many grandmothers, mothers, and daughters love to spend time together practicing their craft.
The Amish consider curtains to be decoration and don't decorate any portion of their homes, but we did notice that they appear to have simple blinds at the window. When we looked into it further we found that they did often have green blinds, made themselves, from natural materials.
Conclusion. So the Amish do bathe using soap and water just like the rest of us, even if they're sometimes a bit more old-fashioned about it. It's both a reminder of the importance of tradition and history to the Amish and that they aren't as different from us in some basic human ways as we might think.
There are many restrictions on technology that are more or less universal among the Old Order Amish, as the ban on cars as well as the ban on radio, television and in most cases the use of the internet, see above.
Out of respect for their privacy, it is best to avoid approaching the Amish unless they appear open to company. They are just like you and don't really appreciate strangers knocking at their door. When you do have a need to approach a group of Amish, it is polite to speak to a male, if possible.
Even though leaving the Amish community is technically not allowed, it does happen. The Amish's freedom of choice allows members to leave at any time. People who leave after joining the church are excommunicated and shunned, while those who leave before joining the church aren't.
However, in addition to the modesty aspect, women must keep their heads covered at all times so that they can pray at any time. Both modesty and prayer are central to the daily lives of Amish people and for women, wearing head coverings and bonnets is an important part of that.
The practice of wearing Amish bonnets or head coverings is stated explicitly in 1 Corinthians 11. It strongly suggests that men should keep their heads uncovered during prayer and prophesying, while women should wear head coverings at all times, especially during prayers.
Buttons are frowned upon because of their potential for ostentation, and such things as Velcro and zippers are banned. Instead, clothes are fastened by pins or hook-and-eye closures.
Do Amish shave their legs and armpits? The Ordnung (set of community rules) forbids women from shaving. What's more, because the Amish interpretation of the New Testament considers cutting hair a shameful act (1 Corinthians 11:5-15), women don't cut or shave any hair on their bodies.
Amish Beard Rules Were Among the First Amish Laws
He believed that, because God designed man to grow a beard, it was God's Will that man grow a beard. And therefore, shaving it off was a sin. But the Amish are not alone in their reverence for the beard.
The decision to marry a person outside of the Amish church is one that comes with a decision to be made by the person in the community, but before they are baptized by the church. If they choose to be baptized, than the non-Amish person would have consider joining the Amish church.
The reason Amish women don't cut their hair is more than just aesthetic preference. It's rooted in Christian scripture, specifically the words of St. Paul in I Corinthians 11:15 which states “but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory”.
According to Amish America, the primary reason why many Amish have their teeth removed and replaced by dentures early on in adulthood is because of the long-term cost of visiting the dentist. These visits would occur because, as a whole, Amish may have more risks relating to their dental health.
Because many Amish people don't or can't seek out modern dental care, dental problems are often an issue in Amish communities—often leading to pulled teeth and, in extreme cases, dentures.