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I have read something like 85% choose to join church and stay "Amish". I have lived in two Amish communities and I'd say that figure sounds correct. Some families have high retention rates, other families seem to go English.
Yes, non-Amish can go to Amish church. They will probably ignore you though.
Family is the core element in the Amish Church.
Rumspringa
yes, in kent there are 4-5 Amish families. one county has 3-4 Amish families and 3 counties have one Amish family
Go into an Amish store and they might have one.
It is called shunning.
Amish who enter business try to retain Amish family values by working at home and selling products from home
Amish Out of Order - 2012 Family Affairs 1-9 was released on: USA: 5 June 2012
Yes, they do swim. I am not Amish, but know an Amish family in Penn. who have a pond on their farm with a dock and diving board that they swim in in the summertime. ****** I am currently staying at a Comfort Inn in Goshen, IN (near Shipshewana). Just saw an Amish family swimming in the hotel's pool. They wore regular bathing suits, although the colors were black and subdued.
There is no cut and dry answer to this question, both genders are compelled not to seek mates outside their faith, especially outsider English people in fear they will leave their Amish society. You can only date as Amish person another baptized member, to be baptized is to make a verbal contract obligation to the community and Amish society to stay. But do Amish woman and men date outsiders, yes, mostly in secrete. If it is known that the Amish person is dating a outsider, everything will be factor in letting such Amish person continue, from the desire the outsider interested in joining, to the Amish persons parents, but the greatest determination factor will come down from highest elder in the community. If a Amish person regardless of their age, does something like date a outsider, against the denial the elder, they first will be shunned and if it continues excommunicated with nothing and no family ties.
Breaking Amish LA - 2013 Family Secrets 1-1 was released on: USA: 21 July 2013