All aspects of Amish life are dictated by a list of written or oral rules, known as Ordnung, which outlines the basics of the Amish faith and helps to define what it means to be Amish. For an Amish person, the Ordnung may dictate almost every aspect of one's lifestyle, from dress and hair length to buggy style and farming techniques. The Ordnung varies from community to community and order to order, which explains why you will see some Amish riding in automobiles, while others don't even accept the use of battery-powered lights.
The bishop has final say, but the ordnung is developed through consensus.
The sacred text that the Amish use is the Bible. Those of the Amish faith are Christian. The Amish also have a set of rules governing how they should live their lives, this set of rules is called the Ordnung.
Neither. It's not a state church; no government has given special recognition as a state church. While the Amish qualify as a sect, in that there are established doctrines and rituals, it is not a cult. It's not a new, faddish religion with obsessive adherents. It is, instead, several centuries old. and it is based on belief in the Bible as literally true, something many fundamentalist churches claim to do, although the Amish actually mean it. The Amish do not obsess on their religion, either. They tend to follow the ordnung because it was how they grew up, and do not hesitate to modify the ordnung when appropriate. When the Amish move to an area where there is no local Amish community, they tend to attend Methodist churches, which is another non-obsessive peace church, albeit a mainline one.
Yes, some do, even growing tobacco. I have never have seen one do so, but I have been told so, by the Amish themselves. Remember, each comunity is different and so is Ordnung, some do and some do not.
They are pledged to Christ and his church. They are asked to renounce the devil, as well, and to pledge obedient submission to the ordnung. Adult baptism only, and not normally by submersion.
It is very rare for anyone, of any race, to convert to the Amish faith. It is difficult for an adult to adopt the lifestyle of following the ordnung, and conversion is discouraged, as it is thought that the convert will introduce unacceptable behaviors and thoughts to the congregation. Romans 12:2 is the basis for this belief.
Most Amish don't use technology. They see it as a distraction, and they have other religious views about it. Each Amish community has a sort of "rulebook" called an Ordnung that is different for each community- for example, one community might be allowed to have a telephone for the entire community, and for another it wouldn't be so. Also, a lot (NOT ALL) Amish people don't feel comfortable with associating themselves with non-Amish peoples and/or don't feel a need to explain themselves. Some people were Amish when they were younger, though, and have "converted" to a non-Amish lifestyle, so don't be surprised to see answers from once-Amish people.
In Ordnung - fine, in order, ok.
Amish communities generally have a varied approach to reading newspapers, depending on their beliefs and the specific Ordnung (set of rules) of their community. Some Amish may read local newspapers to stay informed about community events and issues, while others may avoid them due to concerns about worldly influences. In some cases, Amish individuals might read newspapers in a limited context or rely on non-Amish friends or businesses to keep them updated on news. Overall, newspaper readership among the Amish is not uniform and can differ significantly between communities.
The Amish don't believe in motorized machines, they wear plain clothes, women wear dresses and bonnets men wear straw hats also men grow beards but no mustaches, and women never cut their hair.
bist du in Ordnung = are you okay
Ordnung is German for order, good order, tidiness, order (in the sense of sequence). Note also in Ordnung as in Das ist in Ordnung - that is fine, ok, in order.