Located in the heart of Amish Country, Sugarcreek, Ohio is one of the most popular destinations for tourists. Known for its horse-drawn carriage rides, seasonal events and authentic Amish food, this Amish town offers a true escape from the everyday.
The amish town are a religious sect of Protestantism that follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. They are known for their dedication to humility, harmony and community. This faith carries through to their daily lives in many ways, including their dress, use of technology and education.
In America, Amish communities have evolved over time to adapt to the modern world while still maintaining their traditional values. In addition to their religious beliefs, the Amish also have cultural distinctions that make them unique from other groups of Anabaptist Christians.
Step into the Past: Exploring Life in an Amish Town
According to Don Kraybill, an author and professor at Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, the Amish are a separate culture with distinct practices in religion, language, social customs and culture. Although they may have similar Anabaptist beliefs such as pacifism and adult baptism, they are distinguished by their rejection of the use of electricity, cars and machinery. They rely on horses and mules to plow their fields, travel in buggies and milk dairy cows by hand.
The Amish are often separated into different factions based on their interpretation of the Bible and the way they believe the world was created. For example, the Old Order Amish adhere to stricter rules, such as no deodorant or make up and women must have their hair covered. Other more modern Amish, such as the Egly Amish and the Stuckey Amish, have more lenient rules and allow their children to attend public school through the eighth grade.