Filly
KICKING AND SHINING
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2007
- Messages
- 20,531
- Reaction score
- 18,117
The Amish are not isolated.
I don't know why this perception keeps being stated.
They live in communities that are integrated with non Amish. They shop the same stores, own businesses, employed at businesses, run and attend public auctions of livestock and produce on weekly or daily basis. On a street there could be an Amish household, then a Baptist, then another Amish, then a Lutheran and on and on.
They mingle, talk, shop, help others just like the rest of us. How hard is this to understand? They have their own church practices as do other denominations of Christians. Again, no more isolated than a devout Episcopalian or Methodist.
I see little Amish children walking down the side of the road for great distances with no adult.
Panglossian I'll take responsibility for that word "isolation". No, the Amish are not physically isolated. Mostly because of economics. Yes, they do interact outside their confines as you said. I knew of Amish people that rented rides from "outsiders" to get to the store or an appointment. Yes, the word outsider is used. They have control over their interactions. From my own experience people from the Amish community won't readily chat. That's understandable. IMO they operate as separitists. Isolation was the wrong word then, but considering this young lady was raised to most likely not trust those outside of the community I'm thinking the poor girl felt real isolated. It's difficult enough to divulge that you are sexually abused, and then by your own father let alone being taught to keep your business in your own community. Again, I used the word isolation. It's not too difficult to understand, but you can auction and shop and sell produce and work with other people but still be isolated through controlled interaction. Just not physically.