GlitchWizard said:
I got my B.A. from the University of Florida.
Then I decided to get a Teaching Certification from Goshen College.
Goshen College is a Mennonite college.
Imagine my culture shock!
Anyway, based on my limited knowledge, Mennonites can go to school further along - Amish are supposed to stop at 8th grade. Mennonites bathe more often. Amish bathe on Friday nights before church on Saturday. Mennonites can drive cars, but they cannot drink, dance or have premarital sex. SOME Amish practice having sex "behind the barn" with their daughters - so they are ready for marraige to someone else. This MAY be less common than it once was. Mennonites would not do that.
From what I remember, speaking my mind and having an opinion other than the Mennonites was a BAD thing. When I gained too much pregnancy weight and had my wedding band cut off - and was pregnant with no wedding band - I might as well have been Ms. Satan. No one would talk to me.
I remember Mennonites were BIG into music and art teachings for their children, and majorly into helping 3rd world countries - lots of going to other countries - it was required. I doubt Amish travel much past their own villages and to work.
Some Mennonites remove radios from their vehicles, but they do drive. Kids sneak portables in and listen while driving. We ate accross from a couple at the last Yoder Heritage Day we attended in Kansas. I was shocked to hear they went to the Mennonite church nearby in Hutchinson, KS. She was wearing Bermuda shorts and a T Shirt.
Amish do travel. There are a group of Amish from Indiana who always come to Colorado for the draft horse auctions 3 times a year. They bring horses, the women sell crafts and some have their harness for sale. The boys and girls take the horses through the auction ring often. You know you can't resist young girls and these big horses. When it's cold, the young girls wear long pants under their dresses. They hire drivers to take them out or even take the train or a bus. Both the Amish men and women alike have always treated me in a friendly manner. The men will treat an "Englisher" woman the same as an "Englisher" man. I bought 2 paint draft horses and a Standardbred buggy horse from one Amishman at the sale. After I won the bid, I followed the horses back and got a big hug from both the Amishman and his wife.
A lot of the customs and differences between "Old Order" and other groups depend upon the community. Each group is not very large. They worship together every other Sunday in one of the members homes. If the bishop of one group deems it necessary, then that group will be able to farm with tractors. In Yoder it's not uncommon to see tractors pull wagons with the wife behind on a farm wagon, perhaps going to town to shop or do business. They employ answering services. We call a number and then our friend will call us back. They are in business and do need to keep in touch with customers. They do a great deal of business with outsiders.
I was suprised to see an Amishman pull into a gas station in a pickup with a bale of hay on a trailer. It was explained that some do. Some are allowed to drive for their jobs. Our friend has a car parked behind his barn. It actually belongs to his father in law. The older gentleman doesn't want his immediate neighbors to see.
Amish hunt, fish and have family campouts. Teenagers are quite free, believe it or not. They are allowed to meet with other young people of the opposite sex at gatherings where they flirt just like we do. This is a very liberal time for these children. It's not uncommon for them to be driving cars and perhaps even drinking during this period. When they become of age, they make the decision to wholly commit to the life, or not. Also, Amish men do not grow beards until they marry.
This is from personal experience, asking questions and reading.
