Types of Amish
The North American Amish trace their origins to the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland in the 16th century during the Protestant Reformation. Part of the Christian church, the Amish value simplicity, community, separation from the world, the authority of the local church over the life of its members, separation of church and state, pacifism and lay leadership. Amish people maintain widely varied practices among more than two dozen affiliations.
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Four Major Orders
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By some estimates, as many as seven orders of Amish exist, but most agree on four major orders: Beachy Amish, Amish Mennonites, New Order Amish and Old Order Amish. The Beachy Amish and Amish Mennonites own automobiles and use public utility electricity. The Old Order and New Order Amish groups use horse-and-buggy transportation and do not use public utility electricity.
Different Affiliations
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Within each Amish order are a number of affiliations, or groups that follow similar guidelines for living. Each has its own standards regarding clothing, carriages, occupations and technology. Some affiliations are more conservative -- the Nebraska Amish, for example -- while others are more progressive such as the New Order Amish.
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Amish not Mennonites
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Many people confuse the Amish with Mennonites. Although the two groups share 16th century Europe Anabaptist origins, they differ in how they conduct daily life. While the Amish generally favor minimal technology and plain dress, most modern Mennonites do not differ in outward appearance from the majority of North Americans. They express their belief in simple living through a spirit of stewardship and attention to the needs of others rather than by separating from society.
Growing Population
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The population of Amish people has doubled in the past two decades, largely owing to a combination of high retention rates (roughly 85 percent of Amish children eventually join the church) and large family sizes (average five children per family). Meanwhile, despite the fact that the Amish do not proselytize, outsiders do join the church from time to time, further inflating its numbers.
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