- The various Amish or Amish Mennonite church fellowships are Christian religious denominations that form a very traditional subgrouping of Mennonite churches.
- In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites emigrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons.
- Today, the most traditional descendants of the Amish continue to speak Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch.
- The Amish frequently refer to themselves as plain. The Plain People, as they're often called, believe that dressing in anything other than plain modest clothing is prideful, and pride is a sin.
- Amish church membership begins with baptism, usually between the ages of 16 and 25.
- The Amish people are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt modern convenience.
- As Anabaptists, Amish church members practice nonresistance and will not perform any type of military service.
- Amish church groups seek to maintain a degree of separation from the non-Amish world.
- More than 90 percent will remain in the Amish community for life.
- Due to intermarriage, or inbreeding, among this relatively small original population, some groups have increased incidences of certain inheritable conditions.
- The Amish people are among the fastest-growing populations in the world, with an average of 6.8 children per family.
- Televisions and computers are completely disallowed by the Old Order Amish, but in some New Order Amish communities are allowed for business purposes.
Amish people fast facts
