Prospects for Change in America’s Amish Community
CHANGE FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT Abstract The Amish community has maintained the integrity of its socio-cultural practices and beliefs for more than 200 years. Today, economic issues and health care problems among a largely in-bred population are causing new problems and exposing the Amish to greater exposure to outside influences. Inexorable change has subtly changed the Amish community, which has nevertheless remained faithful to the founding precepts of the Mennonite order. As core elements of the Amish lifestyle continue to be influenced by mainstream American society, an old way of life will continue to change and be forced ...
