Amish Community Practices: Leaving and Shunnin

Understanding the Amish Community Structure

The Amish community, known for its close-knit rural lifestyle and adherence to strict religious principles, operates within a framework that values tradition and community interdependence. Key practices such as baptism, community conformity, and decision-making processes are critical to maintaining the fabric of their society. When an individual decides to leave the Amish community, the legal and cultural implications can vary based on several factors.

Significance of Baptism in the Amish Community

In the Amish faith, membership is not granted at birth but through a process of baptism as an adult. This decision is a significant life event that binds one to the community's communal and religious practices. Those who are baptized are fully committed to the Amish way of life, including following its strict rules and rituals.

Amish people do not automatically become part of the community through birth. They must choose to join and then adhere to the community's expectations, such as participating in church services, rituals, and following the community's rules. This process is not predetermined by age or gender but is a choice made consciously by the individual.

Leaving the Amish Community Without Baptism

The situation for individuals who leave the Amish community without having been baptized is relatively straightforward. If an older child or an adult leaves the community without having been formally baptized, they are not subject to shunning. This is because membership and adherence are not part of their life choices. The community typically respects their decision and does not impose any exclusionary measures.

It is not uncommon for Amish teenagers and young adults to leave for a period of time to experience the outside world. Deciding whether to return and undergo baptism or to leave permanently often comes down to personal reflection and the individual's spiritual journey. Leaving without baptism signifies a temporary or permanent departure from the community’s lifestyle, rather than a violation of specific religious rules.

Shunning: A Cultural Norm for Baptized Members

Shunning, or Aussassin in Amish terminology, is a formal practice within the Amish community. It is implemented for those who have undergone baptism and then violate the community's rules. This can include actions as varied as changing one's religious beliefs or becoming excessively involved with the modern world. Once shunning is invoked, the community purposefully avoids contact with the individual as a form of corrective discipline.

Shunning is a serious and deliberate act, often only applied to members who are committed to the Amish faith and have breached specific community rules. The practice reflects the community's commitment to preserve its integrity and adherence to religious and community standards.

A Real-life Example: The Shunning Experience

The case of my grandmother provides a firsthand account of the shunning experience. My grandmother was not baptized and left the Amish community to marry my Mennonite grandfather. Despite this, she faced some social challenges. During a task of canning with her Amish brothers' wife, her sister-in-law insisted that she sit at a small table facing the wall due to her non-Amish status—which was a problematic and disrespectful behavior. My grandmother's anger was palpable, and her brother made no effort to reconcile the situation.

The next day, her brother contacted her to discuss her involvement in the tasks. Both of these instances highlight the tension that can arise when an unbaptized person is present in community activities, even though shunning was not applicable to her situation. Her anger, which was communicated in a way that would have been even more intense in another context, illustrates how such situations can test community relationships.

Conclusion and Reflection

Understanding the nuances of Amish practices, such as the significance of baptism and the practice of shunning, is crucial for outsiders seeking to understand and respect this community's way of life. The differences in treatment between those who have not been baptized and those who have provides insight into the strictness and complexity of Amish community rules.

The personal stories and experiences shared here illustrate the human aspect of these practices and the emotional and social implications they have. While shunning is reserved for those who have committed to a life within the Amish community, it is a powerful demonstration of the community's commitment to its values and rules.