3. The Beginning
Amish history can be traced to the Anabaptist movement
Emerged in 1693 as a distinguished group among the Anabaptists
Lived along the southern Rhine River, in Switzerland and in the Alsace region of France
Named after their founder, Jacob Amman
The Amish movement started as a reform group within the Mennonite
movement
Amman felt that the Mennonites had drifted away from their original beliefs
and practices
Some Amish went to the United States in the 18th century
Initially settled in Pennsylvania
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and other states
4. What did they change?
Received communion twice a year instead of only once
Prior to receiving communion, believers practiced self-reflection
Reintroduced the practice of foot washing
Shunned those who did not conform
Amman felt that the Mennonites let the practice be disused
Treated shunning very seriously
Required the spouse of the shunned person to neither sleep nor eat with his/her shunned
spouse until he/she repented or changed his/her beliefs
5. How do they view the sacraments?
Generally, in their late teen years and early 20s that Amish youth are
expected to decide if they truly want to join the church
Adult baptism is seen as a lifelong vow that must be taken seriously
Individuals who break this vow face expulsion and shunning from the Amish community
Couples marry for life
Divorces and remarriages never occur
Communion services are held each spring and fall
Emphasizes self-examination and self rejuvenation
Sins are confessed
Vows are renewed
6. How do they worship?
A bible reading followed by an hour-long main sermon embodies the values
of humility and submission.
Preachers begin with a biblical blessing, then confess their unworthiness to preach
Following the main sermon, many ordained men offer testimony
Entire service takes about three hours
After the service, the community eats a meal prepared by the women of the
community
7. Vehicles: With very few
exceptions, Old Order Amish
congregations do not allow the
The Amish Lifestyle owning or use of automobiles or
farm tractors. However, they will
Language: Members usually ride in cars when needed.
speak Pennsylvania Electrical devices: They do not
Dutch (Deutsch). High German is use electricity, or have radios, TV
sets, personal computers, computer
used during worship. Children games, etc.
learn English at school. Telephones: In-home telephones
Education: Schools are one-room are not normally allowed. Some
buildings run by the Amish. families have a phone remote from
the house.
Formal education beyond Grade 8 Rumspringa: Teens aged 16 and
is discouraged. older are allowed some freedom in
Appearance: Men grow beards, behavior. They may be allowed to
but not mustaches date, go out with their friends, visit
the outside world, go to parties,
Clothing: Men usually dress in a drink alcoholic beverages, wear
plain, dark colored suit. Women jeans, etc. The intent of
usually wear a plain colored dress rumspringa is to make certain that
youth are giving their informed
with long sleeves, bonnet and consent if they decide to be
apron. baptized. About 80% to 90%
decide to remain Amish.
9. Mennonite
*Jesus is the son of God
-fully human
-fully God
*Believe in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
*During services:
-singing
-reading scripture
-sermon
-praying
10. Mennonite
*Baptism is performed on Seven Ordinances:
adults so they can confess *Baptism on Confession of
their belief or faith in God. Faith
*Lords Supper
*Washing of the Saints Feet
*The Holy Kiss
*Marriage
*Communion is symbolic, *Ordination of bishops,
remembering Jesus' sacrifice preachers of the word, and
deacons
*Anointing with oil for the
healing
13. Beginnings
The Baptist Church began to take shape in the
Sixteenth Century, in a period known as the post-
Reformation Period.
The founder of the Baptist Religion was John Smyth.
Smyth preformed a very dangerous and radical act by
re-Baptizing himself as an adult.
14. Start of A Church
Smyth and fellow reformer, Helwys, fled England to go
to Holland after being persecuted for trying to purify
the Church of England of all traces of the Catholic
Church.
Smyth and Helwys joined a group of ‘Seperatists’ in
the city of Gainsborough.
15. Beliefs and Views of Baptists
Prime philosopher of the Baptist Religion was Calvin
The Baptists Baptize but do not believe that Grace is
passed on by Baptism or Original Sin is washed away
at Baptism.
Baptist take part in Eucharist, but do not believe that
the bread and wine are God, but they are symbolic of
the Last Supper.
Believe in total immersion
16. Beliefs of the Early Baptists.
Baptist Church was built on three core values.
The Bible, not through tradition or prayers, was the way
to deal with all matters of faith.
The Church should be made up of believers only, not
those brought into the Church when they were infants
and didn’t willingly join the Church.
The Church should be led by those believers, not by
hierarchy of bishops.
17. History of Later Baptist
Baptists eventually broke into two different groups.
General Baptists who believe Christ died for everyone.
Particular Baptists believed Christ died only for a
particular group.
The two groups eventually came together 1813 to form a
‘General Union’, which became the Baptist Union of
England or Ireland
18. Baptists Today
Baptists are part of an alliance known as the Baptist
World Alliance.
Unites Baptists throughout the world and focus
primarily on matters of Faith.
19. There is no creed.
Some hold diverse concerns of life after death.
Few believe in eternal punishment.
Contribute more in the promotion of tolerance, peace, and
justice compared to any other Christian domination.
Some Quakers hold meetings where members can share his
or her feelings.
Others hold meetings that are close to Christian services
Quakers are found in parts of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania,
and West Virginia.
20. QUAKERpersonal encounter with God, not a ritual or a ceremony
True religion is a
BELIEFS
Individual worth before God
Worship is an act of seeking
Virtues: moral purity, integrity, honesty, simplicity, and humility.
Christian love and goodness
Concern for the suffering and the unfortunate
Continuing revelation through the Holy Spirit.
21.
22. Anabaptists
Ana- “again” Baptists- “Baptizers
The name Anabaptist is applied to those who practice
re-baptism
They are part of the Radical Reformation of 16th century
Europe
Required that baptismal canadates do their own
confessions of faith
The Amish and the Mennonites are direct descendants of
the Anabaptists
Disliked the name Anabaptist
23. Because of their practice of re-baptism, they were heavily
persecuted during the 16th and 17th centuries by Protestants
and Roman Catholics
Anabaptists adhered to a literal interpretation of the
Sermon on the Mount
24. Key Principals
Infant baptism is invalid
Rejected oaths
Rejected capitol punishment
Refrain from magic
Justification by faith alone was rejected because it had no
scriptural warrant
The new Kingdom of God was to be the reconstruction of
the Church AND the State
No Christian has the “right of the sword”
Civil government belongs to the world
25. Monogenesis
Anabaptism began in Zürich
Then it moved to Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands,
where it developed into different branches
Started around January 1525
27. Apostolic Succession
It was a continuation of Christianity
Most popular theory among the religious groups
28. Common Beliefs and Practices
The Bible is the sole rule of faith and practice
Freedom of religion
Seperation of Church and State
Pacifism
Separation to the world
Voluntary Church Membership
