The Amish, often seen as a people frozen in time, actually have a nuanced and carefully considered relationship with technology. Their avoidance of modern conveniences is not a blanket rejection but a deliberate choice guided by their core religious principle: Gelassenheit, which emphasizes submission, humility, and community cohesion. The central question is not “Does it work?” but “How will this affect our family and community life?” This evaluation leads to surprising diversity in practice between different church districts and settlements. Here is a detailed look at the complex rules and practical applications of technology within Amish society.
1. The Foundational Rule: No Connection to the Outside Grid
The most consistent rule across almost all Old Order Amish communities is the prohibition against connecting to the public utility grid. This means no electrical lines from the street running to the home, barn, or shop. This physical separation serves as a tangible boundary against the encroachment of the modern world and its influences, ensuring a degree of self-sufficiency and limiting dependence on outside systems.
2. Pneumatic and Hydraulic Power as Alternatives
In many Amish workshops, you will find machinery powered not by electricity, but by compressed air (pneumatics) or pressurized fluids (hydraulics). A diesel or propane engine powers a central compressor, which then runs air lines to individual tools like saws, sanders, and drills. This allows for efficient, community-safe industrialization without adopting the grid.
3. The Prevalence of 12-Volt DC Battery Systems
Battery power is widely accepted, particularly 12-volt DC systems similar to those in automobiles. These batteries can be charged via solar panels, windmills, or by connecting to a generator. This “off-grid” electricity powers a range of approved items, from LED lighting and buggy lights to water pumps and sewing machines.
4. Generators for Specific, Contained Purposes
Gasoline or diesel generators are common but are used with strict intention. They are often employed for business needs, such as powering welders or air compressors, or for specific household tasks like running a washing machine. Critically, the generator is typically started for the task and then turned off, preventing the “always-on” convenience that could lead to dependency.
5. Solar Energy as a Growing, Accepted Solution
Solar panels are increasingly seen on Amish farms and homes. They are viewed favorably as they promote independence and have no direct link to the grid. Solar arrays quietly charge battery banks, which then provide power for lights, appliances, and even small desktop computer setups for home-based businesses.
6. The Telephone Dilemma: Shared and Outside
Traditionally, telephones were not allowed in the home as they were seen as an intrusion into family time. The common solution is the shared community phone booth, placed at the end of a lane or between several farms. Cell phones, while controversial, are often permitted for business necessity but are frequently kept in a shed or shop, not the main house.
7. Transportation: The Horse and Buggy as Non-Negotiable
The horse-drawn buggy is the most visible symbol of Amish separation. It enforces a slow, local pace of life and keeps the community geographically bound. However, Amish will use public transportation (buses, trains) and even hire “English” drivers for long-distance travel, such as for weddings, funerals, or necessary business trips.
8. Modern Farm Equipment with a Twist
Farming is central to Amish life, and some modern equipment is used for efficiency and survival. Tractors, however, are often a point of contention. Some groups may allow them for powering stationary equipment (like threshers) but forbid using them in the field for plowing, insisting on horse-drawn equipment to preserve a smaller scale of farming.
9. Kitchen Appliances: Gas-Powered Refrigerators and Washing Machines
Amish homes frequently have modern conveniences that operate on approved power sources. Propane-powered refrigerators and freezers are standard. Washing machines are common, but they are often the older, non-automated wringer style, and they are powered by a generator, a hydraulic pump from a windmill, or even a small gas engine attached directly to the machine.
10. The Forbidden Technology: Television and Personal Internet
Technologies seen as direct conduits for worldly influence into the heart of the home are almost universally banned. This includes television, home internet, and personal social media. These are viewed as threats to family cohesion, spiritual purity, and the community’s simple values, promoting individualism and vanity.
11. Variation Between Church Districts and Settlements
There is no single, pope-like authority for the Amish. Each local church district (about 20-40 families) sets its own Ordnung, or set of rules. This leads to significant diversity. The Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, may have different rules than those in Holmes County, Ohio, or newer settlements in Wisconsin.
12. The Role of the Bishops and Community in Deciding Tech
Technological adoption is a communal decision. Bishops and ministers will meet to discuss a new technology—like a smart phone or a specific piece of farm equipment—and evaluate it against their interpretation of the Ordnung. The decision is based on tradition, scripture, and the perceived impact on the community.
13. Business Necessity Driving Controlled Adaptation
As more Amish turn to small-scale manufacturing, construction, and craftsmanship for livelihood, the pressure to adopt efficient technology grows. CNC routers powered by pneumatics, laser engravers run on generators, and business websites maintained by a third-party “English” person are examples of pragmatic adaptations for economic survival.
14. Distinguishing Between “High” and “Low” Technology
The Amish do not see all technology as equal. They make distinctions based on its potential for harm. A simple tool that amplifies human skill (a hand-operated drill) is “low” and acceptable. A system that replaces human interaction or creates dependence (the internet) is “high” and suspect. The line is constantly re-evaluated.
15. The Core Principle: Technology in Service of Community, Not Individual
This is the ultimate litmus test. Any technology that strengthens family, community, and faith may be considered. Any technology that promotes individualism, pride, laziness, or breaks down family unity will be rejected. The community’s health is always paramount over individual convenience or efficiency.
