The Amish, often seen as a people frozen in time, present a complex and often misunderstood relationship with technology. Their approach is not a blanket rejection, but a deliberate and community-specific process of negotiation. The core principle guiding their choices is not antiquity for its own sake, but the preservation of core values: family, community, humility, and separation from the world. Technology is evaluated based on its potential impact on these values, leading to a fascinating spectrum of adoption and adaptation. This listicle explores the nuanced ways Amish communities engage with—and abstain from—various technologies.
1. The Foundational Rule: The “Ordnung” and Gelassenheit
Every Amish community operates under a set of oral rules called the “Ordnung,” which translates to “order” or “discipline.” This is the ultimate filter for technology. Alongside it is the concept of “Gelassenheit,” meaning submission, calmness, and yieldedness to God and community. A technology that promotes individualism, pride (“Hochmut”), or disrupts the social fabric is typically rejected. The decision is communal, not individual, leading to diversity in rules between different church districts.
2. The Iconic “No”: Rejection of the Public Grid
Most Old Order Amish do not connect to public electricity lines. This is a symbolic and practical boundary against entanglement with the outside world. It prevents easy adoption of a vast array of household appliances and entertainment devices that could pull focus from family and community life. The grid represents a direct, unmediated tie to the “English” world they wish to remain separate from.
3. Pneumatic and Hydraulic Power: Compressed Air Innovations
In workshops, you’ll often find a fascinating workaround: pneumatic (air) power. Diesel or gas engines compress air, which then runs through lines to power tools like drills, saws, and sanders. This allows for efficient craftsmanship in furniture shops or metalworking while maintaining a separation from the electrical grid. Hydraulic power, using pressurized fluids, serves a similar purpose for larger machinery.
4. Battery Power: A Contested but Common Compromise
Batteries are widely used because they are seen as a finite, contained source of power. 12-volt DC batteries are commonplace, powering items like flashlights, electric fences for livestock, and even cash registers in Amish-owned businesses. Their use is often debated, as more powerful batteries can edge closer to the functionality of grid power.
5. The Diesel Engine: A Critical Power Source
Stationary diesel engines are ubiquitous on Amish farms and workshops. They power everything from grain mills and hay balers to air compressors and water pumps. The engine itself is often housed in a separate shed to contain noise and fumes. This technology is accepted because it provides necessary power for livelihood without creating a direct, permanent connection to outside systems.
6. Telephones: Kept at a Deliberate Distance
The landline telephone presents a classic case of Amish adaptation. Having a phone in the home is almost universally forbidden, as it was seen as an intrusive interruption to family time. Instead, many communities have shared phone shacks at the end of a lane or in a business. This allows for necessary communication for business or emergencies while keeping the technology—and the distractions of casual chatter—at a physical and symbolic distance.
7. Transportation: The Horse-and-Buggy as a Boundary
The horse and buggy is the most visible symbol of Amish life. It intentionally limits travel range, keeping the community geographically focused and travel dependent on social cooperation. It also prevents the rapid assimilation and individualism that easy, long-distance personal travel by car could foster. However, Amish will often hire “English” drivers for necessary long trips, such as to distant hospitals or for bulk shopping.
8. Modern Farming Equipment… With a Twist
Farming is central, but not all modern equipment is rejected. Many Amish farmers use modern milkers cooled by diesel-powered chillers, advanced hay balers, and chemical pesticides. However, tractors are a major point of contention. Most Old Order groups forbid tractors with rubber tires for field work (preferring steel wheels to prevent easy road travel) or limit their use to stationary power generation, still using horses for plowing and harvesting.
9. Kitchen Appliances: The Propane-Powered Home
Amish homes frequently utilize propane gas to power refrigerators, stoves, and water heaters. This is a clear example of prioritizing family well-being and efficiency without adopting the grid. Washing machines are also common, but are typically powered by a diesel engine or pneumatic system via a clever belt-and-pulley setup, not an electric motor plugged into a wall.
10. The Digital World: A Firm Boundary with Exceptions
Personal computers, smartphones, and home internet access are almost universally prohibited for individuals. The risks to community values—access to worldly content, social media pride, and wasted time—are deemed too high. This is one of the firmest technological boundaries maintained.
11. Business Necessity: The Computer in the Shop
In a significant compromise, many Amish-owned businesses, especially those involved in manufacturing, construction, and retail, will use computers for inventory, accounting, and CAD design. These are strictly for business purposes, often without internet access, or with highly filtered access managed by an “English” employee. The economic pressure to compete has driven this careful adoption.
12. Photography and Video: The Graven Image Concern
Most Old Order Amish avoid being photographed or filmed, based on the interpretation of the biblical prohibition against “graven images” and a desire to avoid personal vanity. You will rarely see an Amish person’s face in an authentic community publication. This extends to them not owning cameras for personal use.
13. Medical Technology: Almost Unanimous Acceptance
When it comes to health, nearly all modern medical technology is welcomed. Amish frequent hospitals, use modern dentistry, accept vaccinations, and will utilize advanced treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. The preservation of life and health is a high value that overrides technological caution in this sphere.
14. Solar Power: An Emerging and Popular Solution
Solar panels are increasingly popular in Amish communities. They provide a silent, off-grid source of power that aligns well with their values. Solar is used to charge batteries for lights, power water pumps, and even run small appliances, offering a degree of independence that other power sources do not.
15. The “Amish Telephone”: Party Lines and Voice Mail Systems
Some communities have developed private, intra-community phone systems. These can be traditional party lines connecting a cluster of homes or even more modern, locally-run voice mail systems where families have a mailbox to leave messages for neighbors, blending simple technology with community communication needs.
16. Gas-Powered Lawn and Garden Tools
You will often see Amish using gas-powered push mowers, weed trimmers, and chainsaws. These tools are seen as practical aids for property maintenance. The key distinction is often that they are not self-propelled (requiring user effort) and are for tool use, not leisure or transportation.
17. The Role of “English” Helpers and Drivers
The Amish relationship with technology is often mediated by their non-Amish neighbors (“English”). They hire drivers for travel, employ non-Amish secretaries for business communication, and use English-owned facilities for tasks like photocopying. This outsourcing allows them to benefit from certain technologies without owning them, maintaining a crucial buffer.
18. Generational and Community Variations
There is no single “Amish” rule. New Order Amish may allow in-home phones, tractors for farming, or even limited car ownership. Beachy Amish drive cars and use electricity. The spectrum from Swartzentruber (most conservative) to New Order demonstrates how the core principles are applied with different strictness, creating a living laboratory of human-technology negotiation.
19. Publishing and Media: A Thriving Print Culture
The Amish have a robust print culture, publishing their own newspapers, cookbooks, devotional materials, and community directories. They generally reject television and radio, but will consume print media. Some will listen to weather radios for emergency information, and a few may read mainstream newspapers for practical information like auction notices.
20. The Core Takeaway: Intentional Selection, Not Rejection
Ultimately, the Amish use of technology is a profound exercise in intentionality. Each tool is vetted for its potential to strengthen or weaken the community. The result is a lived philosophy that questions the assumption that technological progress is inherently good, reminding us that every tool carries social and spiritual consequences that deserve consideration.
This article offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration into the Amish approach to technology, debunking the common misconception that they simply reject modern advancements wholesale. It beautifully highlights how their careful, community-driven discernment is grounded in preserving essential values like family, humility, and separation from mainstream society. The detailed examples-from pneumatic power systems and propane appliances to solar energy and limited computer use in businesses-illustrate a nuanced balance between tradition and practicality. I appreciate how the piece underscores the diversity within Amish communities, shaped by the Ordnung and Gelassenheit, demonstrating that technology use is not static but constantly negotiated. This thoughtful approach challenges readers to rethink technology’s role in shaping social and spiritual life, offering a profound perspective on intentional living in a tech-driven world.
Joaquimma-anna’s article masterfully dissects the intricate relationship between the Amish and technology, revealing a practice grounded not in outright rejection but in thoughtful, values-based discernment. The piece effectively communicates how the Ordnung and Gelassenheit serve as pivotal guides, ensuring that every technological adoption supports community cohesion rather than undermines it. I found the examples, such as the innovative use of pneumatic power and the reliance on diesel engines, particularly illuminating, as they show a creative adaptation that maintains separation from modern infrastructure. The nuanced discussion of boundaries around telephones, transportation, and digital devices deepens our understanding of how technology can both enable and threaten social values. This article challenges simplistic narratives and offers a profound reminder that technology must be evaluated not only for utility but for its broader impact on human relationships and cultural identity.
Joaquimma-anna’s article is a compelling exploration of the Amish community’s nuanced relationship with technology, emphasizing intentionality rather than outright rejection. The detailed breakdown of how the Ordnung and Gelassenheit govern technological choices highlights the deep-rooted cultural priorities that shape these decisions-family, humility, and community cohesion above convenience. The examples of pneumatic and hydraulic power, battery use, and even solar energy reveal a pragmatic adaptability that balances tradition with necessity. Particularly striking is the Amish use of “English” intermediaries to maintain boundaries while accessing key modern services, illustrating a creative negotiation rather than isolation. This article enriches our understanding by showing technology as a social and spiritual question, not merely a technical or economic one, reminding us that progress must be aligned with core human values.