Has anyone thought that the Amish are probably 100% compliant? That to become one could be a very good idea, if you believed Infomagic and had zero money?

-- Leo (leo_champion@hotmail.com), December 20, 1998

Answers

"Becom(ing) one" would entail some INTERESTING religious and life- approach changes. The Amish are not just electricity-less for no reason. The belief on electricity is that it is a Gift from the Devil, as are many of teh "conveniences" we enjoy now (for at least a few more months).

Chuck

Toss in the Anabaptist part of their worship etc. and it's very different from main strean Protestantism or R. Catholicism.

-- Chuck a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 20, 1998.

I'd rather have Amish for neighborrs than anybody else, come y2k, because - imagine the smoke and noise of all those generators going at once - ACKKK !

-RC

"Well, maybe you English shouldn't have bought into technology so much."

- unforgettable quote from anonymous Amish man, interviewed by a reporter on subject of y2k

-- Runway Cat (runway_cat@hotmail.com), December 20, 1998.

Somehow I don't think you can expect to walk in to an Amish community and find them all atwitter waiting for you to sign up. Amish have very strong beliefs, and express them in customs very different from those we "English" are familar with. So far as I can determine, they are not an evangelistic group-- they're not out looking to recruit more names for the church rolls.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), December 20, 1998.

A couple of Amish boys were recently arrested for dealing in cocaine. I guess every religious group have a few bad apples, and maybe some of them aren't so far removed from the world. Some of them use telephones and they provide handcrafted goods to us Englishmen. They still depend on modern technology for their fabrics and footwear. They still depend on modern medicine, so maybe they really aren't that far removed from modern man as some may think.

-- Wondering (Wondering@hotmail.com), December 21, 1998.

For an interesting portrayal of the Amish vs. big city vice, rent the movie "The Witness" with Harrison Ford as an NYPD detective. Their community is weapon-free and they are more pacifist than the Tibetan monks, but they may need some defensive measures post-y2k.

-- Jon (jonmiles@pacbell.net), December 21, 1998.

Leo...It's not that simple. You must first go through what they call "conversion and convincement". The Amish do not actively seek members. Check out http://www.800padutch.com/atafaq.html - FAQ "Ask the Amish" for more details.

Bobbi http://www.buzzbyte.com

-- Bobbi (bobbia@slic.com), December 21, 1998.

I wonder if Luddites have their own web site? 8-)

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), December 21, 1998.

The problem is these gun-free communities could be targets for takeover by gangs.

-- Jon (jonmiles@pacbell.net), December 21, 1998.

Wondering: Yes even the Amish aren't immune to the vice of the outside communities. In the past few years, the Lancaster Amish have been literally invaded by a sea of tourism. Less than 15 years ago, I used to go up there to buy some fresh farm and homemade goods. The villages were quiet and there was barely any traffic. Not so anymore. The tourists from all over the world have discovered them, and to them it is a freak show. It's hurting the young generation especially hard, at a time when children's moral and values are still being molded.

But the elder's self-discipline, hard work ethics, sense of community, strong moral values and convictions remain intact. They still raise their children by example and not only by words. That is why they still survive as communities.

-- Amish admirer (somewhere@pa.com), December 21, 1998.

And 5 'll get you 10 the "Amish" dealing cocain were under 21, beardless males. 18 - 21 is deciding age, you either opt for the church and community oryou opt for the English. Opting for the English typically means saying goodbye to your family and community. The folks who use electricity are typically Mennonites. The dress is pretty much teh same, the religion is similar, but they are NOT the same.

chuck

(My misspent youth comes back to haunt me. I spent a LOT of time with some Mennonite folks who were happy to show me the differences, between demonstrations, as it were.)

-- Chuck a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 21, 1998.

We have an Amish friend, whom runs a Country Store with all DRY foods. My DH talked to him once about Y2K about 6 months ago, and since then everytime we go for more food, he has stopped us and asked if we have heard anything more about Y2K. He is very well informed and knew a little about it before we mentioned it to him. You see, the reason he is worried is because all of his suppliers for the Country Store are computerized... His orders come to him on computerized print outs, and he is afraid that some of the suppliers and transportation which delivers will not show up. He supplies many Amish families in addition to the 'English'.

I have a hard time thinking of ANYONE who will not be affected by Y2K. Everyone is connected one way or another... Please, if anyone out there can come up with one person, place, or think that will not be affected, let's hear it.

-- Carlie (carlie_scott@yahoo.com), December 21, 1998.

Many of the Amish and Mennonite we have talked to are aware of the y2k problem. They are even somewhat concerned mainly, as mentioned above, many of them have not only adopted some of the modern day conveniences but also have come to rely on technology for their business. One gentleman mentioned to my wife the other day his concern that they were living beyond their means and felt he was not humble enough. He further stated that something big was about to happen, and that God's wrath would be severe.

-- lparks (lparks@eurekanet.com), December 21, 1998.