why don't amish people advance with the rest of society?
446116
They don't like manmade items because they think that God meant for them to live a difficult life without modern conveniences.  They want to use things that only God made.  Also, they shun people who are not like them because they believe that they will not be going to heaven.  Amish do not use modern things such as electricity.  Mennonites use electricity.  Some Mennonites drive cars instead of buggies.  There are all sorts of branches off of the Mennonites.  It is a little known fact that the Mennonites came before the Amish; the Amish branched off of the Mennonite church.  The old Amish just want to keep things the way it is and resist change.  If an Amish, Mennonite, etc. violates a church rule such as "no computers," they can get excommunicated.  Some Amish, Mennonites, etc. choose to leave the church too, but then they aren't allowed to see their family because they are disowned.
548608
there are really selfish people in the world today. I do believe in taking care of the ones around you before anyone else. Reality check do people keep updated on disaters and over seas missions? if so are they true. It's just the waty the world is today. More people need to turn their eyes back on their creator Lord God Almighty. What if people had to live back in those days,they wouldn't make it.
151045
The natives didn't necessarily have social classes.  There was a division of labor, and people did what they were good at or born to do, but everyone contributed to the society.  There were priests or shamans or medicine men, a number of chiefs-war chiefs as one example, warriors, hunters, and the women.  No one was really higher than anyone else.
1109987
This is a great question. I'm troubled that we're prodded to follow social norms which are deeply embedded. This dynamic limits the individual ideology we're all capable of creating. Instead of the incredible people we can become, we wind up becoming a by-product of society. The projected pathways isolate our journey in life and threaten our experiences with social disorder and upheaval. Some look to conform simply to gain popularity within their own social circle. Others, through lack of development, become a social cling-on. Still others find solace in social addictions.\nTo let you know that I do have a positive side, I look for things in people that challenge this the way I do. Don't get me wrong, I don't adopt principles that are riddled in anarchy. I look for ways to complement my own philosophies and find personal progress and self-fulfillment. Excuse me for answering, but you asked.
660700
A lot of it is probably to do with historical patterns.  Even if a formal eductaion was not necessarily required to maintain a group for example as the head of a community, if that small groupeg family moves elsewhere and it is required, then the high status seekers will try and ensure that thier offspring get the whatever societal tools are necessary to stay opn top.  Elsewhere it may not be education they seek, but land or a herd of camels etc etc.
514305
at that time most families and communities were self sustaining, and the need to move outside of a village or farm/small holding was not there. only once there was industrialisation, starting primarily in uk with the industrial revolution, did large scale migration from rural areas into newly developing towns begin. this was to take advantage of jobs and to increase wealth etc. there wasnt transport available either so most people probably stayed very close to wherever it was they were born.
636882
god does create us all equal.\nsome people gain more fame and power because they worked harder to fufill their goals and destinies. \nyou can too.\nanyone can, as long as they realize that they have that possibility and don't just lie down and accept the fact that they'll never be more than a middle-class american.\n\nbesides, with fame generally comes sin.\n(but not always: jesus, mother theresa, ghandi, and so forth are counter examples)\n\nso even these people who appear to be living better than you may actually be living worse off in the eyes of God.
572998
True Amish don't have curtains.\nThe ones that do have curtains will normally pull them over to one side because it takes less materials to hold it on one side verses both.  They are ALL about function and not looks.
628130
half the world lives in poverty compared to the united states, they almost to a person depend onm their leaders, both religious and governmental to try and take care of them..sadly.. almost all of those leaders are not going to relinquish any sort of power to those people, they would use them and grind them under the heel of oppression rather than give up power...thats how a society becomes a subsistence society with not much chance to emerge as a industrialized nation and from there to a consumer nation\npeople have this wrong impression that america would like to enslave or keep the rest of the world in rags...far from the truth..we would rather have trading partners in every corner of the world and make everyone as prosperous as the next person....thats to our best interests ..not what the leaders who refuse to give upany power or educate their people might tell you
676818
Not mates or spouses necessarily (though I wouldn't judge those that do) but how about just sharing all our resources with others.  Some have lived their lifes w/o money and with a tremoundously positive attitude, found others shared all with them...ergo: Peace Pilgrim.
467917
It's because society is sometimes very selfish and inconsiderate of their neighbors. People should learn how to respond to others with respect and fairness.
904521
Sometimes it is easier to live in your own little world, gettignyour direction from your superior\nproblem is that everyone becomes your superior\nand before you downgrade socialists, maybe you really need to find out what they are about
306087
if history is right there was one land, until the flood, the tower to heaven....the world gets smaller everyday and people go from place to place at will, (prosperity) People are changing states, countries, and the world fast becoming one in all places and stations. People are tired of the chosen few..they have lost respect for their is not respect..its who has the most artillelry...and the poor dont care about this either..it how can i survive wherever that is...
784990
Switzerland see below...\n\nLike the Mennonites, the Amish are descendants of Swiss Anabaptist groups formed in the early 16th century during the radical reformation. The Swiss Anabaptists or "Swiss Brethren" had their origins with Felix Manz (ca. 1498–1527) and Conrad Grebel (ca.1498-1526). The name "Mennonite" was applied later and came from Menno Simons (1496–1561). Simons was a Dutch Roman Catholic priest who converted to Anabaptism in 1536 and was baptized by Obbe Philips after renouncing his Catholic faith and office. He was a leader in the Lowland Anabaptist communities, but his influence reached Switzerland.
386588
I agree. My father was ill from the age of six. He did not go further than the fourth grade. He was able to get a job to support five children. My mother was a jerked over Amish woman. Since she was Amish as a child, she could not go further than eighth grade. They worked hard and struggled to support us. It would have been nice if they would have been such programs for them.
987113
How about a book in their language-Learn to live in Hard Times in your own Backyard.\n\n Really Oprah has done much on this subject. And many survive on much less than the many who are coming here.\n\n It is not the I need who come here--its the I want more no matter who I hurt.\n\nThe very few who really are in "need "many would help if we knew where they were. \n The "I want more no matter who I hurt" don't want help they want to take.
1067650
It can't work.\n\nYou can not reward apathy..  if you are given everything, and dont need to work hard to get ahead..  then you wont.  If you dont work hard then the society does not move forward, if society doesn't move forward, then the society crumbles.........\n\nCapitalism is the light