Amish: Avoidance of Technology and The Human Condition - Essay Example

?582322 Amish: "Avoidance of Technology And The Human Condition The Question: Could it be that the “primitive” way the Amish have been living it for hundreds of years may be the wave of the future? Promise and Problem The human condition could be improved if everyone regarded technology the same way the Amish do. Each time they encounter a new item, be it a computer or a doorbell, they collectively consider it. Will it inspire greed? Can something else be substituted or adapted to fulfill the need this new item does? In this way, the Amish avoid technology. They do not use electricity or drive cars, although they will ride in them. They do not have landline phones, but will own a cell phone to use at their place of business. True, they miss out on a information and ease, but people who are not Amish find that the fast-paced world of technology comes with a price: dwindling resources, pollution, unusable farmland, and pressures of a technological world. While other people deal with crashed computers, photos of genitalia on Twitter, and the high cost of gas, the Amish pass with a cordial wave from their buggies. They warm their homes with firewood, and read by lantern light. When the Amish “friend” somebody it involves camaraderie, not cyber gossip. The Amish do not hate technology, but they do not want the side effects. Ed Tenner explains, “Although the Amish make certain technological concessions, their way of life, of course, imposes limits, which stem from their core value” (Tenner 75). The Amish fear technology will make them less like Christ. The Amish want Gelassenheit, or submission to God, to be evident. By having few and plain material possessions, they show submission to God. “Any technology that does not uphold the Gelassenheit principles is banned” (Sharp). Electricity requires a connection to the outside world, so the Amish do not use it except for work. The Amish fear electricity causes sloth and greed. Automobiles corrupt the separateness of the Amish community. They fear that it will cause their children to want to move from the community and destroy one of the things they value most, family. Not only that, electronic gadgets, fancy appliances and even a car can be viewed as a status symbol. When the Amish do access technology, the decision comes only after some soul searching. Christopher Lydon describes the decision making process. “Amish communities are driven by religious belief, but they’re also making choices” (Lydon). None of the choices the Amish make are done solely for one person’s benefit, but for the entire community. Many see the Amish’s rejection of technology as a “problem.” They do not shun all technology, just the technology that will affect their chosen way of life. They encourage young adults to live outside of the community for a time before settling down. They decide if the simple life is the life they want. Only one quarter of Amish young people chose not to return to the lifestyle. The problem is not the technology itself. It would be hard to argue against much of the new technology. In the medical field alone advances have been made that save lives and make life easier. Even the Amish use modern technology when it comes to health care. No, the problem lies in the fact that technology corrupts. Technological advancements often bring wealth. Unlike most people, the Amish do not desire wealth. They have found contentment in a much simpler principles. Daniel Burke claims that the Amish have other goals which “include preserving their family-centered lifestyle, working hard at an honest trade and passing a meaningful vocation on to their children” (Burke 18). The greed that big businesses and their less than ethical practices have caused is evident in the stagnant economy, the rampant unemployment, and the frustration of the people. The Amish, with their simple lifestyle and ethical business practices do not have the same issues, yet they do have a unique set of concerns. “There are limitations on Amish entrepreneurs: the entertainment, alcohol and computer industries are verboten, traveling by airplanes is forbidden, and bishops will break up businesses that grow too large” (Burke 18). However, that is not to say that their attitude toward business and their impeccable ethics could not be emulated in other areas. The fear is that the outside world will affect the Amish rather than the other way around, which would be beneficial to the rest of us. The pluralism of modern life has slowly seeped into the Amish lifestyle. Events that could not have been imagined in those close knit communities, but that are commonplace in the outside world have now occurred. In 2006, Charles Carl Roberts opened fire in an Amish schoolhouse killing five students and critically wounding five more. Roberts was not Amish and had nothing against Amish people according to MSNBC. The school was just near his milk truck route and it had no guards like most schools do nowadays (Associated Press). But the world has not just encroached on the Amish from the outside in. Earlier this year, an Amish man was arrested for sexting a twelve-year-old girl (Marcus). Yet, it is not just modern day crime that threatens the Amish community either. Some people are curious about the Amish lifestyle. They envy the peacefulness and want to take part without having to convert. Some vacation near Amish communities just so they can encounter them. Others buy land and move in. Michael Janofsky sees this as threatening to the Amish. “The combination of tourism and commercial success is fundamentally changing the sociological fabric of the Amish. . . .A growing percentage of Amish and Mennonites are abandoning the farms to pursue their own entrepreneurial instincts or jobs with new businesses” (Janofsky 8). Amish businesses serve as great examples, but the fear is that these changes will corrupt the Amish lifestyle just when their attitude toward adapting and making do is most needed in this crazy world. That is the true concern over the human condition, not the fact that the Amish have found a happier life avoiding technology. Works Cited Associated Press. "5th girl dies after Amish schoolhouse shooting." 3 October 2006. MSNBC.com. 28 October 2011 . Burke, Daniel. "Amish ex-farmers have business tips for CEOs." Christian Century 127.16 (2010): 19. Janofsky, Michael. "Rustic Life of Amish is Changing, but Slowly." New York Times 6 July 1997: 8. Lydon, Christopher. "Kevin Kelly on Tech: the Unabomber was Right; the Amish, too." 18 October 2010. Radio Open Source. 27 October 2011 . Marcus, Stephanie. "Amish Man Willard Yoder Arrested For Sexting 12-Year-Old Girl." 21 August 2011. Huffington Post. 28 October 2011 . Schneider, Keith. "Fleeing America's Relentless Pace, Some Adopt an Amish Life." New York Times 11 March 1995: 12. Sharp, Jamie. "The Amish: Technology Practice and Technological Change." 1999. Shaw Creek General Store. 27 October 2011 . Tenner, Ed. "Plain Technology." Technology Review July 2005: 75 Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. Read More