Step into the simple world of the Amish. Learn how they live without electricity and why this choice keeps their community strong and unique.
Why the Amish Live Without Electricity
At first, the Amish were okay with using electricity only for lights in the 1800s. But as more electric things came along that they didn’t agree with, they started to use less and less electricity. By the 1920s, most had stopped using it.
The Amish don’t think electricity itself is bad or goes against their religion. They don’t see electricity as evil or wrong.
The problem for the Amish is not the electricity itself, but the things that electricity can power. They are concerned about how certain electric-powered items might affect their way of life and values.
Staying Separate from Modern Society
The Amish view the wire that brings electricity into a house as a link to the outside, non-Amish world. They think that using the public electricity network is like bringing the outside world into their homes. This is why they choose not to use electricity in their homes.
They prefer to avoid this connection to keep their simple lifestyle and stay apart from modern influences.
The Amish choose to live differently from the rest of the world. They think using regular electricity ties them too closely to modern life. This could change their strong family bonds and community ties.
Amish people are very thoughtful about what modern technologies and conveniences they allow in their lives. They always consider how these technologies might affect their family and community life.
If they think that a new type of technology will benefit the community, they might accept it.
They Don’t Want Electricity to Alter Their Habits
The Amish believe that using electricity, especially electric lights, can change their daily habits. They see things this way: “If we can turn on lights anytime, we might start doing things at night that we should do in the daytime. This change might happen slowly and we might not notice it.”
Electricity is the power source for many modern devices like TVs, computers, and phones. When electricity is easily accessible in a home, it can increase the likelihood of having these devices.
When everyone in a family has their own device, they might spend more time with these devices and less time talking and doing things together. Each person might do their own thing, which can reduce family time.
And that’s exactly what the Amish want to avoid.
Old Order vs New Order Amish
The Old Order and New Order Amish have different views and uses of electricity.
The Old Order Amish are more traditional and strict about using electricity. They tend to avoid most modern electric-powered devices to maintain their traditional way of life.
The New Order Amish are more open to using electricity compared to the Old Order. They often use electricity generated by generators and inverters. They might use electric fans or washing machines, but avoid items like computers.
The New Order Amish’s use of electricity is more about convenience and efficiency while still trying to limit overall exposure to modern technology.
Let’s take an example.
The Amish usually have big families and wear traditional clothes that need more washing, especially because they do a lot of outdoor work like farming.
Many Old Order Amish prefer to use a wringer washer for laundry even to this day. On the other hand, washing machines powered by solar panels or generators are commonly used among New Order Amish for convenience and efficiency.
Using Different Power Sources
Even though they mostly don’t use the main electricity grid, the Amish still use other ways to get power. They use things like batteries, propane gas, air pressure, generators, water pumps, and sometimes solar panels.
This lets them be creative and keep living without relying on the main power grid. For example, they may use washing machines powered by a gasoline engine to do the laundry.
Using Solar Power
More and more Amish are using solar panels, especially in places like Indiana and Ohio. This way, they can make their own electricity without needing the public grid.
Solar power fits well with the Amish value of self-sufficiency. It allows them to generate their own electricity without relying on the public grid, and most importantly, without forming a direct connection to the outside world.
The extent to which solar power is used can vary among different Amish communities. Some might use it extensively, while others use it sparingly.
Electricity for Business
When Amish construction workers are building in places outside their community, they use electric tools on site.
Some Amish businesses use electric tools and machines to keep up with others, especially in tourist areas. They might have things like card machines and automatic doors.
But these electric things usually don’t go into their homes. This helps them keep their work and home life separate.