Atheist here. These religious sects are like chilli in the soup, I’m intrigued by them no end, can read about them for hours. Sometimes they even start doing weird, unethical or illegal stuff, wow human’s phantasy is truly bigger than the universe. In France we have mostly Jehovas, they just stand around like ghouls, saying nothing. But since they had some scandals (involving children) they have increased their presence. In Belgium and London I’ve met Orthodox Jews, that’s heavy soup too, almost too spicy. I always pity the children, because escape from a sect is hard.

They are incredibly good at playing the system and making their lifestyle appear respectable so that those on the outside admire them.

They don’t use electricity - except for in the barns where the men work and can benefit from it. The women can struggle in the house without it.

They beat and abuse their animals. I’ve driven down the road and watched a Amish woman flogging her horse to get it to start pulling the buggy. They are also known for puppy mills and horrific abusive conditions for their animals.

They treat their children like they are disposable. Amish children die traumatic deaths all the time because they are unsupervised in situations that no child should ever be in. I’m actually all for free rein children but I don’t care if it’s your “lifestyle”, neglect is neglect. A 3 year old should not be in a position to get thrown off the back of a tractor and have their head run over by the wheel of the trailer, yet this kind of incident happens multiple times a year in the Amish communities where I used to run EMS. I had a family tell me that they didn’t leave their 1 year old unsupervised, the 2 year old was in charge of them.

They also hoard wealth and use their religion as an excuse to not have to follow laws or pay certain taxes or fees the rest of us do. They’re some of the richest people around.

They make delicious food and are pretty nice to talk to and interact with, but I think they are just as awful as the rest of the world.

I live in PA and frequently drive between Pittsburgh and Philly so I spend a lot of time driving through Amish country. I don’t have an opinion one way or the other about the lifestyle they choose and from what I’ve seen they integrate very well with their surrounding communities both socially and economically. They don’t seem isolated, they don’t seem wary or distrusting of outsiders, they just are. Have nothing bad to say about them folk.

There’s a Mennonite community in the next village where I come from (in Roxton Falls, Québec). They are good neighbours, speak French, and are integrated into the region. But since my province requires them to follow the curriculum we all learn in school, and they don’t agree with that, apparently some of them have been moving elsewhere. But AFAIK, aside from the quirk with their school, they still have a church there and are still present.

However I do agree with our government about the curriculum. We all learn about science, evolution, philosophy, sexuality, and the acceptance of others in school, and they should too. Some of them say this is religious intolerance but IDGAF about this argument. They can have the religion they want, and teach their kids what is a dichotomy.

It’s my only beef with them. Those I met are all very nice, and sometimes, you don’t even realize your’re talking with a Mennonite. Well, the men anyway. The women are kind of obvious because of how they dress.

Canada has Hutterites and Mennonites. I think there are a few Anabaptist sects still in Germany as well, but that’s about it.

Around here they tend to be honest and hard working, but extremely insular and taciturn. They’ll sell you produce. They won’t be your friend.

And of course, their entire communities and lives are centred around the church.

Miriam Toew’s “A Complicated Kindness” was a great story about a teen growing up in a Manitoba Mennonite colony.

I have an okay feeling about the amish and their way of life. However, I am always wary that in isolated and religious cultures, it is harder to be neurodivergent or non cis-heterosexual and that abuse within such groups is also harder to escape from, because of the isolation and potential loss of all friends/family if you choose to leave. However, I haven’t heard many scandals involving the amish particularly.

I have lived near orthodox jews and always felt weird that they didn’t even (choose to) speak the same language as their neighbors, but only Yiddish. I also felt that while the men are very present in the street and community, you only see the women occasionally and always with a few babies/children.

The best way to understand the Amish is watch a few videos by Peter Santenello.

There are sub-sects that are extremist and live in deep poverty and ignorance. Some are successful farmers that use technology. Some are scam artists who take clamshell fruits and vegetables from a grocery store and resell them to simps in paper bags at farmers markets.

People who leave do not have good things to say, like Naomi Swartzentruber.

My issue with Mennonites near my hospital is that our genetic testing on this community reveals a lot of consanguinity, and genetic disease from inbreeding.

While I agree their lifestyle is probably horrible to women and children behind closed doors at least for some.

I’ve been through communities in PA, MO and KS I have to say their food is top notch. Especially their cinnamon rolls

Luckily, we don’t.

As long as they were no burden to others, i’d say they can play 1698 as long as they want. But they are limiting their childrens world view, and that’s where they become a problem.

It is not just an Amish thing. If an adult wants to participate in a brainwasher cult, it’s one thing, but brainwash kids for a cult - nope.

I don’t think I’ve ever given a single thought about the Amish

I can definitely not relate to the religious stuff, but I think the part where they’re living off the land and not really subscribing to all the technology of the modern era is quite alluring. They must feel peaceful with their quiet lives, just regarding that bit.

But obviously it’s not for everyone, as plenty of people leave/escape that lifestyle.

I’m a Mennonite fan myself. I met Noah Dyck and Anita Dyck. they’re good Dyck’s and they’ve always been good to our community and have always used us right. though there was that time that Charity Dyck–well we don’t speak of that anymore.