Serena B. Miller's Blog, page 5
May 6, 2017
Full Circle with Hallmark
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Picture a hungry writer sitting in an unheated attic, wearing a ragged head scarf and moth-eaten sweater over shabby clothes. She’s blowing on her fingers, warming them just enough to dip the pen into the ink well again. Then she scribbles a final sentence “the end” on a page of cheap paper, lays it reverently […]
April 26, 2017
Q: Are there Swartzentruber Amish in the US? Where are they located?
Asked by Janie from PA Q: Are there Swartzentruber Amish in the US? Where are they located? A: Yes, Janie. There is a large settlement in the Mt. Hope area of Holmes County, Ohio. And I’ve heard there is also a large settlement in northern New York. There are probably other settlements, but I’m only sure of […]
March 20, 2017
Q: One discrepancy from what I thought, is about homeschooling. I understood homeschooling to be an anathema to the Amish because they make their decisions based on not individualism, but bringing community together. Obviously, you heard about an exception
Asked by Rena Q: One discrepancy from what I thought, is about homeschooling. I understood homeschooling to be an anathema to the Amish because they make their decisions based on not individualism, but bringing community together. Obviously, you heard about an exception, or exceptions. A: Hi Rena–The problem with trying to define the Amish culture […]
March 18, 2017
Q: I recently read a report on sexual abuse in the Amish family. How accurate is that account?
Asked by Cora Q: I recently read a report on sexual abuse in the Amish family. How accurate is that account? A: Hi Cora–I don’t know which report you read, so I can’t address that one specifically, but sexual abuse definitely exists within the Amish culture. As far as I can find, there have been […]
March 16, 2017
Q: Why do the women use straight pins to keep their dresses on instead of buttons or snaps?
Asked by Eileen from OH Q: Why do the women use straight pins to keep their dresses on instead of buttons or snaps? A: Hi Eileen–Why do some sects use straight pins and not snaps or buttons? I have no idea. I’ve tried to find out. I’ve asked some Amish women, but the answer so far has […]
March 8, 2017
Q: Why do the Amish men grow such a unique type of beard?
Asked by Susan from MI Q: Why do the Amish men grow such a unique type of beard? A: Hi Susan! First off, as I’m sure you’ve seen, some Amish men don’t wear beards at all. This is because (most of the time) a clean shaven Amish man is usually an unmarried man. There are times […]
Q: Do all Amish people only drive buggies?
Asked by George from PA Q: Do all Amish people only drive buggies? A: Hi George! No. People who join the sect known as the Beachy Amish are allowed to own cars Thanks for the question George!
March 1, 2017
Q: A store clerk told me the other day that the Amish don’t have to pay taxes. That doesn’t seem fair. Why does the government let them get by with that?
Asked by Alex from OH Q: A store clerk told me the other day that the Amish don’t have to pay taxes. That doesn’t seem fair. Why does the government let them get by with that? A: Hi Alex! That isn’t true, but your store clerk was voicing a common belief. The Amish pay all the same taxes […]
Q: Why do they shun? It sounds so mean.
Asked by Linda from NY Q: Why do they shun? It sounds so mean. A: Hi Linda! It is not meant to be mean. It is meant as a kindness. The Amish believe in a very literal heaven and hell. If they believe someone is in danger of going to hell, they will use shunning as a […]
February 28, 2017
Inside an Amish Schoolhouse Part I
A few weeks ago, an Amish friend called from her family’s telephone shanty to invite me to the annual Christmas program that would be performed at their church’s one-room school house. Some of her own children would have speaking parts. She thought I might be interested in coming and had already checked with the two […]
