are there any? I saw a horse-drawn, gas powered lawn mower. Kind of got me wondering how they arrive at what's the Amish version of kosher. There's quite a large Amish community near me and I find them to be cordial people but I'm a bit mystified by them.

There's so many levels of Amish it's hard to keep track of who's who. Then the Amish museum is run by Mennonites...

There are around 2000 different Amish congregations. The Amish rules are set by the elders of that community. There is a bishop, 1 or more ministers and several deacons. Communities' rules can vary greatly even if they are right next to each other.

I have a surprising number of Amish people's phone numbers in my phone. I have phone numbers for other Amish people's "English" neighbors, who will get ahold of the Amish people for me. I know Amish people who drive trucks and who use computers. Most Amish people I know have freezers, cell phones and radios in their barns. I know some Amish people near Mt. Hope, Ohio, who drive solar powered vehicles.

Keith

each group picks elders , bishop and deacons those chosen decide the rules.

when a family moves from one community to another ( the Amish have figured out they need to move around or the gene pool gets very shallow) they expect rules to change they sell off those items that don't conform and then conform to their new community.

Passed an Amish girl in a buggy this week on her smart phone.

I don't even have a smart phone.

Below is a link that discusses the basic differences between old and new order Amish.

http://amishamerica.com/whats-the-difference-between-new-order-and-old-order-amish/

And as the above posts indicate you will have wide divergences from each within each order and even other lesser orders
Also the same divergence and differences occur within the Mennonites as well, so there are wide ranges of principles, and policies, which would not be much different as there are in many religious orders worldwide, just not as visible.

Bryce

most of the Amish men here have flip phones , they allowed phones in the past but not in the house , I suppose they decided as long as they leave the phone outside when they go in the house it is ok

they all have solar panels on the barn to charge cordless tools some now on the houses also running solar lights

Most of them around who have a big family have one kid that does all of the tech stuff including driving and even semi to haul grain to the elevator

noooo,groeny rules,wait--that's rocks

guess the Amish rule then.

I don't care for Amish, had trouble them before, ya there many different kinds Amish , hardcore ones. No power an just like many yrs back, not sure if them or Jehovah or both, no blood transfusion, there are white suprmacist or neo nazi, groups that are Amish, hardcore suprrmicist, that in prison, into meth mfg other stuff, I reading about

Not to paint with a broad brush or anything...

I personally admire the Amish. Their simple family and community lifestyle is awesome. I am so English I don't think I could make the transition. I also have no desire to learn Dutch. I have the opportunity to deer hunt with a group in northern Indiana. We met when they were here helping with hurricane Katrina restoration. I have had the privilege to attend functions at the school and family dinners. I've also been to many businesses and workshops both modern and not. It is correct as about their rules. I've personally been concern about it. I just enjoy the company of some really nice families with a different way of life.

Correction I have never been concerned about their rules.

Ever run into the Amish Mafia? Scarier than a Mexican with bulge in his pocket.

We have Mennonites around here. They are pretty much Amish Lite. A family of them lived near a farm which I hunted and fished. I was fishing a pond one day, and noticed a commotion in the knee high soybeans nearby. I took a closer look and saw that it was kids, dressed a little funny and no shoes. Looked like they were sitting in a circle playing some make believe game.
My first knee jerk reaction was, "Look at those weird kids playing in the beans without shoes on!"
Then, I thought back to when I was their age many moons ago. Turns out we must have been Mennonites, but no one bothered to tell me! Those kids aren't weird. We have become the weird ones.

Now kids sit in front of a TV while staring at their phones. No doubt we are the weird ones.

My uncle is a Yoder toter.
He spends nothing on food. They load him up with all that he could possibly eat plus gas money and more for driving them around.

I know 2 guys that used to drive for the Amish. A lot of people in Ohio make pretty decent livings chauffeuring the Amish around.

Keith

Most Amish I’ve know allowed d.c. in the milk barn for years to run the vacuum pumps, I could never figure out what the difference was, but they wouldn’t use A.C. Electricity. Mennonites to the north in Minnesota will use any kind of equipment as long as its got steel wheels on it, I know a guy that lives around them and wishes the county would ban the steel wheels, because they go down the road as fast as they can and it just pulverizes the limestone on the road.

Another one of my uncles sold his farm to some Amish when he quit milking.
At least that way nobody would tear out all of the fences for the ditch to ditch farming practices that seem to be all the rage nowadays.