{"id":2391,"date":"2025-05-31T17:28:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T21:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/?p=2391"},"modified":"2025-05-31T17:46:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T21:46:19","slug":"amish-misconceptions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-misconceptions\/","title":{"rendered":"Amish Misconceptions | 12 Myths About Amish Life Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>We&#8217;re welcoming Erik Wesner, author of&nbsp;<\/em>Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive,&nbsp;<em>back to help clear up some common Amish misconceptions and myths.&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since most Americans have little regular contact with Amish people and their ways can seem so different from ours, there are several persistent misconceptions about Amish life and beliefs. We look at seven of the most common below, some of them, and explain why they are inaccurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*<em>This article was updated on May 31, 2025, to expand on additional common myths and reflect new insights from Amish communities.<\/em> <em>The original article was published on June 15, 2015. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-amish-dont-pay-taxes\">Myth: Amish Don&#8217;t Pay Taxes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-the-amish-think-all-technology-is-evil\">Myth: The Amish Think All Technology is Evil<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-the-amish-dont-use-pesticides-or-chemicals\">Myth: The Amish Don&#8217;t Use Pesticides or Chemicals<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-amish-bishops-control-their-churches\">Myth: Amish Bishops Control Their Churches<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-amish-women-have-few-rights\">Myth: Amish Women Have Few Rights<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#amish-misconceptions-amish-arent-allowed-to-read-the-bible\">Amish Misconceptions: Amish Aren&#8217;t Allowed to Read the Bible<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#amish-misconceptions-amish-parents-encourage-their-youth-to-go-wild-during-rumspringa\">Amish Misconceptions: Amish Parents Encourage Their Youth to \u201cGo Wild\u201d During Rumspringa<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-all-amish-are-farmers\">Myth: All Amish Are Farmers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-the-amish-reject-all-modern-medicine\">Myth: The Amish Reject All Modern Medicine<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#misconception-the-amish-are-a-homogeneous-group\">Misconception: The Amish Are a Homogeneous Group<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#amish-myth-amish-marriages-are-arranged\">Amish Myth: Amish Marriages are Arranged<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#myth-the-amish-never-interact-with-modern-society\">Myth: The Amish Never Interact With Modern Society<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#block-dc1ee075-75a4-4a1e-9fd5-921b86022db6\">Learn More About the Amish<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-amish-dont-pay-taxes\">Myth: Amish Don&#8217;t Pay Taxes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Do the Amish Pay Taxes?<\/strong><\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Yes. The Amish pay nearly every type of tax that Americans do, including federal and state income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. They also pay taxes to fund public education, even though many do not send their children to public schools, opting for parochial church schooling instead. Amish are exempt from paying Social Security, however, which they consider to be an insurance program and against their religious beliefs. This exemption is likely the basis for the misconception that the Amish don&#8217;t pay taxes.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-the-amish-think-all-technology-is-evil\">Myth: The Amish Think All Technology is Evil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do the Amish Think Technology is Evil?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Amish do own and read the Bible. Bible readings may be part of a daily devotional or a Sunday reading at home (on the alternate Sunday when Amish do not have church). This myth may arise from the fact that Amish tend to discourage the heavy focus on personal interpretation, which they see as a hallmark of more evangelical faith traditions. Instead, with their community emphasis, they give comparatively more authority to the church and its ministers to interpret and help to understand the Bible.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>However, they recognize that limited use of technologies, which they otherwise restrict, such as cars, can be a necessity (this is why many Amish hire non-Amish drivers for longer trips). Many also recognize that they benefit from the fruits of science and technology, such as in the medical care they receive. Some Amish permit greater levels of technology than others, but all restrict it in some way for concerns over preserving family and community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-the-amish-dont-use-pesticides-or-chemicals\">Myth: The Amish Don&#8217;t Use Pesticides or Chemicals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do the Amish Use Pesticides or Chemicals? <\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Yes. While a growing number of Amish farmers cultivate their land using organic methods, the majority of Amish farmers in fact practice conventional agriculture, using chemicals as other farmers do to control pests, for example. Traditions change over time, however, and those skeptical about the effectiveness of organic farming may be won over as more and more Amish succeed in the organic market.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-amish-bishops-control-their-churches\">Myth: Amish Bishops Control Their Churches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do Amish Bishops Control the Church?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">While some Amish bishops may earn a reputation for being heavy-handed, this idea assumes that bishops are given the power to dictate rules to their communities. While the bishop is a respected and influential figure in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-church\/\">Amish church<\/a>, decisions about the direction of a church (such as over technology or excommunication) are decided collectively by congregational vote. The bishop does have the authority to bring a given issue to a vote, however.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Amish bishops are chosen from among the ministers (who in turn are chosen from the male members of a congregation). Bishops, like any other people, will have a variety of temperaments, which for better or worse may come through in their leadership of a church. An example of an Amish (or Amish-esque) group which did have a leader who appeared to control his community is the Bergholz, Ohio group, whose members made national news in 2012 when they were arrested for forcibly cutting the beards of other Amish. This group, called \u201ccult-like\u201d by one expert, is considered an anomaly, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-amish-women-have-few-rights\">Myth: Amish Women Have Few Rights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do Amish Women Have Rights?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Yes. Among the Amish, men are formally the heads of their households. However, women can have strong influence in their homes, and may make many decisions (even though larger decisions are typically taken together).<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As in any culture, there are healthy and unhealthy marriages among the Amish. Amish women are seen as sisters in the church, and as such participate as equals in church functions, having a vote in ordinations and church matters as men do (women do not serve in the ministry, however). Amish women run households and are important contributors to the home finances.<br \/><br \/>In addition to the numerous duties they fulfill as mothers and housewives, some Amish women are quite entrepreneurial, with a number running their own prospering businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-2395\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"1072\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.26.31-PM.png\" alt=\"Amish Misconceptions: Amish Women Have Few Rights\" class=\"wp-image-2395\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.26.31-PM.png 740w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.26.31-PM-207x300.png 207w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.26.31-PM-707x1024.png 707w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.26.31-PM-580x840.png 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Overlooked? Downtrodden? Hardly. Amish women are an entrepreneurial and influential part of Amish society.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s Note:<\/strong> You might be surprised to learn that women are heavily involved with the Amish woodshops we work with. Many of them are in leadership roles, come to our showroom and conduct training, and play key roles in the business. Read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/women-in-amish-woodshops\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6220\">Amish women in the woodshops<\/a>. You can also listen to our podcast on the topic, below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe allow=\"autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"175\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/do-amish-women-work-in-furniture-woodshops\/id1531771680?i=1000505219257\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"amish-misconceptions-amish-arent-allowed-to-read-the-bible\">Amish Misconceptions: Amish Aren&#8217;t Allowed to Read the Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Are Amish Allowed to Read the Bible?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Amish do own and read the Bible. Bible readings may be part of a daily devotional or a Sunday reading at home (on the alternate Sunday when Amish do not have church). This myth may arise from the fact that Amish tend to discourage the heavy focus on personal interpretation which they see as a hallmark of more evangelical faith traditions. Instead, with their community emphasis, they give comparatively more authority to the church and its ministers to interpret and help to understand the Bible.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-2396\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1596\" height=\"1044\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.49.31-PM.png\" alt=\"Myth: Amish aren't allowed to read the Bible\" class=\"wp-image-2396\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.49.31-PM.png 1596w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.49.31-PM-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.49.31-PM-1024x670.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-17-at-12.49.31-PM-580x379.png 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1596px) 100vw, 1596px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Amish base many of their core beliefs on Bible teachings, but rely on church leadership for interpretation of those teachings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s true that some Amish may be more comfortable and willing to discuss Scripture and Biblical meaning than others. Nonetheless, Amish certainly do study and discuss the Bible on their own time, in some cases using study guides and devotionals produced by non-Amish sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"amish-misconceptions-amish-parents-encourage-their-youth-to-go-wild-during-rumspringa\">Amish Misconceptions: Amish Parents Encourage Their Youth to \u201cGo Wild\u201d During <em>Rumspringa<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some Amish youth do participate in parties, alcohol and drug use, and premarital sex during the so-called <em>Rumspringa<\/em> (aka \u201crunning around\u201d) years, typically between ages 16 and the early to mid-20s. The bad behavior of some Amish youth, which in some cases makes local or national news, is probably at the root of this misconception (further fueled by a number of media depictions of wild Amish youth, such as the television program \u201cBreaking Amish\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, these stories are more the exception than the norm for Amish adolescents. Like non-Amish mothers and fathers, Amish parents who otherwise try to model Christian behavior for their children certainly do not encourage them to behave immorally during this time (though they realize that with greater freedoms, it may happen). Amish parents pray that their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-children\/\">children<\/a>&nbsp;uphold the Christian values that they have been taught since early childhood as they navigate the adolescent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>That does it for Erik&#8217;s contributions. You can read more of Erik&#8217;s work at <a href=\"https:\/\/amishamerica.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Amish America<\/a>. We shall continue on with even more Amish myths and misconceptions we&#8217;ve been asked about since this blog was initially published. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-all-amish-are-farmers\">Myth: All Amish Are Farmers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Are All Amish People Farmers? <\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">No. The fact that you are reading this answer on an Amish furniture website is one sign that the Amish have a variety of professions. Farming has been historically central to Amish communities, but the Amish now engage in diverse occupations such as carpentry, construction, manufacturing, and retail. <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-the-amish-reject-all-modern-medicine\">Myth: The Amish Reject All Modern Medicine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do the Amish Reject All Modern Medicine? <\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">The Amish do utilize modern medical services, including hospitals and doctors. They typically prefer natural remedies initially, but they do not categorically reject modern healthcare and seek it when they deem it necessary. <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"misconception-the-amish-are-a-homogeneous-group\">Misconception: The Amish Are a Homogeneous Group<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Are all Amish the Same? <\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">No, they aren&#8217;t. There is significant diversity among Amish communities. Read all the details on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-types-of-amish\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2298\">different types of Amish<\/a>. <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"amish-myth-amish-marriages-are-arranged\">Amish Myth: Amish Marriages are Arranged<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Are Amish Marriages Arranged? <\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">No. The Amish choose their own spouses. The community has customs and courtship traditions, but families or church leaders do not arrange the marriages. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-wedding-traditions\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"9897\">Amish wedding traditions<\/a>. <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth-the-amish-never-interact-with-modern-society\">Myth: The Amish Never Interact With Modern Society<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do the Amish Interact With the English and The Rest of Society? <\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">The Amish routinely interact with the &#8220;English&#8221; (non-Amish). This is especially true in business contexts. They hire drivers, shop in non-Amish stores, partake in tourism, and they work with us to sell their heirloom-quality furniture to the masses!<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I have lived in &#8220;Amish country&#8221; on several occasions, and the local stores would even set up sections of the parking lot for the Amish to tie up their horses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-dc1ee075-75a4-4a1e-9fd5-921b86022db6\">Learn More About the Amish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-5cc83fec-9a5a-4cd4-99e8-a9d9a4432f7a\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-types-of-amish\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2298\">Types of Amish<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-beliefs\/\">Amish Beliefs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-clothing\/\">Amish Clothing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/6-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-amish-and-money\/\">6 Things You Might Not Know About the Amish and Money<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-children\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2327\">Amish Children<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-transportation\/\">Amish Transportation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-church\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amish Church<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amish Businesses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amish History<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-families\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2185\">Amish Families<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-dutch-the-amish-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pennsylvania Dutch &#8211; the Amish Language<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/what-the-amish-read\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What the Amish Read<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/everything-you-want-to-know-about-the-amish-and-technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Amish and Technology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-wedding-traditions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amish Wedding Traditions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/guest-post-where-the-amish-people-live\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Places You Didn\u2019t Expect to See Amish People<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/10-ways-amish-people-travel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10 Ways Amish People Travel<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-games-and-entertainment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amish Games and Entertainment&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n  <div class=\"related-post slider\">\r\n        <div class=\"headline\">Related Posts<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"post-list owl-carousel\">\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"What Language do the Amish Speak?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-dutch-the-amish-language\/?related_post_from=613\">\r\n        What Language do the Amish Speak?  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"What Language do the Amish Speak?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-dutch-the-amish-language\/?related_post_from=613\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2240\" height=\"1260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"What language do the Amish speak?\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch.jpg 2240w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2240px) 100vw, 2240px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    This post was originally published on July 25th, 2013. It was updated on January 30th, 2025. If you have spoken <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-dutch-the-amish-language\/?related_post_from=613\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Cherry Wood Furniture-The Lowdown\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/put-a-cherry-on-top\/?related_post_from=915\">\r\n        Cherry Wood Furniture-The Lowdown  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"Cherry Wood Furniture-The Lowdown\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/put-a-cherry-on-top\/?related_post_from=915\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"794\" height=\"1124\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"CHERRY WOOD INFOGRAPHIC\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC.png 794w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC-211x300.png 211w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC-723x1024.png 723w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    You Put Cherries On Top For A Reason! Why cherry wood? There are so many wood choices, is there really <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/put-a-cherry-on-top\/?related_post_from=915\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Amish Recipe: Apple Sponge Pudding\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-recipe-apple-sponge-pudding\/?related_post_from=1405\">\r\n        Amish Recipe: Apple Sponge Pudding  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"Amish Recipe: Apple Sponge Pudding\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-recipe-apple-sponge-pudding\/?related_post_from=1405\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"amish recipe: apple sponge pudding\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop.png 600w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop-580x870.png 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    In which I use far too many italics, and redefine \"pudding.\" I just plain do not understand how this is <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-recipe-apple-sponge-pudding\/?related_post_from=1405\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/meet-amish-makers-steven-sons\/?related_post_from=1479\">\r\n        Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/meet-amish-makers-steven-sons\/?related_post_from=1479\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4591\" height=\"3796\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"AmishMakersSteven\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743.jpg 4591w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743-1024x846.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743-580x479.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4591px) 100vw, 4591px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    We can say, with narrative\u00a0certainty, that our\u00a0Amish Makers' love for working with their hands starts young, and with ferocity. Steven <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/meet-amish-makers-steven-sons\/?related_post_from=1479\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n      \r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <script>\r\n      <\/script>\r\n  <style>\r\n    .related-post {}\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list {\r\n      text-align: left;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item {\r\n      margin: 10px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .headline {\r\n      font-size: 18px !important;\r\n      color: #999999 !important;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_title {\r\n      font-size: 16px;\r\n      color: #3f3f3f;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n      text-decoration: none;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_thumb {\r\n      max-height: 220px;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_excerpt {\r\n      font-size: 13px;\r\n      color: #3f3f3f;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n      text-decoration: none;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .owl-dots .owl-dot {\r\n          }\r\n\r\n      <\/style>\r\n      <script>\r\n      jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\r\n        $(\".related-post .post-list\").owlCarousel({\r\n          items: 3,\r\n          responsiveClass: true,\r\n          responsive: {\r\n            0: {\r\n              items: 1,\r\n            },\r\n            768: {\r\n              items: 2,\r\n            },\r\n            1200: {\r\n              items: 3,\r\n            }\r\n          },\r\n                      rewind: true,\r\n                                loop: true,\r\n                                center: true,\r\n                                autoplay: true,\r\n            autoplayHoverPause: true,\r\n                                nav: true,\r\n            navSpeed: 1000,\r\n            navText: ['<i class=\"fas fa-chevron-left\"><\/i>', '<i class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i>'],\r\n                                dots: true,\r\n            dotsSpeed: 1200,\r\n                                                    rtl: false,\r\n          \r\n        });\r\n      });\r\n    <\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;re welcoming Erik Wesner, author of&nbsp;Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive,&nbsp;back to help clear up some common Amish misconceptions and myths.&nbsp; Since most Americans have little regular contact with Amish people and their ways can seem so different from ours, there are several persistent misconceptions about Amish life and beliefs. We look at seven of the most common below, some of them, and explain why they are inaccurate. *This article&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":26605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1429,1433,179],"tags":[2576,2575],"class_list":["post-2391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-about-the-amish","category-amish-questions-answered","category-older","tag-amish-misconceptions","tag-amish-myths"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2391"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26609,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391\/revisions\/26609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}