The Outsiders: Amish Community Speaks Out

For the roughly 220,000 Amish living in North America, Holmes County, Ohio, serves as a capital of Amish culture. With more than 40,000 Amish and 210 different church districts, it is home to the largest Amish settlement in the world.

Amish elders spoke with ABC News correspondent Jay Schadler about their decision to remain within the Amish community.

(ABC News)
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Simplicity and humility are foundations of the Amish culture.

"We've just got a different way of life," said an Amish elder who did not wish to be identified. The elder, who will be referred to as "John," spoke candidly with ABC News about temptations, faith and the life he and his wife built together during the past 40 years.

"We don't have electricity. We don't have telephones in the house. We don't have cars. We don't have TV, radios. We just kinda try to stay behind a little bit," John said.

John's wife added, "There is a quietness in this life. I would say family means a lot."

She told ABC News her daily mantra, explaining that "Who you are when you get up in the morning and who you are when you go to bed at night, that you did the best that you could, you know? And yes, we all sin, but your sins can be forgiven."

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Although the Amish traditionally do not use phones and electricity in their homes, liberal sects permit the use of technology in the workplace if it aids business. As a result, many shops have sheds with telephones and fax machines.

Holmes County has an exclusive newspaper and even a telephone conference line that started in late 2004. By calling a telephone number and entering a password, community members can be connected to other Amish people around the country within minutes.

"It's just news about Amish and Mennonites, it's not national news -- it's just in our language and news of happenings among Amish and Mennonite people," John said. "Somebody dies, somebody gets married. Sometimes an accident, and a car hit a horse and buggy."

Worldly Temptation

A period known as rumspringa, which loosely translates to "running around," is an Amish youth's time to discover the world outside the community. Among the Pennsylvania Dutch, it may begin at around age 16 and ends when the individual agrees to become baptized or join the church. Amish teenagers often take advantage of relaxed rules by experimenting with technology, driving cars, drinking and smoking.