A Peculiar People

Now back in print with a new essay, this classic of Iowa history focuses on the Old Order Amish Mennonites, the state's most distinctive religious minority. Sociologist Elmer Schwieder and historian Dorothy Schwieder began their research with the largest group of Old Order Amish in the state in April 1970; they extended their studies and friendships in later years to other Old Order settlements as well as the slightly less conservative Beachy Amish. "A Peculiar People" explores the origin and growth of the Old Order Amish in Iowa, their religious practices, economic organization, family life, the formation of new communities, and the vital issue of education. Thomas Morain's new essay describes issues for the Iowa Amish from the 1970s to today. The growth of utopian Amish communities across the nation, changes in occupation, the current state of education and health care, and the conscious balance between modern and traditional ways are reflected in an essay that describes how the Old Order dedication to Gelassenheit - the yielding of self to the interests of the larger community - has served its members well into the twenty-first century.

ISBN 1587298058   Pages 204 ISBN13 9781587298059 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher University of Iowa Press   Weight (grammes) 340 Imprint University of Iowa Press   Published in Iowa Format Paperback   Series title Bur Oak Book Publication date 15 Apr 2009   Height (mm) 229 Library of Congress 2008042343   Width (mm) 152 DEWEY 977.7008828973   Spine width (mm) 15 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level General

		A peculiar people in a brave new world : Iowa's Old Order Amish in recent years by Thomas J. Morain
1		The Old Order in Iowa		2
2		Origin and growth		9
3		Religious practices		23
4		Economic organization		37
5		Family life		54
6		Mobility and new communities		80
7		The school controversy		94
8		The vital issue : education		113
9		The Beachy Amish		129
10		The Plain People in the Midwest		141
App. A		An act relating to compulsory school attendance and educational standards		153
App. B		Church organization financial agreement		155
App. C		The Dortrecht Confession of Faith		156
		Notes		169
		Bibliography		178
		Index		185

"An excellent inventory of the life and customs of today's Iowa Amish and probably the best book ever done on the faith in the Midwest." - Des Moines Register"

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