The Amish are considered to be conservative Protestants and most Amish consider themselves Anabaptists. Their ancestry comes from the Mennonite community. The Amish and the Mennonites were both a part of the Anabaptist movement in Europe during the time of the Reformation and were considered heretics by the Catholic and Protestant Churches. Many of the Anabaptists were put to death, while some fled to Switzerland and to the south of Germany to escape persecution.
The Anabaptists believe only adults confessing their faith should be baptized and should remain separate from the larger societies of religions. The Amish and other Anabaptists believe that a child cannot have a complete understanding of the Things of God and therefore should not be baptized. The name Anabaptist means rebaptizer.
All Amish children are expected to follow the will of their parents in all facets of life. It is not until they come of age that they may lead a lifestyle of their own choice. It is possible to not join the church and live in the Amish society. There are different Amish congregations that hold different interpretations of the rules of joining and keeping in contact with family members who do not choose to live in the Amish communities. The majority of the members are born and raised in the faith of the Amish communities. Converts from outside of the Amish communities are extremely rare. The Amish groups are experiencing several inherited disorders due to the restricted gene pool and intermarriages.
The Amish hold all their worship services in their homes, participating in farming activities to provide the sustenance for their families. They place a great importance on family, humility, community, and separation from the world.
There are twenty-two states in the United States and Canada where Amish live in their close-knit communities. The largest of these communities are in Lancaster Country, Pennsylvania, and Holmes County, Ohio. It is estimated that there are 228,000 Amish in the United States and about 1500 in southwestern Ontario, Canada. There are some Amish in Central America in a community near San Ignacio, Belize.
The four orders of Amish are the Swartzengruber, the Old Order, Andy Weaver, and the New Order of Amish. The most common of the Amish communities are the Old Order Amish. All communities operate independently from each other. The most conservative and strictest is the Swartengruber Amish and the second most conservative and strictest is the Old Order Amish. The Andy Weaver Amish are progressive and the New Order Amish are considered the most progressive