One mistake that many people make is attempting to understand the Amish as a religious sect. Really, they're more tribal; in fact, many Amish are essentially Bi

One mistake that many people make is attempting to understand the Amish as a religious sect. Really, they're more tribal; in fact, many Amish are essentially Biblically illiterate, as their "official" Bible is a translation in Hochdeutsch, which few understand. (Mennonites and New Order Amish tend to be more avowedly religious, however.) As to their way of life ... well, they're people, not a theme park exhibit of bucolic pacifism, and people are inherently messy and complex. None of the Amish sects support personal fulfillment and self-actualization, certainly, and the social penalties for transgression are steep. Even worse, the insular and passive nature of the communities end up giving support to those who physically and emotionally abuse their families, even if they're a very small number within the larger Amish society.