Certain comments by certain people here indicate a lack of awareness of the Amish and their values. They do not 'fear' technology. The Amish do not wish to be connected to the worldly system of dependence on large corporations which can, effectively, determine how, where and when a person may live their life. Hence, the Amish strive to minimize any usage of 'grid' electricity, gas, cars, trains, transportation networks, telephones/cell phones, computers and anything else corporate. They will use all of these to a degree - but not if using it means dependence on it. Effectively, the Amish are amongst the most best equipped peoples on earth to resist every threat against civilisation - especially global-interdependence civilisation. If the 'System' crashes tomorrow, the Amish certainly won't have a community in chaos. Rather, they will have to bear the pressures of millions deserting violence-prone cities and running to them looking for a place to survive!
They do not 'fear' technology. The Amish do not wish to be connected to the worldly system of dependence on large corporations which can, effectively, determine how, where and when a person may live their life.
Hence, the Amish strive to minimize any usage of 'grid' electricity, gas, cars, trains, transportation networks, telephones/cell phones, computers and anything else corporate.
They will use all of these to a degree - but not if using it means dependence on it.
Effectively, the Amish are amongst the most best equipped peoples on earth to resist every threat against civilisation - especially global-interdependence civilisation. If the 'System' crashes tomorrow, the Amish certainly won't have a community in chaos. Rather, they will have to bear the pressures of millions deserting violence-prone cities and running to them looking for a place to survive!