Summer 2004

When the Amish Make Choices

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Kate Matthews

Home: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Major: Sociology

I.S. Title: The Bible or Beer? A Look at Amish Rumspringa and Baptism

Adviser: David McConnell

Kate Matthews found herself weaving along winding rural roads this year, gathering data on the teenage years of Ohio’s Amish. She looked particularly at the longstanding custom of rumspringa, or "running around," in which young teens are allowed to experience the outside world and sow their wild oats. In the woods, on the farm, and even in abandoned strip mines, some young men and women sample alcohol, drugs, and sex. Local police are sometimes called to intervene when these gatherings of teens get out of hand.

One of the Amish beliefs about rumspringa is that after experiencing the decadence of the outside world, young people will want to return to the safety, security, and spirituality of their kin. More often than not, the young people do return, but some leave permanently after the experience.

In her research for "The Bible or Beer: A Look at Amish Rumspringa and Baptism," Matthews looked for factors that might determine whether teens will choose to become baptized into the order or venture out on their own.

Matthews’ interest in the Amish was sparked by a class with David McConnell (anthropology), who researches Amish life. "I came to realize that not much has been written about Amish teenagers and the process by which they decide to stay or go," says Matthews.

Finding the Amish was no problem. Holmes County, just south of Wooster, is home to the largest population of Amish in the United States. Gaining access to the Amish was another matter. The "simple people" are known for protecting their privacy and limiting interactions with the outside world. Fortunately, the family of Matthews’ roommate, Laura Jeanne Cerniglia, lives in Holmes County and helped the student make some connections.

Gaining the trust and confidence of her new acquaintances took time, especially when she pulled out a pocket tape recorder and laid it on their tables. Gradually they warmed up to their outside observer and occasionally greeted her with fresh-baked cookies and milk.

The next obstacle for Matthews was trying to interview teenagers privately. "The Amish are very family oriented, and they all wanted to sit in on the interviews," she says. "I don’t think they distrusted me as much as they wanted to be a part of the conversation. It was a little uncomfortable. I think the teenagers would have been more open if we had been alone, but we were able to make it work."

Matthews conducted ten interviews with Old Order and New Order Amish teenagers and adults. She also interviewed three ex-Amish (one ex-Old Order female and two ex-Swartzentruber males) along with a Holmes County police officer. Mathews referred to her interviewees as a "snowball sample" – not perfectly scientific but sufficient for research.

Curiosity worked both ways. "I wanted to learn as much about the Amish as I could, but they had a lot of questions for me, too." Once, Matthews was asked how many children were in her family. Her answer, just two, stunned the Amish, who are used to large families. During another interview, a young mother plopped a newborn baby on Matthews’ lap. Noting her discomfort, the mother said, "What, you’re 22 and you don’t know how to hold a baby?"

Cultural differences aside, Matthews forged strong bonds with her Amish subjects. "Meeting the people and getting to know them in their homes was an amazing experience," she says. "I was even invited to a wedding this summer."

Matthews drew several conclusions from her research. Her findings suggest that some Old Order and most Swartzentruber Amish still participate in rumspringa. New Order church districts and some Old Order families have creatively modified this rite of passage by instituting singings, youth meetings, volleyball games, caroling, and a more formal protocol for dating. Among the affiliations, the motivation for baptism was the same. "Becoming baptized provides a connection to Christ," says Matthews. "Their decision to remain Amish provides a system of support and protection."

Matthews knows that she learned almost as much about herself as she did about the Amish during her research. "I had some preconceived notions about the Amish that were wrong," she says. "There is diversity among the Amish just as there is in any other community. They may be private people, but they are also very warm and inviting. I am more aware of the Amish around me now, and I respect their commitment to a different way of life."

Where Matthews’ I.S. experience will lead remains to be seen. She is interested in the FBI or Secret Service work. Her experience of gaining access and building trust to gain information from another culture may give her a terrific foundation for intelligence work.