Are airplanes not allowed to fly over Amish societies? If they are allowed, how do the Amish explain this?

They all know about things like airplanes. They just choose to have nothing to do with them.

It’s not The Village. They don’t pretend that advanced technology doesn’t exist; they simply don’t own any themselves.

I’ve rode the dog a few times (Grey hound) and I’ve seen them on them and wondered why myself.

Even the Amish aren’t powerful and influential enough to reroute commercial aviation aircraft routes so they don’t fly over their individual communities.

ha ha

Whaaatt…. did you see aliens nathanial?

I was in Amish country in Pennsylvania and lots of horse and buggies were on the road while cars carefully passed by. The Kmart even had racks for them to tie up the horses.

They probably aren’t any more confused by airplanes than they are by all the cars passing them when they are driving their tractors and buggies into town. There is a very large Amish community a few miles from where I live. I see Amish everyday. They go to Walmart, McDonalds, just every where everyone else goes. You should see it when the teenagers are on Rumspringa. They go in McDonald’s bathroom looking “plain” and come out looking like a normal teenager in regular clothes and makeup. A lot of them have telephones in their barns. They can’t have them in the house but apparently it’s ok to have them in the barn.

lol the Amish don’t delude themselves into thinking technology doesn’t exist.

I asked this question in my Amish Chat room, but didn’t get any replies.
Maybe I made them mad.

Give them a little credit.

lol

There was a time a long time ago when owning a parcel of land meant you owned everything from the ground up to the heavens. Then airplanes came along, and now everything over a certain height is considered public I think. That’s why airplanes are allowed to fly over your house, or an Amish town.

Ahh, I see. So it’s a way of life, not a seclusion and unacceptance.

Are the kids allowed to leave the society if they choose to when they grow up?

@fundevogel – Pretty handy guys when it comes to cars.

This is one of the few questions that literally made me laugh out loud before I read any of the answers

Ha. I suppose if you’ve never been around Amish people this is kind of understandable. I guess none live near you?

I’ve heard they can choose to leave when they reach a certain age. Don’t know if that’s the case, though. Can anyone verify?

@hug_of_war- Me as well. Ha ha!

@absalom I can verify, I’ve been to Amish country several times and even had dinner at a Mennonite’s house. Granted, Mennonite =/ Amish, but it’s pretty close. They can choose to leave at some point (not sure exactly, but around 18 or equivalent ‘maturity’ age, i assume), their way of life doesn’t take to being forced. Many do leave at this point, but apparently a majority either stay or return after a short period.

@absalom @VanCityKid See Rumspringa”

@BhacSsylan – Does the Amish society teach the standard level of education so that they are able to enter Universities?

I had a friend in college that was “ex” Amish. He listened to death metal.

You know, I’m not sure. That visit with the Mennonites was a long time ago, we’re talking at least 5 or 6 years, so I can’t remember. I believe it is mostly home schooling, and so it may not be university standards, but even if it’s not, GEDs can be gotten without a huge degree of difficulty. Keep in mind, most high school classes, especially basic ones such as earth science, math, and literature, have a place in Amish culture, so they would have at least been introduced to it, if not fully schooled.

Amish have no more difficult in learning then anyone else, and I’d expect that the culture may give them some better powers of concentration, so I’d expect that even if their education was lacking, taking classes for a short period and obtaining a GRE would not be all that difficult. And I would not find it surprising if the majority of parents supported their children if they were to attempt this, especially as this period of adolescence is expected. And as @judochop had an Amish friend in college, it is obviously possible.

Sorry I can’t remember much more, but hope I helped.

Btw, not all Amish sects completely ignore technology. There are those who drive a truck and use a few modern tools. Also, they apparently may use modern technology in commerce. If you go to Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia you will find Amish merchants using electronic cash registers. And these are Amish, not Mennonites.