>>16042492Amish is used as a blanket term but "anabaptists" is more appropriate as it includes all the different sects- amish, mennonites, hutterites etc, which are themselves divided into different communities mostly according to how much they allow themselves to use technology. obviously esther ann here belongs to one of the more liberal orders, called "conservative mennonites" as evidenced by the microwave, smartphone, fancy dress. the fact that she's allowing herself to be filmed and put on the internet as a kind of idol would be akin to doing double anal porn to most of the more conservative anabaptist sects, called "old order" Amish/Mennonites.
the gradations between sects are actually really interesting and it seems like each regional group has kinda figured out their own way of navigating these issues. for example, they have a thing against push-button electricity so they will have gas water heaters so they can still have hot showers, and exceptions have been made for electric tail lights on their wagons because so many of them get hit by drivers on rural roads. telephones are verboten but necessary for modern life so there will be one phone per village and sometimes they get an outsider (called "Englisher" to act as a kind of secretary). the sects are often fantastically wealthy and buy up large amounts of land, using it for semi-cooperative farming and industry.
their religion is very interesting as well, probably the most well-preserved part of their culture. adult baptism, deliberate eschewing all ornamentation (hence the drab clothes) to the point of some sects refusing to sing, instead choosing to kind of chant. prayer services are in community households, rotating weekly, with leaders elected from the community. they speak an archaic dialect of German.
