This essay examines Amish negotiations with modernity and society’s view of the Amish. Far from categorically rejecting the modern order, the Amish successfully participate in the larger economy and evaluate new technologies on the basis of their impact on core Amish values.
Historically, the Shakers and other religious groups similarly preserved a distinct identity while thriving in the broader economy. As for outsiders’ view of the Amish, since the 1950s the media have promulgated idealized images that reflect the larger society’s concerns and anxieties. While Indians, African-Americans, and Quakers have been similarly romanticized in the past, these groups no longer play this role. Yet the Amish survive as an idealized model of simplicity, harmony and virtue. Such idealization risks distortion, over-simplification, and political exploitation, and can co-exist with local hostility and tensions. Yet it also plays a useful cultural role as Americans grapple with issues of ethics, community and the impact of technology.
http://www.goshen.edu/mqr/pastissues/July08boyer.html