Amisch alli Daag : fromhet i funktion? : Efterföljelsen gestaltad i amishfolkets kyrkoliv
(2001)- Abstract
- The thesis focuses on the way the Amish view their life and actions as Christians. With its basis in first-hand observations from the settlements of Dover (DE) and Lancaster (PA) the inquiry describes, analyzes and interprets the ecclesiastical life of the Old Order Amish from an ecclesiological viewpoint.
Utilizing a specific model of analysis the dissertation examines the institutions (church/family/school), the process of initiation (baptism/communion), and the ecclesiastical activities (wedding/ordination/worship services/devotional life) of the Amish church. In addition ways in which the members of this religious group interact with each other and relate to the secular state and to the outsiders are... (More) - The thesis focuses on the way the Amish view their life and actions as Christians. With its basis in first-hand observations from the settlements of Dover (DE) and Lancaster (PA) the inquiry describes, analyzes and interprets the ecclesiastical life of the Old Order Amish from an ecclesiological viewpoint.
Utilizing a specific model of analysis the dissertation examines the institutions (church/family/school), the process of initiation (baptism/communion), and the ecclesiastical activities (wedding/ordination/worship services/devotional life) of the Amish church. In addition ways in which the members of this religious group interact with each other and relate to the secular state and to the outsiders are scrutinized.
The key concepts are drawn from the specific religious context in which they are continuously used, i.e. they emanate from the vocabulary adopted by the conservative branch of the Amish church. Such basic elements are e.g. The Dordrecht Confession of Faith (1632), the principle of imitating Christ (Nachfolge), the humility concept (Demut), the ecclesiastical rules (Ordnung), the separation motif (Absonderung) and the fellowship of the baptized believers (Gemee). Interwoven into the ecclesiastical activities are unique theological and ecclesiological aspects.
Factors of crucial importance in the Amish church are: mutually accepted but orally transmitted ecclesiastical rules; co-operation between members and ordained leaders; initiation of new members into the church by instruction and baptism; integration of members by exhorting them to marry according to traditional customs; worship services held in private homes; daily devotions carried out in family units presupposing a traditional lifestyle; diaconic activities; separation preventing the Amish from assimilating with the prevailing society.
The investigation pays attention to the fact that the Nachfolge-motif is gradually changing as Amish are forced to new interpretations caused by escalating social changes in the outside world and by occupational changes among themselves. The analysis gives evidence that baptism alone does not incorporate the candidate into full membership status: participation in communion is required for completing the membership.
The Nachfolge-perspective and the principle of humility (Demut) are the primary factors, the ecclesiological hub, around which all the investigated activities revolve. This is the concluding statement of the dissertation. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Popular Abstract in Swedish
Avhandlingen behandlar den kristna minoriteten Old Order Amish i USA ur ett ecklesiologiskt perspektiv. Genom att dels använda centrala begrepp som utgår från den undersökta gruppens egen religiösa vokabulär, dels några av de angreppssätt som är förhärskande inom det kyrkovetenskapliga studiet, framträder en fördjupad bild av amishfolkets insida.
Hur uppfattar amish sitt liv som kristna? Har gruppen en egen ecklesiologi och vilka dokument fungerar som troslära? Hur definierar och organiserar amishfolket sin gemenskapsform? På vilket sätt initieras och integreras presumtiva medlemmar i kyrkolivet? Vad betyder ledarna för kyrkans fortlevnad? Med vilka medel försöker amish förena... (More) - Popular Abstract in Swedish
Avhandlingen behandlar den kristna minoriteten Old Order Amish i USA ur ett ecklesiologiskt perspektiv. Genom att dels använda centrala begrepp som utgår från den undersökta gruppens egen religiösa vokabulär, dels några av de angreppssätt som är förhärskande inom det kyrkovetenskapliga studiet, framträder en fördjupad bild av amishfolkets insida.
Hur uppfattar amish sitt liv som kristna? Har gruppen en egen ecklesiologi och vilka dokument fungerar som troslära? Hur definierar och organiserar amishfolket sin gemenskapsform? På vilket sätt initieras och integreras presumtiva medlemmar i kyrkolivet? Vad betyder ledarna för kyrkans fortlevnad? Med vilka medel försöker amish förena de liturgiska uttrycksformerna med det dagliga livet?
Avhandlingens fokus ligger på den undersökta kyrkogruppens sätt att hantera sin överlevnad utifrån två primära motiv: efterföljelse och ödmjukhet. Amishfolkets kyrkoliv ses därmed ur ett fromhetsperspektiv underbyggt genom fältstudier i Nordamerika och kyrkogruppens egna kyrkliga handlingar såsom handböcker och kyrkoordningar. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/20302
- author
- von Martens, Markus LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Teologie doktor Dahlén, Rune W, Stockholm
- organization
- alternative title
- Amisch alli Daag : Piety in Action? : Imitation of Christ as Expressed by the Amish
- publishing date
- 2001
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Pennsylvania., Ordnung, Old Order Amish, Nachfolge, Mennonites, Lancaster, Dover, Dordrecht Confession of Faith, Delaware, Beachy Amish, Anabaptism, Amish, worship, spirituality, piety, ordination, imitation of Christ, hymnology, humility, ecclesiology, ecclesiastical rules, diaconic activity, creed, baptism, confession of faith, church, communion, General, systematic and practical Christian theology, Kristen teologi (allmän, systematisk och praktisk), History of the Christian church, Kristna kyrkans historia
- pages
- 431 pages
- publisher
- Arcus
- defense location
- November 17th, 2001, 10.15 a.m. , Carolinsalen, Kungshuset, Lundagård
- defense date
- 2001-11-17 10:15:00
- ISBN
- 91-88553-07-8
- language
- Swedish
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Practical Theology (015017062)
- id
- 6e7bc7b7-f88d-424a-af42-d8d9b0108049 (old id 20302)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 16:22:35
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 20:40:56
@phdthesis{6e7bc7b7-f88d-424a-af42-d8d9b0108049,
abstract = {{The thesis focuses on the way the Amish view their life and actions as Christians. With its basis in first-hand observations from the settlements of Dover (DE) and Lancaster (PA) the inquiry describes, analyzes and interprets the ecclesiastical life of the Old Order Amish from an ecclesiological viewpoint.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Utilizing a specific model of analysis the dissertation examines the institutions (church/family/school), the process of initiation (baptism/communion), and the ecclesiastical activities (wedding/ordination/worship services/devotional life) of the Amish church. In addition ways in which the members of this religious group interact with each other and relate to the secular state and to the outsiders are scrutinized.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The key concepts are drawn from the specific religious context in which they are continuously used, i.e. they emanate from the vocabulary adopted by the conservative branch of the Amish church. Such basic elements are e.g. The Dordrecht Confession of Faith (1632), the principle of imitating Christ (Nachfolge), the humility concept (Demut), the ecclesiastical rules (Ordnung), the separation motif (Absonderung) and the fellowship of the baptized believers (Gemee). Interwoven into the ecclesiastical activities are unique theological and ecclesiological aspects.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Factors of crucial importance in the Amish church are: mutually accepted but orally transmitted ecclesiastical rules; co-operation between members and ordained leaders; initiation of new members into the church by instruction and baptism; integration of members by exhorting them to marry according to traditional customs; worship services held in private homes; daily devotions carried out in family units presupposing a traditional lifestyle; diaconic activities; separation preventing the Amish from assimilating with the prevailing society.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The investigation pays attention to the fact that the Nachfolge-motif is gradually changing as Amish are forced to new interpretations caused by escalating social changes in the outside world and by occupational changes among themselves. The analysis gives evidence that baptism alone does not incorporate the candidate into full membership status: participation in communion is required for completing the membership.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The Nachfolge-perspective and the principle of humility (Demut) are the primary factors, the ecclesiological hub, around which all the investigated activities revolve. This is the concluding statement of the dissertation.}},
author = {{von Martens, Markus}},
isbn = {{91-88553-07-8}},
keywords = {{Pennsylvania.; Ordnung; Old Order Amish; Nachfolge; Mennonites; Lancaster; Dover; Dordrecht Confession of Faith; Delaware; Beachy Amish; Anabaptism; Amish; worship; spirituality; piety; ordination; imitation of Christ; hymnology; humility; ecclesiology; ecclesiastical rules; diaconic activity; creed; baptism; confession of faith; church; communion; General; systematic and practical Christian theology; Kristen teologi (allmän; systematisk och praktisk); History of the Christian church; Kristna kyrkans historia}},
language = {{swe}},
publisher = {{Arcus}},
school = {{Lund University}},
title = {{Amisch alli Daag : fromhet i funktion? : Efterföljelsen gestaltad i amishfolkets kyrkoliv}},
year = {{2001}},
}