The Amish Attitude Toward Technology
“The practise of discernment helps us to realise that we do have choices about the kind of family life we cultivate. We do not simply have to accept whatever the consumer culture dictates, including the deliberate targeting of children by the advertising industry. Neither do we have to reject modern culture wholesale in the attempt to protect our children from everything potentially harmful.
We can make our own choices about how we celebrate Christmas or birthdays or the changing seasons, without accepting any pre-packaged consumerist forms that contradict our own discernment of what is life-giving and sustaining. We need a practise of continual discernment to ask of every kind of technology, activity, food or entertainment ‘is this good for me, for my children, for us as a family?’
This is close to the Amish attitude to technology, which is not a blanket rejection, but judges any proposed technological innovation by the impact it will have on the family and community. This is an excellent starting point for us as Quakers too, even if the conclusions we come to may often look quite different.”
— Craig Barnett, 2013 (source)
Local development worker for Britain Yearly Meeting
Today’s Invitation
Write a few lines about the ideal culture you would like your home to have. Practice discernment about what possessions, traditions, and forms of entertainment are good for your household.
This Week’s Query
How do you maintain integrity in your sexual relationships?
Are you informed by faith in your relationship to your body and desires?
Banner image: Joey Hartmann-Dow
