Important Terms I Important Terms II Important Terms III U.S. Soil Contributions

Original religious group from which the Amish religion is derived. Part of the “Radical Reformation” of the 16 th century.

Anabaptists

The oldest Anabaptist hymnal and the oldest Christian song book in continuous use. It is used today by North American Amish congregations.

Ausbund

Amish shunning practice (Starts with an M)

Meinding, Shunning, Gelassenheit Chritenpflicht, Rumspringa

The most important factor of Amish life. The submission to the will of God. Based on Jesus' words, “not my will but thine be done.”

Gelassenheit

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Means “running around or jumping.” Refers to a period of adolescence for some members of the Amish that begins around the age of sixteen and ends when a youth chooses baptism within the Amish church or instead leaves the community.

Rumspringa

A term used by some religious groups to allege a general fallen state of traditional Christianity. Claims that this fallen state is not representative of the faith founded by Jesus and promulgated through his twelve Apostles.

The Great Apostasy

Christian Creed in which the equality of the three persons of the Trinity is explicitly stated. Catholics, Episcopalians, and Lutherans all agree to this Creed.

Athanasian Creed

Name of the movement started by John and Charles Wesley and a handful of other students at Oxford University in which they devoted themselves to a rigorous search for holiness and service to others.

Holy Club

Of or relating to England or the English.

Anglican

Quaker belief referring to God's presence within a person and to a direct and personal experience of God.

Inner Light

The more traditional style of worship among Quakers. Participants gather together in “expectant waiting” for divine leadings. Sometimes a meeting is entirely silent, sometimes quite a few people speak.

Unprogrammed Worship

Sacred text documenting the history of the lost tribes of Israel in the Americas.

Book of Mormon

An ancient prophet who buried the sacred history of the Americas compiled by his father, Mormon, in New York, in the early fifth century C.E. He later appeared to Joseph Smith as an angel to direct him to the burial site.

Moroni

Term used to refer to several unaffiliated religious movements that hold that grave defects were introduced by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians into Christianity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is an example.

Restorationism

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Sacred text for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Contains contains five sections: Selections from the Book of Moses, The Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith—Matthew, Joseph Smith—History and The Articles of Faith.

The Pearl of Great Price

New Amsterdam (New York)

Lutheranism

The State of Pennsylvania

Society of Friends

The State of Utah

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

New London, Connecticut

Episcopalian

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Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Amish

At the forefront of the abolitionist movement.

Society of Friends

Responsible for the creation of an American non-governmental group that sent aid to Europe after World War II. Today, the organization works with partners in 50 countries to help people grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods and recover from disasters. It is one of the largest Protestant charity groups of its kind.

Lutheran (Lutheran World Relief)

Because of their beliefs, this group was one of few groups which attempted to defend the Native Americans from American expansion.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

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The persecution of this group in New York led to the first instance in the American colonies of settlers petitioning for religious freedom.

The Society of Friends

First Christian denomination to adopt an official “Social Creed.” Creed was written to express outrage over the miserable lives of the millions of workers in factories, mines, mills, and tenements.

Methodism