Image source: Pixabay.com
The Amish are a distinctive ethno-religious group that traces its roots to the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland that followed on the coattails of the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The first leader of the Amish was Jakob Ammann, who sought to reform the Mennonite church, which is a branch of the Anabaptist movement. However, his ideas splintered his followers from other Mennonites living in Switzerland and Alsace in 1693. Although the Mennonites and the Amish share the same religious heritage and may look similar to outsiders, there are a number of theological and cultural differences between the groups. For example, Mennonites may wear patterned clothing.