印地安那州的阿米什人（Amish）有325个教会，近4.6万名信徒，人数在美国各州中位居第三，仅次于宾夕法尼亚州和俄亥俄州。

阿米什教起源于基督新教的门诺派（Mennonite Church），崇尚简朴的生活，拒不使用电力等现代技术。阿米什人的历史可追溯至瑞士的重洗派（Anabaptist）运动。

美国大部分阿米什人说宾夕法尼亚高地德语（Pennsylvania Dutch），但在印地安那州南部有很多阿米什人说伯尔尼高地德语（Bernese Dutch）。

作为重洗派，阿米什人强调自愿接受洗礼，成年后自行决定是否信奉阿米什人的信仰。通常阿米什青少年在16至18岁进入成人自立（rumspringa）时期与外界发生交往后作出决定。

大部分阿米什人坚持简朴的生活方式，依靠马和轻马车进行短途运输，不使用电力、电视或电脑，穿着朴素、保守。在美国，阿米什人还以手工制作的高质量家具而闻名。

有关印地安那州的详情，请见DiscoverAmerica.com。更多阅读：http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/chinese/inbrief/2012/07/201207108739.html#ixzz3wQS54Ozo 

With 325 churches and nearly 46,000 practitioners, Indiana has the largest Amish population in the United States after Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Stemming from the Christian Mennonite church, the Amish faith embraces simplicity — including the rejection of modern technologies such as electricity.

The Amish trace their roots back to Switzerland’s Anabaptist movement. While most Amish in the United States speak Pennsylvania Dutch, many in southern Indiana speak Bernese German.

As Anabaptists, the Amish emphasize voluntary baptisms, so individuals decide as adults if they wish to join the Amish faith. This decision occurs after teenagers, usually 16–18 years old, socialize with the outside world during a period called “rumspringa,” or running around.

Adhering to a simple lifestyle, most Amish use a horse and buggy for local transportation; do not use electricity, televisions or computers; and wear plain, conservative clothing. In the United States, the Amish are also well known for the high-quality furniture they craft by hand.

Find out more about Indiana at DiscoverAmerica.com.

Read more: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/inbrief/2012/06/201206167567.html#ixzz3wQRc0Hyd