Hmm. Did my comments yesterday on this entry get lost? They were good comments. At least I like to think so.

[about the Amish shopping goodness that is Yoder Department Store in Shipshewana, Indiana? I though it survived, but it may have gotten deleted inadvertently with the spam. Sorry. but all I found at Yoder online were Amish jeans and hats... -ed.]

Nah, the ones in reply to this post, with Investigative Reporting about how this isn't Amish at all -- it's Seventh Day Adventists, using the word Amish for its marketing power. It's not even Mennonites selling Amish stuff, which is the normal order of exploitation.

Seventh Day Adventists are a Baptist thing, coming out of the Second Great Awakening, with no connection to the Anabaptist movement — the Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites (Community Playthings!), and Church of the Brethren — except that many US anabaptist churches got caught up in that tent-revival era. (Which is why most U.S. Mennonites, and the Amish, are teetotallers and anti-dancing and all that.)

Anyway, this explains the decidedly non-Amish theology you'll find if you explore that site.

Yoder's is a real store where actual Amish people in northern Indiana go to shop. (Also, tourists.)

[!! Crazy English! I'm a little appalled by that, thanks for the heads up. -ed.]

Well to be pedantic (and I am), the correct spelling is actually Seventh-day Adventist. Matthew Miller's history is in the ballpark but not totally correct. The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA)Church was officially formed as such in 1860. It arose out of the Millerite movement (named after Baptist preacher William Miller who taught that the end of the world was at hand with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ). Various dates were set, the most famous being October 22, 1844; all of which (obviously) passed. While the Millerites were centred in the "Burned-over District" of Western New York State, where the Second Great awakening was also centred, they were some years after the Second Great Awakening. The other SDA-Baptist connection is their seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath belief which the SDAs took from the Seventh-day Baptists.
Miller is correct that there is little or no historical connection between the Amish & SDAs. It should also be pointed out that the beliefs of the PlainlyDressed clothing site in no way reflect mainstream SDA views. 99% of SDAs look (relatively) normal, indistinguishable from non-SDAs.

I always enjoy reading the various remarks about our website all around the cyber-world. Regardless of opinion, we are always thankful for the free advertising. I guess the saying proves true that "negative publicity is often the BEST advertising." *grin*

Anyway, I think the comments are interesting, when no one seems to notice that the NAME (title) of the website business says nothing about the Amish, nor does it claim any association with the particular church(es). I also find it interesting that no one seems to notice that our introductory motto is "Specializing In" particular styles and types of clothing.... rather than indicating that we ARE "Amish." Just an amusing observation from someone who isn't a rocket scientist. *grin* (Get the hint? Ok, couldn't resist the jab.)

It might interest your readers to know that 100% of our employees are Old Order Amish or Mennonite or mainstream conservative Mennonite, and that some of the girls that work for us in Lancaster county are directly from the Nickel Mine community and also related to some of the victims and survivors. One of the Old Order Amish girls that makes our babies/childrens' Amish dresses and aprons is the older sister to one of the victims. And another lady who makes our heavy outer capes and coverings is the Great Aunt of one of the survivors. We like to share that information with our customers who purchase those items so they can feel a connection to the families from that senseless tragedy.

Anyway, just my amused musings. Thanks again for the great advertising. Sure is alot cheaper this way !! :)

Blessings,
Kimberly
www.plainlydressed.com