Ohio State rural sociology professor gives lecture on Amish population

University Park, Pa. -- Joseph F. Donnermeyer, professor in rural sociology at Ohio State, will give a lecture titled, “Amish Society and Community Expansion," from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 17, in room 215 in the Armsby building.
 
A population boom caused by continued high fertility and high retention of youth in the Amish faith doubles their population every 20 years. The result has been a two-fold plus increase in Amish settlements over the past 18 years, which is offset slightly by the failure of some settlements to last but a few years before the remaining families pack up and leave for other places. This interface of demographics and social organization makes for "interesting times" among the Amish. In this seminar, the focus is on community, church discipline (i.e., ordnung), and the ways that rapid growth illustrates both persistence and change in their social organization and culture.