Pennsylvania Amish and Modern Life 'The Amish are among the most unusual of Christian denominations, seemingly frozen in the 19th century.' by Jack Zavada. The Amish came from Switzerland in 1693 and descended from the strict teachings of Jacob Amman which led to the split of the other Mennonites. Amish communities arose in Switzerland, Alsace, Germany, Russia and Holland, but unfortunately there are no longer any Amish left in Europe. Many Amish began to emigrate to North America to avoid the religious persecution and mandatory military service that was in Europe in the 18th century and settled in eastern Pennsylvania. The Old Order Amish of Pennsylvania are a group of people who are unique villagers living a life based on ethics, cultural traditions and family organization which are the three elements of happiness. Observations of these can also lead to claims that the life of the Amish is more than the simple life of those who deviate from such practices and beliefs, thus demonstrating that justice is in the souls of these settlers. Amish wealth, security, and freedom are clearly demonstrated through the rigorous renunciation of any modern technology that could be used for a typical job today. The Amish highly value family dynamics and the importance of maintaining a close-knit community. Therefore, the use of modern technology to cultivate fields, travel long distances, and even for entertainment purposes is seen as a sign of weakness among families. The Amish do not recognize electricity, tractors, automobiles, televisions, cell phones, or any form of technology. They believe in working hard to achieve their tasks, even if it is a simple task that could be as simple as cleaning a house or... means of paper... and items. This can be seen as materialistic possessions as well as the desire to minimize work by hiring others are ignored within the community. Our souls, however, do not have this balance as the constant desire for materialistic things consumes our daily thoughts and actions. Our appetites grow stronger by the day, allowing us to realize that we can never be wealthy enough to possess all the possessions we desire in life. Our desires appear to be limitless, meaning we can never fully achieve the wealth, sense of freedom, and internal security that allow the Amish to embrace the highest level of happiness in life. Therefore, based on Plato's account of the righteous person, the Amish are seen as more righteous people than us since they do not possess an internal conflict in their soul, a conflict that has influenced our selfish thoughts and actions for years..