Rituals of Contagion in Closed Religious Communities: A Case Study of Amish and Mennonite Communities in the USA During the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, government and medical guidelines emphasized social distancing to limit exposure. These guidelines significantly impacted closed religious communities, particularly those opposed to modern technologies, such as Amish and Mennonite communities. How did these religious communities respond to COVID-19 policies in the USA? We draw data from Ohio and Pennsylvania scribe entries published in an Amish/Mennonite correspondence newspaper. While some of these communities altered church rituals to comply with government directives, others maintained communal worship without disruption. Mennonite communities were more likely to conform to guidelines.

Pathways to Immunity: Patterns of Excess Death Across the United States and Within Closed Religious Communities

“…In contrast, many people in Amish/Mennonite communities did not implement these strategies (Stoltzfus, 2021 ; Thomas et al, 2021 ). Additionally, when government policies restricting gatherings ended in April and May, Amish/Mennonites resumed their church rituals and other social events (Corcoran et al, 2022 ), which likely included gatherings for Ascension Day in May. These cultural practices facilitated close interaction between large groups of non-vaccinated people who live within closed religious communities.…”

“…Excess deaths in the U.S. declined in the following months, which may represent the non-pharmaceutical interventions employed by many people in the general population. However, the continued interpersonal contact in Amish and Mennonite communities with the absence of masking and social distancing may have affected how COVID-19 spread (Corcoran et al, 2022 ; Stoltzfus, 2021 ). Overall, people in Amish and Mennonite communities are not likely to engage in preventive medicine, and many have refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (Scott et al, 2021 ; Stein et al, 2022 ; Thomas et al, 2021 ).…”

“…We anticipate higher death rates among Amish/Mennonite people than the broader U.S. population in 2020. Many Amish/Mennonite groups resumed face-to-face interactions without safety measures (e.g., masks and social distancing) after the government lifted pandemic restrictions (Corcoran et al, 2022 ). While two-thirds of the U.S. population received the COVID-19 vaccine by August 2022 (CDC, 2022c ), the Amish/Mennonite population has largely avoided vaccines and other public health recommendations (Stoltzfus, 2021 ; Thomas et al, 2021 ).…”

“…While the government aimed to curb the spread of the disease, the conditions disrupted one of the core communal rituals that hold Amish and Mennonite groups together. As such, many Amish and Mennonite congregations resumed meeting in person as soon as governments relaxed restrictions (Corcoran et al, 2022 ).…”

Amish Population Pyramids: Demographic Patterns across Affiliations in the Holmes County, Ohio, Settlement

“…Amish churches generally fit the profile of "closed religious communities" (Corcoran et al, 2022;Stein et al, 2021Stein et al, , 2022. They facilitate intense connections with other members.…”