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are there any purist amish sects that say no to dominoes and other board games
While most Amish sects enjoy board games and card games as a form of family and community entertainment, the most purist and strict groups, such as the
Swartzentruber Amish, are more likely to have rules that prohibit them, especially any perceived as encouraging competition or gambling.
Variations in Amish Rules
The Amish do not have a single, universal "rule book". Instead, each local church district formulates its own unwritten code of conduct called the Ordnung, which is a living document that can be updated over time.
Therefore, a purist sect is more likely to restrict activities like dominoes and other board games if the community leadership determines that they promote individualism, competition, or worldliness in a way that is detrimental to their faith and community cohesion.
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are there any purist amish sects that say no to dominoes and other board games
While most Amish sects enjoy board games and card games as a form of family and community entertainment, the most purist and strict groups, such as the
Swartzentruber Amish, are more likely to have rules that prohibit them, especially any perceived as encouraging competition or gambling.
Variations in Amish Rules
The Amish do not have a single, universal "rule book". Instead, each local church district formulates its own unwritten code of conduct called the Ordnung, which is a living document that can be updated over time.
- Most Old Order Amish generally permit simple, family-oriented board games and certain card games (like Uno, Dutch Blitz, Scrabble, Monopoly, Life on the Farm). The key principle is that these activities should foster community and not lead to pride, vanity, or covetousness. Gambling, especially for money, is strictly forbidden in almost all sects.
- More Conservative Groups, such as the Swartzentruber, Swiss, and Nebraska Amish, maintain a stricter separation from the "world" and avoid almost all modern conveniences. In these communities, rules on leisure activities are more rigid. While not all of them explicitly ban every single game, the general emphasis on simplicity and humility often means that many types of commercial board games are not found in their homes. Their leisure time is very much centered on family visiting, reading, and simple outdoor activities that don't involve formal competition.
- Discretion: The specific decision to allow or ban a game like dominoes often comes down to the local bishop and community consensus on whether it aligns with their core values of humility (Demut) and submission to the community (Gelassenheit).
Therefore, a purist sect is more likely to restrict activities like dominoes and other board games if the community leadership determines that they promote individualism, competition, or worldliness in a way that is detrimental to their faith and community cohesion.