Is it customary for the Amish to be baptized?
Baptisms are prevalent in the Christian faith. This is usually done to babies and young children. When these newborns and children reach adulthood, they will have the option of continuing to live according to how they were baptized, as Christians, or choosing their own faith. For the Amish, things are very different. The Amish recognize that babies and children lack the knowledge and awareness to choose the faith that is best for them, so they wait for their children to mature. They let their grown-up children choose their faith. The Amish are primarily members of the Anabaptist Christian sub-sect. Teenagers are welcome to join the Rumspringa tradition and, if desired, be baptized afterwards.
Rumspringa’s offer of liberty
The Rumspringa is an Amish tradition that allows Amish teenagers to go out and see the world as they see fit. The Amish do not force their children to follow their way of life. They let their teenagers choose whether to live the Amish way of life or make their own way in the world. Though Amish parents hope that their teenagers would return to their ancient customs, they also offer them the opportunity to choose. Some Amish teenagers do get engaged in drugs, parties, and anything else that isn’t available at home. Many people, however, choose to return to the Amish community as soon as feasible.