Being Excommunicated
Although Meidung refers to being shunned by the Amish society, Bann is a far more serious punishment. If your offense is grave enough to result in permanent ex-communication, you will be placed in the Bann and considered as a non-member of the community. Depending on the severity of your ‘crime,’ you could be shunned for a lengthy period of time. Despite the fact that it may appear harsh, the purpose is for the individual to acknowledge their mistake and apologize.
Being Excommunicated
DNA Testing
Thanks to contemporary technology, everyone nowadays wants to undergo DNA testing in order to understand more about their ancestry and, perhaps, to track down long-lost relatives. All except the Amish, who are adamant in their refusal to tolerate it. It is for this reason that marrying your third cousin in their community is so simple. They believe that inbreeding is a result of God’s plan for the world.
DNA Testing
