[B]The cell phone has caused controversy among the Amish people ofPennsylvania over the question of technology.

TheAmish are members of a religious sect that has not moved far beyondthe 17th century, when it was formed. With theirhorse-drawn buggies, identical black clothes, and communal way oflife, they have long symbolized the ‘Old World.”

Sincethe 1920s, however, they have disagreed over technology. In the 20sit was the telephone; in the 30s, electricity; and in the 60s, thecar.

TheAmish communities are divided into three groups according to thetechnology they accept. One group refuses cars, phones, andelectricity altogether, another accepts these with conditions, andthe third group accepts

allthree without conditions.

Nowtelephones---this time cell phones---are again causing disagreement.

Tothe Amish, the group is extremely important; there, they judgetechnology by looking at whether it brings people together or keepsthem apart.

Inmost Amish communities, phones are communal and used only forreturning calls or for emergencies. They are usually put outside thehome, along with answering machines, so they don’t distract peoplefrom their daily work or conversation.

Thevery things that many of us like about cell phones---they areconvenient and personal---make them unacceptable to many Amish. Suchtechnology, they argue, increases the distance between people.

Andthe story is not likely to end here. As technology speeds ahead, theAmish will face more things to disagree about with each other.