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Rumspringa Book Review

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Rumspringa Book Review
Rumspringa is a term for a rite of passage during adolescence translated in English is running around using some Amish and Mennonite communities the Rumspringa normally begins around the age of 14 to 16 And ends when a youth chooses baptism within the Amish church and still leaves the community the majority choose baptism and remain in the church Amish Elders generally view it as a time for courtship and finding a spouse In many communities, Rumspringa is a period when some Amish youth, boys more than girls, experience greater freedom. They are no longer under the control of their parents on weekends and, because they are not baptized, they are not yet under the authority of the church. During this time, many Amish youth adhere to traditional …show more content…
Some of the books go into great detail in how rumspringa occurs and how it follows through. Some books like the one Tom Shachtman wrote titled To Be or Not To Be Amish goes into detail but its from an amish teens point of view. He talks about how rumspringa works and what parents can actually learn from this practice. He states” Nearly all continue to live with their families, however, and many, maybe even a majority, do not go to the parties or otherwise engage in behaviors that Amish parents and church officials consider wild. Rather, they attend Sunday singings, occasionally go bowling, take part in structured activities supervised by church elders — tame stuff — but they have license to do things they have never done before. An individual's rumspringa ends when he or she agrees to be baptized into the church and to take up the responsibilities attendant on being an adult member of the Amish community.” He interviews these Amish teens and their parents. he also speaks with the Amish community just concerned with the activities that these teens partake in. he explains that he wants to get a better understanding of what they are doing and how they go about doing this certain

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