A Controversy About The Amish Culture

Dear Professor Herrera,

I decided to choose the topic about Amish because I’m very curious about the Amish culture. I don’t think people understand how different the Amish live. Students who go to Ohio State University no idea what an Amish person looks like. My cousin takes pictures of horse and buggies to show them what is normal in our town. I live in the country, so therefore there are Amish people all around us. I never understood how they lived, or why they choose lived like that. I know that Amish people are humble people and they don’t ask for much in life. They work hard, have many children, go to church every Sunday, and many other normal things. But what happens when someone wants to leave the Amish community? This
One could get excommunicated by drinking alcohol, refusing to kneel during a religious gathering, or even marrying outside of their community (Furlong). Usually the member up for excommunication is given a few months to reform the choices he/she has made. Shunning of the Amish is a big deal in their community. Amish members of the church may no longer eat with a former member. During gatherings or weddings, the Amish person is required to sit apart from the church members when the food is being served ("Amish Shunning"). Additionally, members may not ride in a car or buggy driven by a former member. Lastly, Amish members cannot do business with the person “considered to be shunned,” (Furlong). Additionally, members of the Amish community will not be able to receive anything from the shunned Amish. Members are also not allowed to give the shunned Amish things like money. The rules of being shunned vary from different churches, but overall these are the most important rules that most Amish communities
Don says that he is known as the outcast of the family. His brother Joe decided to leave with him. They have fourteen other siblings and haven’t been invited to any of their weddings or celebrations. Don says it is impossible to describe the feeling of being shunned and excommunicated. After Don and Joe left they moved miles away from their family. Their parents then traveled all those miles just to harass Don and Joe to tell them how wrong they are for leaving the Amish lifestyle behind (Yoder). The Amish believe that if an Amish leaves, he/she is forever living in sin and could risk going to hell. Amish will not tolerate any outside beliefs. Joe explains that he feels sad for the Amish community because they are living with a burden that is weighing down on them. He says he cannot control their feelings or emotions, so he must be happy and content with himself. Joe also says you can heal from the hurt of shunning. It 's perfectly normal to feel sadness, anger, and total bewilderment at this unkind and unloving treatment. He explains that he eventually got over the pain and torture that his family and community put him through and continued to move on with his life and lives in the word of God