Growing Up Mennonite

[Sherri]

I'm reading Beverly Lewis's new book, The Parting. It's about several Amish folk who are discovering the Scripture and salvation through Jesus, and whether they will end up being shunned from the brethren. It's pretty interesting.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Sherri

I'm reading Beverly Lewis's new book, The Parting. It's about several Amish folk who are discovering the Scripture and salvation through Jesus, and whether they will end up being shunned from the brethren. It's pretty interesting.

I have seen those books and I guess I should read more of them. Please tell me your thoughts after you finish.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I'm sorry, I can honestly say I had forgtten the ending! I think I do remember now... the twist... in the murder.

Guess I was not really refering to the plot it's self,
I just remember thinking as I was reading that the author put a lot of research into the book because unlike "For Richer and For Poorer" it did have alot of correct inside info on Amish thought. (aside from the actual murder)

I am not familiar with "For richer or for poorer" but when I was first reading Amish books, for the first number of years I would not read any fiction unless it was written by an insider who left because I didn't want to get confused. Even now, reading fiction, I get confused. For example, in the book I am reading now, they use pleasantries like please and thank you and the parents show affection. How realistic is this? Does it differ from district to district? That is where I get most confused. I'm sure there is a cultural thread that never changes and then the ones that do district to district. The fiction I read at first is a series by Mary Christner Bontrager. She was raised Amish.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by ILG

I am not familiar with "For richer or for poorer" but when I was first reading Amish books, for the first number of years I would not read any fiction unless it was written by an insider who left because I didn't want to get confused. Even now, reading fiction, I get confused. For example, in the book I am reading now, they use pleasantries like please and thank you and the parents show affection. How realistic is this? Does it differ from district to district? That is where I get most confused. I'm sure there is a cultural thread that never changes and then the ones that do district to district. The fiction I read at first is a series by Mary Christner Bontrager. She was raised Amish.

We have a Borntrager gal in our church here; her dad's family is all Amish. I would love to just sit and chat with her sometime!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We have a Borntrager gal in our church here; her dad's family is all Amish. I would love to just sit and chat with her sometime!

Guess you'll have to take her to lunch!

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I have seen those books and I guess I should read more of them. Please tell me your thoughts after you finish.

This is actually a new one, the first of a new series. I've read all of her stuff, I guess. The theme behind this one is a group of people learning about freedom in salvation through Jesus, and splitting off from the old order traditional sect. Very interesting, in light of all that's going on in UPC. There were a lot of interesting similarities and lots of emotions on both sides.
(This is not to indicate that the old order UPC do not know Jesus!!! - Just a lot of emotional likenesses).

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Sherri

This is actually a new one, the first of a new series. I've read all of her stuff, I guess. The theme behind this one is a group of people learning about freedom in salvation through Jesus, and splitting off from the old order traditional sect. Very interesting, in light of all that's going on in UPC. There were a lot of interesting similarities and lots of emotions on both sides.
(This is not to indicate that the old order UPC do not know Jesus!!! - Just a lot of emotional likenesses).

See - thats where the sterotyping goes awry. First a sterotype that the Amish don't know Jesus, then a sterotype that UPC is like Amish (who remember, don't know Jesus).

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by ILG

I am not familiar with "For richer or for poorer" but when I was first reading Amish books, for the first number of years I would not read any fiction unless it was written by an insider who left because I didn't want to get confused. Even now, reading fiction, I get confused. For example, in the book I am reading now, they use pleasantries like please and thank you and the parents show affection. How realistic is this? Does it differ from district to district? That is where I get most confused. I'm sure there is a cultural thread that never changes and then the ones that do district to district. The fiction I read at first is a series by Mary Christner Bontrager. She was raised Amish.

Most do not use those pleasantries very much including many in my own family. I think the more connection a family has to outsiders, whether they be Mennonites that are a bit more liberal or "Shtetlah", the more such terms are used and more affection is shown.


But here was the shocker for me...

My family did not say "I love you" a lot - except on rare occaision or in a card. But we certainly did love each other and for the most part showed it by the deeds and commitments that were made.

Imagine how strange it was/is for me to see families with huge displays of emotion, and constant verbal affirmations of their "love" who then view marriage as a dispensable institution. Families also, for a job, will forsake the families of their heritage and permanantly move across country often leaving parents in a nursing home without word from their own flesh and blood.

I know, I know! We don't have to choose these extremes and that is what I am trying to practice - balance.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

See - thats where the sterotyping goes awry. First a sterotype that the Amish don't know Jesus, then a sterotype that UPC is like Amish (who remember, don't know Jesus).

B. Lewis says that Old Order Amish are not allowed to read scripture for themselves, and can only listen to the appointed Bishop and he only reads from certain passages. She indicates that they are not taught about salvation through Jesus at all. Is this untrue??

I didn't mean that the UPC don't know Jesus personally, just that the emotions that both sides were going through in the book sounded very familiar. The old order thought that the more modern thinkers were going to be lost. The "newer" thinkers worried that they would be divided even from family members if they went with their conscience. It was pretty interesting.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Sherri

B. Lewis says that Old Order Amish are not allowed to read scripture for themselves, and can only listen to the appointed Bishop and he only reads from certain passages. She indicates that they are not taught about salvation through Jesus at all. Is this untrue??

I didn't mean that the UPC don't know Jesus personally, just that the emotions that both sides were going through in the book sounded very familiar. The old order thought that the more modern thinkers were going to be lost. The "newer" thinkers worried that they would be divided even from family members if they went with their conscience. It was pretty interesting.

Lewis should cite an authority on this... Yes I would say it's untrue. In my old order family we all had our own Bibles - including the children. I would venture to say there is not one Old Order Mennonite or Amish home that does not have the Holy Bible available in German and English both.

They are not revivalist and do not promote individual bible studies over the corporate teaching, but this is true of many older denominations including Lutheran.

As to the newer thinkers... you may have a point there.