Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarge
Well spoken. I have the documentary on DVD. I was very surprised that the Amish would allow such a time for their children. Whether they jump into the world as seen in the documentary or do something of a lessor nature that is yet wrong, it is as if the wrongdoing is endorsed by the group. I cannot fathom allowing young kids to partake in this. Giving them space to decide if they want to join the Amish community is one thing, deliberately giving them an okay to do things they have taught against is totally another. To me, it's mind boggling.
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I understand your wonder at this seeing you too misunderstand the concept. The "coming of age" is not so much something that is granted by the parents or the church. It is simply something that occurs naturally in all cultures and religions. There are some that do abuse their newfound liberties - and sometimes parents do turn a blind eye because their dwindling authority has no real teeth to make enforcement otherwise.
The Amish sanction no sinful living and no breaking of the rules of the church - in fact quite the opposite is true - they enforce their rules on threat of excommunication and expulsion from closed church communion. The church has no real authority over those who are expelled or have yet to become Amish. There is an in-house debate concerning the tolerance of the parents when youth go wayward. Many will not expell a child from the home if they get a car or endulge in even sinful activities. If they do, it often seems to drive the youth even further from the church and lesson the likelyhood of them becoming compliant members in the future.
The Devils Playground is a documentary in the style of Micheal Moore.
For actual balance one should see the award winning PBS documentary, "The Amish: A People of Preservation".
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