Are Amish people better than us?

Question

They have already forgiven the sick man that killed, now six of their children (a 6 year old was just taken off life support) and four more in the hospital... I extend my deepest sympathy to them... and my greatest respect that they have forgiven, they are better than me, that's for sure. Honestly, I don't know if my heart could forgive anybody that killed anyone close to me....

oops, forgot my question... how about you guys?

dragonsclaw... you ARE a dragon. damn, jealousy has an ugly face

okay, Love your answers mostly... i didn't mean "better"... i thought most of you would understand what I was saying. Neddie, "us" are the people that aren't Amish. Duh

Answer 1

I don't know about better but they are amazing people.

Answer 2

It takes a kind, gentle person to forgive and quite frankly, I don't know how they can...but...I am deeply respectful and appreciative that people like them have the hearts that they do. It is reassuring to know there are still good people in this world. I asked my wife the other day: why the Amish. They are hard working, keep to themselves...when was the last time you read in the news that an Amish person had been arrested or charged for a crime. It broke my heart when I heard about those little girls...

Answer 3

See, i thought about that too. I read a book where this little girl had cancer, and she was Amish. They are very religious. Which amazes me with what i say i couldnt live without. God Bless those who that man hurt. I thought about that too, if i had to bury a loved one would i invite that man's family? but then i thought his family never saw that side of him. He took his own kids to their bus stop. They had nothing to do with killing the girls. They just happened to love that man as a husband/father. I still couldn't invite his family. But they grow up different. WIth no TV/distractions they are able to think things through more clearly. And i guess make room in their heart to forgive faster (in a way) They are still like us, just with out our technology and they are veryyyy religious!

Edit: Oh, i think they are better then me. They work so hard with chores and to help their family. While being religious, and going to school. I barely make it through school.

Edit: Not all Amish are that way (someone said that they molested his grandaughter) But i guess a few can be. But not every Amish person is. No matter where you go there is always someone who doesnt "fit in"

Answer 4

I do no think they are better than us necessarily but I do admire them. Their ability to forgive is phenomenal, it is incredible but their way of life is so different I do not think you can compare their lives and ours.

Off of the subject can you believe the Westboro Baptist church was going to protest the funerals. I am afraid I would have become an agent of God's wrath if I would have been there. They protested a funeral near where I live once. I made sure that I had business in another state that day, again I was afraid I would have become an agent of God's wrath as they put it.

Answer 5

In the forgiving aspect, I would say they are more forgiving. Nobody is better than anyone else, though. Here in Lancaster, Pa. an Amish man was sentenced to several years in prison for molesting his own grand-daughter. So, no, they are just like us in many ways. God Bless those poor children. God Bless that man's wife and kids!

Answer 6

Amish communities have had many years of relative seclusion to perfect the art of forgiveness. Pacifist and benevolent, they reinforce themselves within their own communities through the inability of children to marry outside the community. So beliefs are passed on seamlessly (in theory), and not too much leaches in to overtake the belief system already present. Of course, many would say they are too sheltered and naive to think that they could keep human nature under thumb, but since communities are usually fairly small, almost everyone has a place. It's a benevolence that is self-propogating, in other words.

Answer 7

There are good people and bad people, The bible says forgive, god forgives us. But I'm like you, it would be very hard for me to forgive someone that killed my children. These people certainly have god in their hearts.
I don't know if they're better people, They are certainly better off health wise than us, growing all their foods without all the hormones , preservities, and all the crap that's in most food we buy.They live the life style that i grew up with, very simple.

Answer 8

I dont think that they are better than regular people. I think that they are just more forgiving. Something like that would be very hard for anyone, amish or not. And you could forgive anything if you really set your mind to it.

Answer 9

Don't think so. They may appear better but who knows what's in their hearts. If the forgiveness IS there, it is because they've been raised to believe that death is more important than birth because they are going back to God. They just live what we Christians say we believe.

Answer 10

i wouldnt call forgiving that better. but thats just me. If everyone was that nice, someone would come in and take over. Thats one of those things where only a certain amount of people can do that. If our whole country was like that, germany would be here, or someone else. Its a nice thought, but not practical on a worldwide scale. If someone done that to me, i wouldnt necessarily want my family to forgive them. to me, thats almost like saying its ok.

Answer 11

They aren't better than us, but they have just realized that you have to forgive people in order to go on living a happy and productive life. It wouldn't do them any good to harbor hatred, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc in their own hearts - it would just make them miserable. The fact that they have forgiven him just means they are giving themselves closure and allowing themselves to be able to live happy lives despite their terrible tragedy.