Amish children?

Question

From what I've heard, Amish children are released into the outside world when they are 16. They have one week to decide if they want to stay or go. If they choose the outside world, they are forever banished from the Amish community. Is this true? Can someone explain why?

Answer 1

They actually have all the time they need to make the decision. It's called rumspriga and it can last years if that's what it takes. The Amish beieve that a child is incapable of making the decision to devote his/her life to god until he/she is old enough to comprehend such things (yay Amish!). And without seeing the outside world, they know that a fair and just decision couldn't be made.

As an atheist, I totally respect that. Religion should never be force fed to children.

There is a great documentary called "The Devil's Playground" about this. You should rent it. It's really interesting.

Answer 2

Yes, it's true, except it lasts a good deal longer than a week. Sometimes it goes on for years. The only truly bad parts of it is that most Amish are only educated to eighth grade, so they will need a lot of help catching up if they decide to leave, and if they get an STD, they can bring that back to their community and introduce it quite easily. Unfortunately, it's easy to find the "vices", harder to get things like a GED.

Answer 3

They are allowed to go out into the world and make their decision whether or not to make a life-long commitment to their community. Different sects have their own individual rules about this time of decision. Some communities will go as far as to fill out a death certificate for someone who chooses to be "of the world". This was also done to my mother when she left the Mennonite community. Other communities aren't so extreme but they will make the distinction of one being within and without the fold of the community. The vast majority of teenagers return to their communities within a short time, marry, and live there the rest of their lives.

Answer 4

The Amish do no longer use public electricity, yet they DO have turbines fueled by kerosene and/or propane to furnish their residences with electricity. they do no longer placed on "trouble-free clothing" as many "English" (as we are widespread by the Amish) could evaluate, yet they DO make their very own clothing that are heat and soft and in good shape lots extra efficient to the guy newborn than maximum of immediately's mass marketed rubbish bought at walmart. those clothing are additionally stored sparkling and in reliable restoration no matter what the newborn does to them. the only element Amish teenagers are lacking out on "from the exterior international and freedom" is issues like social media, computers, televisions, and cellular telephones...and newborn shielding centers do no longer do a darn element to any parents, Amish or no longer, who do no longer furnish their teenagers with those pointless luxuries. in addition to, the Amish do enable their little ones whilst they alter into teenagers to test with extra modern life and make the alternative on their very own whether or to no longer proceed to stay the Amish existence variety. people who decide for to no longer are many times very efficient.

Answer 5

Yes, it is truth.The sad part is,once they choose to live in the real world.They are dead to the Amish.
So many children ,cast out ,at an age when they really need family.
Children think they know what is good for them at 16.But truth is no one does.Its a hard cruel world,then to be sheltered your whole life then cast away.It makes me sick.
As a Christian,we teach our children about life.They still make the choose when they are grown,but we do not cast them out.<><

Answer 6

NOT TRUE........THERE ARE 7 LEVELS OF AMISH......NONE ARE BANISH, CAUSE THERE WOULD NOT BE A COMMUNITY NOW....BUT THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO CHOOSE TO DRIVE OR DATE, ECT...IVE BEEN FRIENDS WITH AMISH PEOPLE FOR 16 YEARS THIS SUMMER.....VERY NICE FOLKS....P.S. THE ONES WHO WEAR ALL BLACK AND LOOKS DOWN, LIVES IN THERE OWN LITTLE WORLD.....THEY WANT NO WORLDLEY ITEMS...HOPE THIS HELPED YA

Answer 7

There isn't enough room in the Amish community for everyone to stay, so they give kids a chance to move into general society if they wish to.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 8

Giving them a choice. Sounds fair to me.

Answer 9

yes its true