Last night there was a show on (‘the season premiere’) called Amish in the City. The introductory bits were so bad that I went off in search of something intellectually stimulating. The idea of the show is to take six amish teens/early twenties people and mix them with six city-folk in a house whilst the Amish discover whether or not they want to go back to Amishland.
What was so bad was the brief biographies of the amish folks. Everysingle one started, “My Name is [Some Amish name] and I grew up on a farm.” Then they all (all being the first couple because after that I was done) went on to say how they had a lot of questions about city life and were really curious. Dumb.
I feel sorry for them because of the doctrine that their community holds (once baptized into the Amish community if you leave you will go to hell) makes leaving impossible on a spiritual level. However, I also feel bad because anything they might gain in a city is really superficial.
I just had to get that out of my system. Thanks for reading it.
Addendum: [August 7th 2004]
People keep leaving bizaare comments – I don’t understand it. I don’t hate the Amish, I don’t think they’re dangerous or stupid. I disagree with their doctrine and I don’t think they rightly divide God’s word. I disagree with the producers of the Television show exploiting them for this ‘series’ because I don’t think that it will add value to the young Amish folks lives nor will it be great television.
hi,
kind of unfair to write “just hat to get that out of my system” at the END. Written at the beginning, i would not start reading it. Im coming from germany and we dont have something like the amish here but i have heard a lot of them. why not? I would not like to live that way but there are a lot guys around in the world that are more dangerous then them.
I didn’t say they were dangerous, I just disagree with their salvation doctrine (as would Paul the apostle I’m afraid).
The main idea I was trying to get across was that the television program started horribly and its purpose was to do an experiment on people. It lacks compassion and character.
If you knew more about the Amish culture, you wouldn’t be so mystified or turned-off by them. I consider them LUCKY to be removed all the crap we “English” are exposed to and must live in. Yes, they live the simple life. It’s impossible for us to even imagine life without electricity, much less TV and computers. They are a people who support each other, live by the word of God, and have the sense to allow their children to live among us to get it out of THEIR systems. No wonder virtually all who partake in “rumspringer” (to go wild) go back to Amish life for good – and I mean that literally.
Well I fully agree with some of the post. This show is not fair at all to the Amish to base the disician of their livelyhood on a “pipedream” You take innocent “astranged” from the real world and place them in a mansion free of charge exploring what a rich kid would only afford and they have to base the rest of their life on that expierence. The Amish are great craftsmen and homemakers their world is small and beliefs held to the extent of their teachings. Exploit, would be a word that fits this and a real shame these simple people may make the wrong choice with the little facts they have to go on. There was a comment made by “Jona” that he would at least have a GED if he were to return and ask to be taken into the Amish church. Why would an Amish man need a high level education? He has been taught everything he will ever need to survive by his ancestors past 300 years down to him. If they are not to become part of the Amish they are considered outsiders and banished from ever socializing with their families again. What a flipping series in an injust world will have to see who makes the right choice now for sure.
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