Amish School Shooting in Nickel Mines, PA

ShareTweet

 

Note: The following responses came from former Amish people who questioned how the Amish were able to forgive the man who walked into a schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, PA in 2006 and shot five little girls to death, before killing himself.

 

 

To the English world, murder is the capital offense. Not so in the Amish world. Now let's try another scenario.

 

When you are born and raised Amish, you are expected to join the church in your later teen years. You have no access to teaching other than what is given from an Amish point of view. If you are taught that salvation is partly by works, and no one ever shows you otherwise, how can you come to any other conclusion? Later on when more study leads you to join for example, the Baptist or Mennonite church, the roof will cave in on you unless you give in and agree that they are right.But hold on to your convictions, and you are now in the position of never being forgiven.

 

When our ancestors came to America, they came for freedom of religion. State religion was the order of the day through many European countries. Our ancestors, the Amish wanted the freedom to practice whatever religion they saw fit. While most Americans change religions without giving it much thought, Ex-Amish have to consider the awful consequences of such a move. You will never be a part of family activities again. Yes, forgiveness is a good thing, but it rings hollow for us when we hear of the 'towering faith' of the Amish, since we have never experienced such forgiveness from them.

--Former Amish

I wanted to comment on the article that was in our paper about the Amish shooting. It said that the Amish knew that the girls are in heaven and that they (the adults) KNEW that they would be with them when they die. That is news to me!! The reason they kicked me out of their church (excommunicated me) was because I believe that I KNOW I am going to heaven! But what's new - man's religion has always been (more or less) popular with the world. Let me give a Bible verse that they actually use against us that couldn't fit them more! (their problem is they only quote part of the verse).Luke 16:15 "And he (Jesus) said unto them, Ye (Pharisees - man made religion) are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men (the world) is abomination in the sight of God." The world as a whole has always esteemed the Amish highly! Enough said. You may send this to anyone you think to which it might be a blessing or help.

--Former Amish

This may sound harsh but... How about we interview the families that had their kids hog-tied and shot in the back of the head about how they feel and their thoughts and instead of having a Bishop-designated spokesperson tell the world about that the "Bishop said we forgive them." Oh well... if the Bishop said so, it must be true.

--Former Amish

Hello,

I saw the response of the Amish quite a number of times. I feel sorry for them, actually. How can one lose two daughters and not feel some pain, anger, anguish and not be asking God, "Why?" How can dear little children be killed by a brutal murderer and nobody expresses any anguish? I think of King David when he lost the first child he had with Bathsheba. What a lament of repentance and sorrow; and, seven days of fasting to beseech the Lord to save the child. I think of King David and the lamenting and weeping and sorrow he expressed over Absalom, his son, when he was finally killed in his rebellion. Joab had to chide him for such a response. Yet, these responses were REAL, from a man after God''s own heart for his children. I know the Amish have shed tears and expressed their sorrow and pain and anger before God. But, it can only be in private...

Their system tells them to be an "example of faith and forgiveness" to the outside world. How would you feel toward the murderer of you dear child/children??????????? Look at the Psalms, the responses of REAL people!!!! Can't God's children respond like that? Yet, in our anger, our bitterness, our desire for revenge, our tears, our pain, we know we rest in the Lord. We know our HUMAN response is not the response of our Lord who died for us all. So, I know what the Amish are trying to portray, but their highly legalistic system will not let them be real. I am sorry for them.

I pray that some day they will not have the rules that REQUIRE how women and men dress and how men must have beards and how...MUST DO....Then, they can be real, like the rest of us who love the Lord, but sometimes can feel so hurt, and sorrowful, and angry, and vengeful....until our Lord helps us get beyond all our human responses and come to respond like he does.

--Former Amish

There has been a lot of media attention drawn to the fact that the Lancaster Amish have gone out of their way to forgive. As I listened, I couldn't help but feel guilty about the thoughts that were going through my mind. Somehow I wanted scream...please wait---------I have a very sincere question----------is this forgiveness coming from the depth of the heart and soul? Is it real; is it genuine; is it the Godly kind? Or, is it just another type of forgiveness that Amish people are taught to act out? Is it just part of a religious act?

Please do not think that I am be-littling their tremendous outpouring of support toward the Roberts family because I think it has been outstanding. But once again, can such a powerful and wonderful type of forgiveness all be just an outward play and not really from the heart? Religion can look like the real thing.

--Former Amish

I know what you mean, I have been thinking on the same things and thinking maybe I am guilty of thinking that it seems so shallow ..........One of my friends told me that after watching that Bishop on TV she almost wanted to be Amish? "She said they have something I don't" I told her if she knows Jesus as her Savior they don't have anything she doesn't; she is 81 and has known the Lord for many years.

I also told her as been raised Amish you are conditioned to forgive, That is very good what kickers wrote on EX-Amish, It's what I feel about it. I don't need forgiveness from them for Making Jesus my Lord and Savior or for not living in the Amish bondage, But it would be good to see a little Love in their heart towards a child of the most High God.

--Former Amish

I have been doing a lot of thinking for the last week. Two big words keep popping in my brain; submit and forgive. I think the Amish mindset is that anything that happens beyond the groups' control or individual control you submit and forgive. Because bad thing that just happen are of God and so we submit and forgive. I don't know if you can follow my thoughts but as an example look at the incest and other abuse in Amish homes. The victim is not in control, so that means she needs to submit, keep her mouth shut and forgive.

Other areas like excommunication is totally in control of the group. They made the rules and if you don't submit to our way, we don't forgive.

My conclusion of last week is in recent years there has been a lot of publicity in the news about Amish abuse and maybe last week's shooting sort of balances the over all image of the Amish.

These are just my thoughts of the whole thing. I think it is God ordained that you at MAP have your foot in the door in direct connection with the Amish involved in Lancaster

--Former Amish

I am having a huge problem with all I am hearing from this issue, Can you see the Pride the Amish are wearing to make them look so good in their Faith????? I have concerns about all this, The Weavers tell me they were on TV a number of times on interviews which no real Amish would possibly do. Maybe this is a time to point some things out to the outside who don't really know the Amish!

--Former Amish

Comments - Post a Comment

Post A Comment
Name:	(*Required)
Email:	(*Required) - Not Displayed With Comment
Website:
Comment: