I have decided to conduct my research on the decision making of the Amish teenager to become baptized and remain Amish or to leave the Amish community and become disowned from their families. I thought it would be interesting to find out what drives many of the Amish teenagers to decide to leave the only way of life they have ever known to become what they would consider a "normal teenager".
Source 1
One of the sources I found is a book called Rumspringa : to be or not to be Amish. It discusses the period of time when Amish teenagers are experiencing life as a normal teenager. It talks about their endeavors, experiementing with drugs, technology, sex and alchohol. From the book, it is understood that not all of the teenagers of the Amish community venture off to see what it would be like not to be Amish, and that some continue the normal actilvity of the Amish way of life. Some of the teens enjoy being Amish and look forward to being baptizes and offically apart of the Amish community. However, in may cases these teens are ridculed and teased for not experiementing and venturing outside of the only way of living they have ever known. The book conducts interviews with the teenagers as they move away from home and are allowed to opportunity to see what it would be like if they choose not to be baptized.
The term Rumspringa means “running around”. It is the time, beginning at about age 16, when youth socialize with their friends on weekends. Rumspringa ends with marriage. (For those who don’t marry, Rumspringa ends in their mid to late twenties.) This period is an important time when Amish youth need to decide if they will be baptized and join the church or leave the Amish community.
Source 2
Another source that I will be using is called The Ethnic Experience in Pennsylvania. This book Explores some of the facets of the story of minority groups in the history of one state, and its studies attempt to spread the focus of the work geographically across the Commonwealth. There is a chapter in the book entitled: "The Old Order Amish of Pennslyvania". This book will help to give me a better understanding of the Amish history and their beliefs. By using this resourcfe I hope to get a better understanding of thier culture and their way of life.
2 comments:
From your first source, the "running around" period sounds rather common. Does the running around time have to be done outside the amish sect or can it be done within the community? If one decides to stay within the community do they "have to" be baptized or is that a choice even though they do not want to leave? From the statement that you made about them experimenting with sex, alcohol, and drugs I would assume that they would be doing the "running around" outside the community. Even though these kids do the "running around" and decide that it is not for them, what is their family relationship like after they decide to return to the community? I wasn't sure that they could return once they left? What reprecussions do they have by leaving and then returning?
The amish community is facinating to me and I would love to read your final essay when it is finished. If you would allow me to do so.
I agree with Jeremy that your project sounds really interesting. Have you thought about using a psychological source as a way to talk about the "running around" period in the life of Amish teens? I wonder what is happening to these teens psychologically as they leave the Amish community and experiment with the rest of the world. This might be an interesting angle to take on your project. Keep positing updates. This is interesting stuff!
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