I'm always a little ambivalent about stories like this of which there have been many over the years. Emma Gingerich is chronicling her life after leaving the Amish in a new book. I don't know anything about her, haven't read the book, so this is just my two-cents opinion. Emma tells the story of "breaking free" from her Amish settlement at age 18 by sneaking away during the night. I think cases like this are often more a reflection ofindividual family dynamics than of anything about the Amish as a whole. I know plenty of Amish families where if an unbaptized (as she was) young person (or even a baptized one, for that matter, although it is more complicated then) wanted to leave the Amish they could leave. If they had a close, loving relationship with their parents, then this is a discussion they could have and the person wouldn't need to sneak away in the night. Emma visited a library in Minnesota recently to tell her story and talk about her book. Click here to read more.
Cindy Linn
I agree with your on this. I've known many Amish who left the Amish way of life both before and after baptism. Everyone that I have encountered thus far came from loving families. So while there was definite disappointment, there was no having to secretly plan and then sneaking off in the middle of the night. Anytime I hear these stories, I wonder what the family dynamics were like and if there was some type of abuse happening. --something that can happen to any family in any culture or religion.
Rebecca
I'm always intrigued by these stories of someone leaving the Amish. I've seen some leave in the night leaving and some who spent entire days/ nights discussing the options. The reactions of people seem to differ even with-in the same family. I would have to agree it is much easier for those who have not joined church, verses the ones who did. In my experience, it would depend on personal beliefs on shunning and the relationship with that person prior to leaving, verses a family as a whole. I might just pick this one up. Thanks Kevin!
Emma
hmmmm