Leaving Amish Paradise.

[Thingumy]

I missed the BBC 2009 documentary but I found tonight's follow up programme totally fascinating.

Why do the Amish allow their teenage boys to drink,take drugs and drive and own cars when it's totally unacceptable within their way of living.

Anyone else watch it tonight?

Don't they "allow" them a year out to experiment for a bit. Not sure if applies to girls as well though

Yes, I thought about the girls indeed.

Cars are seen as evil and part of 'the world' and not the Amish life but most of the men have licenses due to their teenage rebellion which is accepted.

I'd like to see an Amish family really go into the world. Going born again doesn't seem that different to what they were already doing.
Also think they're a bit of a soft touch for the evangelicals to convert.Should be taking their revival tent to some more hard core clients.

The girls aren't allowed to have time off to experiment with the real world.

fascinating documentary - just watched it!

Dont really understand either why the teenage boys get to have a year of rebellion which goes against everything the community believes in.

I agree jack that the new lives they are leading dont seem so different to the Amish ones they left.

Although the whole "asking god to provide for all our financial needs" while not working is very different - the amish community seem to work hard to provide income. I really dont agree with that theory - surely not working and relying on people to give you money is just begging with a godly slant to it!

I think the difference is that in the Amish community everything is organised and provided for them. They don't have to think about housing, employment, schooling, transport. There are rules to cover everything. The Amish who leave are faced with all these big decisions at once with no life experience with which to make them.
I know it doesn't seem much moving from one church to another but the Amish community is a completely enclosed world with little outside influences.

I felt sad for the women who lost her baby. She seemed so totally at sea with all these decisions.

I speak from experience as someone who was heavily involved in a cult and has since left. Life can be very bewildering at times. I had no idea about chip and pin at first!

The girls are allowed this "freedom" (The Amish call it Rumspringa). Perhaps the girls would not agree to be filmed?

got it tape on sky+ going to watch it later!

Was interesting but think I preferred the c4 one on last year!

Only just got around to watching this & I think it was one of the saddest things I have ever watched.

I was really surprised about the guy expecting God to provide.

How the Amish do so much for the community, it´s hardly surprising that none leave-they don´t have the skills for life in "the World".

And how they completely reject anyone who leaves-bullying them into not leaving, really.