The Amish and sexual abuse
Thursday October 12, 2006
A reader writes:Re your thoughtful words about the Amish shooting, I have to say this: I recently read about sexual abuse among the Amish. I don’t know how common it is, or whether it exists more among some Amish than...
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Rod Dreher is an editorial columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and author of "Crunchy Cons" (Crown Forum), a nonfiction book about conservatives, most of them religious, whose faith and political convictions sometimes put them at odds with mainstream conservatives. The views expressed in this blog are his own.
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It could well be because they, being so otherworldly, have a deficient understanding of what sexual abuse is.
Tough sell. Just because they live rustic by choice doesn't mean they are stupid. They understand what sexual abuse is.>
They aren't going to turn the "evildoer" over to the police. The "evildoer" is often the brother or father or cousin in the family.
I think that it's what you get when you have isolated traditional families run by the patriarchs.
The idea that women are equal to men in the eyes of God hasn't occurred to the Amish. Women are abused and life goes on. They'd never think of sticking up for each other and demanding that the men handle this properly because that's not the role of women. That's how it's been, and that's how it will always be. Unless, a feminist from the outside makes them stop.>
M_David: No, they are not stupid. However, bear in mind that most of their leaders, "bishops", if you will, have at most a 12th grade education, and often only an 8th grade education. Remember also that they separated themselves from the "English" culture over 100 years ago. Now imagine putting males with limited education in charge of communities with 19th century understandings of women's roles, psychology, and discipline. You will get sexual abuse in some instances.
Watsy: I believe they take seriously the NT admonition about settling quarrels among yourselves rather than going to the civil authorities. This makes them very resistant to turning their brethren over to the police.>
Matt N:
bishops...have at most a 12th grade education...Now imagine putting males with limited education in charge of communities with 19th century understandings of women's roles, psychology, and discipline...
Let me see if I can imagine it.
I'm closing my eyes. What I see is: intact and large families, few social problems, mature children, healthy and hardworking people...if you think I'm idolizing, just look at their reaction to the school shooting and the manner and maturity in which those girls chose to die.
OTOH, I don't have to imagine my culture. Rampant divorce, STDs, AIDS, child sucides, anorexia, massive child and sexual abuse...
And your point is...what? Feminist culture GOOD, all others BAD? The evidence seems shaky, at best.>
http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/January-February-2005/feature_labi_janfeb05.msp
Feminist culture has good points and bad points. So do the others. Any fruitcake can see that.>
males with limited education
Also, I would point out that with such a limited education, the Amish have produced a stable, growing, generally healthy culture.
Why, with our great education and such broad knowledge of human psychology, do we produce such a cultural mess?
It would be interesting to plant cameras inside 1000 homes/communities (say 500 Amish and 500 others) for 5 years, and then get some metrics to compare (e.g. abuse, health, crime, etc.) to see how those ignorant bumpkins stack out against our superior culture.
A sidenote: Russia is one of the best educated countries in the world today.>
We live in a society of laws to protect society and punish the guilty.Those guilty of sexual abuse have broken the law of God and men, and are to be held accountable legally. A crime is a crime. Spiritually they may be forgiven, legally they must face the consequences of their actions and abuse of others.
Also: (1) It is wrong for a church leader to "Order" forgiveness, that comes from the heart, (2) Sexual offenders are usually repeat offenders.
From what I have read: Amish sexual abuse is definitely there, and it is treated lightly. Offenders are usually shunned for a couple of weeks. The victims are made to feel like it is their "problem", and swift forgiveness cures all. That is false, the residual sideeffects and after effects of sexual abuse last for years and it takes a lot of love and listening and understanding to break through to a measure of healing and forgiveness.
I am a nursing clinician and a minister, and I have dealt with these issues in the past. It is not to be treated lightly.
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