Amish ethnoreligious values and beliefs

In the Amish culture: Amish ethnoreligious values and beliefs

1. Why do Amish people go to church? How does the Amish system of worship work?

2. In what ways do Amish beliefs or practices clash with American Values and tradition?

3. What is shunning?

4. What values do Amish place on folk, alternative, and modern medicine, and how do they tend to use them?

5. Do the Amish have any taboos toward using any modern medicine?

6. Do Amish pay for surgery and/or a hospital stay?

The Nickle Mines tragedy in Pennsylvania, where 10 Amish schoolgirls were held hostage in an Amish elementary school, and 5 of the girls were killed, claimed national and international attention. One of the most frequent questions asked by non-Amish was how and why did Amish forgive the perpetrator so readily. A representative group of Amish even went to visit the widow of the perpetrator and his family to express their condolences to her for the loss of her husband and to invite her to the funeral of some of the young Amish girls.

What have you learned about Amish ethnoreligious values and beliefs that might explain forgiveness as practiced following the tragedy?