The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World

A sensitive and realistic look at the spiritual life and practices of the Amish This second book by the authors of the award-winning Amish Grace sheds further light on the Amish, this time on their faith, spirituality, and spiritual practices. They interpret the distinctive practices of the Amish way of life and spirituality in their cultural context and explore their applicability for the wider world. Using a holistic perspective, the book tells the story of Amish religious experience in the words of the Amish themselves. Due to their long-standing friendships and relationships with Amish people, this author team may be the only set of interpreters able to provide an outsider-insider perspective. Provides a behind-the-scenes examination of Amish spiritual life Shows how the Amish practices can be applied to the wider world Written by authors with unprecedented access to the Amish community Written in a lively and engaging style, The Amish Way holds appeal for anyone who has wanted to know more about the inner workings of the Amish way of life.

Table of Contents:
Preface xi Part One Searching for Amish Spirituality 1 1 A Peculiar Way 3 2 Spiritual Headwaters 17 Part Two The Amish Way of Community 29 3 Losing Self 31 4 Joining Church 45 5 Worshiping God 59 6 Living Together 75 Part Three The Amish Way in Everyday Life 91 7 Children 93 8 Family 107 9 Possessions 123 10 Nature 137 11 Evil 151 12 Sorrow 165 Part Four Amish Faith and the Rest of Us 179 13 The Things That Matter 181 Acknowledgments 193 Appendix I. The Amish of North America 195 Appendix II. Amish Lectionary 205 Appendix III. Rules of a Godly Life 209 Notes 223 References 239 The Authors 247 Index 249

About the Author :
Donald B. Kraybill, Ph.D., is senior fellow at the Young Center of Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Steven M. Nolt, Ph.D., is professor of history at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. David L. Weaver-Zercher, Ph.D., is professor of American religious history at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. They are the coauthors of the bestselling book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, which served as the basis for the most-viewed Lifetime movie of all time.

Review :
In their second book together after their best-selling Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, Kraybill (senior fellow, Young Ctr. of Elizabethtown Coll.), Steven M. Nolt (history, Goshen Coll.), and David L. Weaver-Zercher (American religious history, Messiah Coll.) go further in depth into Amish spirituality.Filled with Amish voices, the book is a compelling weave of anecdotes of Amish religious beliefs, practices, and affections, divided into four parts: spirituality, community, everyday life, and the things that matter. Describing the Amish faithful as secure, serene, and content, the authors further explore ways in which the non-Amish, or "English," can learn from Amish spirituality. Their inclusion of a short history of Anabaptists (the antecessors of the Amish), a sample lectionary, and the "Rules of a Godly Life" makes this insightful work even more delightful. VERDICT Adding to the growing body of literature on the Amish, this book will be a welcome addition to academic religion collections and of interest to readers at public libraries as well. (Library Journal, October 2010) Kraybill, Nolt, and Weaver-Zercher (Amish Grace) team up once more to offer insight into the often misunderstood world of the Amish. Refreshingly, this study makes a point of focusing on the spiritual and theological aspects of their world rather than simply cataloguing the outward cultural characteristics. Horse-drawn transportation and simple clothing do make their appearances, but they are revealed to be simply incidental to a deeply felt faith rather than something to gawk at. Focusing on a triumvirate of religious beliefs, practices, and affections, the authors weave the spirituality of the Amish through the everyday fibers of existence. Chapters are organized by broad themes including "nature," "sorrow," and "family," then further subdivided into short vignettes featuring a particular practice or belief. The final chapter contains the broadest appeal. It includes a candid appraisal of the costs of living the Amish way, but, more importantly, also suggests how American culture could greatly benefit from the patient faith of this proudly "peculiar" people. All together, the book reads quickly and provides a fine and appropriately simple introduction to the Amish faith. (Oct.) (Publishers Weekly, September 14, 2010)