Book Review: Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy

Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher; Jossey-Bass, September 21, 2007, 256 pages.

Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy is an interesting and informative look at the Amish response to the October 2, 2006 shooting at the West Nickel Mines Amish School. The authors manage to relate the events of the day with compassion and attention to detail. The book takes time to related the ideals and ideology of the Amish with both sensitivity and clarity. The book is divided into three sections and the appendix.

The First section of the book covers the events of the day and the Amish response to the tragedy. After five young women were killed and five seriously wounded the community forgave the killer and his family. In the weeks and months that followed the Amish community assisted the widow and her children, including donating money to a fund created for them.

The second section focuses on the background and traditions of the Amish that allow them to forgive so quickly, even in the face of horrific tragedy. In this section we read about the Biblical foundation and beliefs of the Amish. In particular we learn of a significant difference between the Amish understanding of forgiveness and the majority of Christians in the West. The Amish view forgiveness as a necessity for their own salvation. We read “We forgive so that God will forgive us.” Many Christians instead view forgiveness as a requirement because God has first forgiven us.

The third section deals with more practical considerations of forgiveness. We learn that the Amish too struggle with forgiveness. We also learn about the struggle and connection between the Amish practice of shunning and strict discipline amongst members and their practice of forgiving sins and trespasses. This section most openly also deals with the different criticisms of the Amish and their forgiveness.

The book is written with many quotations and information gained directly from the Amish, particularly those who were intimately connected to the tragedy. This book is a must read for all Christians. It would do us all good to learn about this segment of Christianity and particularly their practice of forgiveness. As one of the Amish interviewed asked “What would have happened had we forgiven the terrorists on September 11^th.”

~ by edwardwhpease on July 5, 2009.