I’ve been wanting to post something regarding one of the books I’m currently reading, but haven’t gotten around to it. I will still try to do so in the coming week or two, but for now, I’ll post a Publishers Weekly review from Amazon.
The book is titled Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, and tells the story of the shootings at the Amish school in Nickel Mines, PA, in late 2006. The world was stunned by (and sometimes questioned) their forgiveness of the killer and his family. This book takes a look at their response, as well as other examples of tragedies among the Amish and their similar responses, and how it relates to their faith and their daily life.
When a gunman killed five Amish children and injured five others last fall in a Nickel Mines, Pa., schoolhouse, media attention rapidly turned from the tragic events to the extraordinary forgiveness demonstrated by the Amish community. The authors, who teach at small colleges with Anabaptist roots and have published books on the Amish, were contacted repeatedly by the media after the shootings to interpret this subculture. In response to the questions why—and how—did they forgive? Kraybill and his colleagues present a compelling study of Amish grace. After describing the heartbreaking attack and its aftermath, the authors establish that forgiveness is embedded in Amish society through five centuries of Anabaptist tradition, and grounded in the firm belief that forgiveness is required by the New Testament. The community’s acts of forgiveness were not isolated decisions by saintly individuals but hard-won counter cultural practices supported by all aspects of Amish life. Common objections to Amish forgiveness are addressed in a chapter entitled, What About Shunning? The authors carefully distinguish between forgiveness, pardon and reconciliation, as well as analyze the complexities of mainstream America’s response and the extent to which the Amish example can be applied elsewhere. This intelligent, compassionate and hopeful book is a welcome addition to the growing literature on forgiveness.
I’m about halfway through, but it’s been quite good thus far.