willmore

It is my understanding that they "take care of their own"......

Leslie

Prenatal screening can show a LOT of things that would cause complications during labor (Preeclampsia, Placenta Previa, breech birth and fetal anemia just to name a few) and by the time they need to transport - it could already be too late.

I agree, this is a whole other debate and I cannot judge them for their beliefs. However, the life they lead is not simple and idyllic it is harsh and sparse - that is ultimately the point I'm trying to make.

Elvira

What do you mean?

willmore

It is my meager understanding that they do not use hospitals or medication if someone is ill in the community, that they depend on prayer and doctors are not called in......I could very well be wrong....

Elvira

So, supposing there were serious complications at a birth, would they simply let mother and/or child die? I hope this isn't so - it would be worse than the Dark Ages.

Leslie

I don't know exactly what each and every Amish community does as they all have different "laws" by which they live and these all vary in severity. I just know that their faith dictates that they shun modern conveniences and technologies - medical screening and preventive treatments are not actively pursued in the majority of Amish communities.

willmore

See leslie's answer....that is my understanding as well.....!

Leslie

They're of the belief that life and death are "Gods Will" and not to be interfered with by man. I'm sure there are some exceptions made - and hopefully this particular part of their faith will amend itself in time.

willmore

Yes, that's certainly my understanding of their belief, at least the one's living around the area I grew up in Ontario. I dont know if anything will change though, their beliefs are very very strong and they are very committed to them.....

Leslie

Sounds like brainwashing, child labor and slavery to me. :scared:

Partystar

It would take up the time when they could be farming or performing other duties.

Ah well, each to their own, I couldn't be Amish, I like TV, the internet etc etc etc too much, I don't know how they manage.

Ben

That is not entirely true. They only give them a formal academic education up to 8th grade but don't forget, their 8th grade is more like high school level by American Standards. And they encourage their children to leave home before deciding to settle down and become Amish. They are only taken into the faith as an adult. If a child decides not to accept the Amish way then they are not shunned from their community. There are children who leave and go to university to study law or become a doctor, however, not very many because it is a growing community of farmers and carpenters. These children, who are now adults, are welcomed back with open arms, as long as they didn't take their Orders into the faith. Once you take on the faith as an adult you are expected to live by the rules of that faith. Disobey and you will be ousted.

And they do seek medical advice and help when issues arise that they need help with. They do have prenatal and postnatal care and some Amish communities have special clinics that deal with their children's genetic issues where doctors who specialize in genetic discorders come to help. I do find it disturbing that some are so quick to judge others just because they are different. these are a quiet, peace loving people that wouldn't harm anyone and yet someone has chosen to come into their community and murder their children just because they can. No, these children's deaths are no more tragic than the deaths of all the other children killed innocently in schools. What makes this different is it should horrify people enough to want to put an end to the violence in our schools.

Rete

My children and I stay on a dairy farm in Mt. Joy, PA (Lancaster County) many years back. It was owned by Mennonites. We would sit on the front porch in the evenings after dinner and they explained a lot about their lives, cultures, schooling, medical, etc. Mennonites for the most part all attend school through high school and college. They use medical facilities and phones, television.

The Amish will use medical facilities if required. They will seek medical care from their own source first and that is not always backward. If there is a problem pregnancy they are not adverse to getting medical attention and the community will pay the hospital and doctor bill with the recipient then reimbursing them either in kind or with a barter system. While they don't own or operate automobiles they will accept rides if necessary and they will use the railroad.

As for shunning, you will find that in all religions from the Hebrew to Christian and all religions in-between.

Rete

Actually that is how life was for all humans until the advent of the 19th century. It is not brainwashing but a matter of family members being responsible for the welfare of the family.

It can be viewed the same as my mother having to go to work because dad's job didn't pay much. I was responsible for the welfare of my 16 month younger sister since I was 10 after school and after day camp in the summer. Just as I worked p/t at age 16 to earn money to pay for my school needs and clothing. Before that I babysat. It is called being a responsible member of the family.

paddingtongreen

Judging by your posts matey, I've wondered a bit, you seem to have knowledge that nobody else has