The Amish: Shunned FULL SPECIAL | PBS America

What is it like to be cut off from your faith and your family? Follow seven people who have chosen to leave their closed and tightly-knit Amish communities for the outside world, knowing they can never return. Each has paid deeply for their decision. Estranged from loved ones, these former Amish find themselves struggling to make their way in modern America.

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[Archie]

Thank you for posting this documentary, I found it very informative and moving.

[karinalowenzahn]

Thank you for this interesting and moving documentation, i think, people should be able to visit their families, eat and talk to each other. It does not have to destroy the whole family, if someone decides to live a different lifestyle or simply wants more education. ❤

[claudiaschneider]

Shunning is to dehumanize people - no matter in what kind of religious cult, family or community you were in before. Only soulless humans do shunning to their own people and relatives.

[codzy]

im very old fashioned im 61 a woman and had a bit of a rough trot in life ppl throw off at the amish but at least they have their heart head set on something evolves around God an their families id live like that in a heart beat ppl today couldnt or tolerate ppl like this i can i think their lovely soft spoken quiet ppl quiet spirits too i couldnt handle living with or next to loud ppl loud music self entitled nasty ppl nope....id live with these ppl in a heartbeat so ppls one mans trash is another mans treasure amen God bless the amish ppl this is coming from an indigenous australian woman God bless everyone 🖤🧡❤👵🦘🪃💐🌹

[lilifriio]

We tend to overlook the human side of leaving the Amish culture. The individuals who leave want to leave some of the restrictions and not their families. If they leave, their church shuns them and punishes both the one leaving and their family. The decision to leave can’t be easy, they leave the one life they’ve known, no education, no mentors to help unless they know how to find them. They feel guilty for exploring who they are and where they fit in life. They don’t know that they can still hold onto their core values in the english world should they leave their Amish home permanently, they are stronger than they know. Although I will always respect all cultures and belief systems, I will never accept shunning for any reason. Broken families and broken hearts happen because of the religious practice of shunning, it should be outlawed because the Amish families would lose less of their loved ones. Some may leave but more will stay or return. Thank you for uploading this documentary and to the Amish who agreed to participate. ❤

[Science]

I look at these right wing christian groups and wonder, when was the message of peace and love replaced with a demand for subservience and obedience. I don't recall any mention of power in the teachings of Christ. That is not what Jesus was about, I just don't get it.

[mostlyuselessyou]

Is someone going to mention their horrible treatment of horses and these awful puppy mills? Incest? Domestic violence?

[Bebedollie]

They all have a quiet lovely soft disposition. Its a beautiful thing 🙏

[jahmasin]

There's a very dark side to these ppl that no one wants to talk about CSA, incest, murder, spiritism, the fear of wicked spirits, and heavy superstitions. AND the shunning.

[jeskerle]

Amazing and thank you for sharing your courage and stories, always know God loves you.

[ecobouwen]

Before you leave, think over what you leave. The so called world is absolutely not so glorious what they say it is.

[denisehay]

I found this very moving. So much pain experienced by those interviewed. It seems the Amish have to enforce their rules in order to hang onto their culture even though the price in terms of human relationships seens high. My children (all now in their late thirties and early forties) went to a Rudolf Steiner school and I can see parallels. The first Steiner school opened in 1919 and was based on Steiner's visionary teaching. The curriculum has remained unchanged since then. Some parents agitated for change and 'modernisation' particularly over the introduction of computers, white boards etc. But the school resisted which I believe was the right decision, . My children are now all running successful businesses. Thank you for this very thought provoking documentary.

[kiwigirljacks]

“To lose obedience is to lose the religion” … right, so controlling people is the only way you can keep your religion! That says it all.

[Bebedollie]

Those paintings that lady does are beautiful

[radicalcartoons]

Not true that they don't allow on camera interviews. Peter Santenello did a video with an Amish family 1-2 years back.

[artoriiramsboolan]

The Amish appear to live gentle lives but unforgiving in their religious beliefs.

[aileenjackson]

You won't go to hell, its already here.

[MeenaLuay]

At least they have functional families with every one has his own role in society. Unlike now, parents are thrown in old ppls home, ppl are selfish and materialistic!

[dianaabcalen]

i have a respect with the amish culture in this world right here right now its out of control its mundane and an amish kind of life is what i want right now just peace and nothing to do outside, .

[ash.lou]

in not amish but i was shunned and booted out at 7. still no relationship with them or anyone else.