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Amish grace : how forgiveness transcended tragedy

Donald B. Kraybill

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. "Amish Grace" explores the many questions this story raises about the religious beliefs and habits that led the Amish to forgive so quickly. It examines forgiveness embedded in a separatist society and questions if Amish practices parallel or diverge from other religious and secular notions of forgiveness. They distinguish forgiveness from pardon and reconciliation. Forgiveness relinquishes the right to vengeance, while pardon forfeits punishment altogether, and reconciliation restores the relationship of victim and offender or creates a new one. At times difficult to read, this anguished and devastating account of a national tragedy and a hopeful, life-affirming lesson in how to live is itself a marvel of grace.

2007

xv, 237 p. ; 24 cm.

1st ed.

The Nickel Mines Amish -- The shooting -- The aftermath -- The surprise -- The reactions -- The habit of forgiveness -- The roots of forgiveness -- The spirituality of forgiveness -- The practice of forgiveness -- Forgiveness at Nickel Mines -- What about shunning? -- Grief, providence, and justice -- Amish grace and the rest of us.

West Nickel Mines Amish School.

Forgiveness of sin.

Amish -- Doctrines.

Amish School Shooting, Nickel Mines, Pa., 2006.

Grace (Theology)

Nolt, Steven M., 1968-

Weaver-Zercher, David, 1960-

Contributor biographical information http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0740/2007019071-b.html

Publisher description http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0740/2007019071-d.html

Table of contents only http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0806/2007019071-t.html

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. "Amish Grace" explores the many questions this story raises about the religious beliefs and habits that led the Amish to forgive so quickly. It examines forgiveness embedded in a separatist society and questions if Amish practices parallel or diverge from other religious and secular notions of forgiveness. They distinguish forgiveness from pardon and reconciliation. Forgiveness relinquishes the right to vengeance, while pardon forfeits punishment altogether, and reconciliation restores the relationship of victim and offender or creates a new one. At times difficult to read, this anguished and devastating account of a national tragedy and a hopeful, life-affirming lesson in how to live is itself a marvel of grace.

9780787997618

San Francisco, CA : Jossey-Bass, c2007.