Comments on: The Holiness and Horror of Amish Life: Journalist Joe Mackall Writes about His Extraordinary Neighbors http://www.religionwriter.com/reviews/books/the-holiness-and-horror-of-amish-life-journalist-joe-mackall-writes-about-his-extraordinary-neighbors/ Fresh Ideas on Religion in Whole-Grain Journalism Form Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:47:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Skeptic http://www.religionwriter.com/reviews/books/the-holiness-and-horror-of-amish-life-journalist-joe-mackall-writes-about-his-extraordinary-neighbors/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 Skeptic Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:04:10 +0000 http://religionwriter.com/?p=72#comment-1845 The Amish living an illusion of a self-sufficient life. They are not entirely self-sufficient, they benefit from trade and roads maintained by the "English," they shop at Home Depot(!). Why limit themselves to living an 18th century lifestyle: are they better off than their ancestors from centuries before and by what justification do they choose to have frozen a particular time as ideal? Alexander Hamilton envisioned the industrial revolution: will a future Amish community see 20th century life as a simpler time? The Amish living an illusion of a self-sufficient life. They are not entirely self-sufficient, they benefit from trade and roads maintained by the “English,” they shop at Home Depot(!). Why limit themselves to living an 18th century lifestyle: are they better off than their ancestors from centuries before and by what justification do they choose to have frozen a particular time as ideal? Alexander Hamilton envisioned the industrial revolution: will a future Amish community see 20th century life as a simpler time?

]]> By: Kenny http://www.religionwriter.com/reviews/books/the-holiness-and-horror-of-amish-life-journalist-joe-mackall-writes-about-his-extraordinary-neighbors/comment-page-1/#comment-1246 Kenny Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:20:46 +0000 http://religionwriter.com/?p=72#comment-1246 I became interested in the Amish many years ago. As I continue to study the Amish traditions and virtues, I began to think and live more like them, although I am not ready to give up my electricity. Today, I live in the Amish spirit as much as I can and able. My spiritual life and simplicity has increased and my stress level dropped. I will order and read this book because it tells of life's hardships and issues that we all share, but react differently. Thank you Mr. Mackall for this interesting interview. I became interested in the Amish many years ago. As I continue to study the Amish traditions and virtues, I began to think and live more like them, although I am not ready to give up my electricity. Today, I live in the Amish spirit as much as I can and able. My spiritual life and simplicity has increased and my stress level dropped.

I will order and read this book because it tells of life’s hardships and issues that we all share, but react differently.

Thank you Mr. Mackall for this interesting interview.

]]> By: Andrea Useem http://www.religionwriter.com/reviews/books/the-holiness-and-horror-of-amish-life-journalist-joe-mackall-writes-about-his-extraordinary-neighbors/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Andrea Useem Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:24:19 +0000 http://religionwriter.com/?p=72#comment-40 Emmanuelle, I think you'll be impressed by Mackall's even-handedness. He did express in the book a sense of horror about what he felt was a waste of life through preventable road accidents, but he certainly appreciates all the trade-offs involved in the Amish life. Anyways, I think you'll like the book. Andrea Emmanuelle,

I think you’ll be impressed by Mackall’s even-handedness. He did express in the book a sense of horror about what he felt was a waste of life through preventable road accidents, but he certainly appreciates all the trade-offs involved in the Amish life. Anyways, I think you’ll like the book.

Andrea

]]> By: Emmanuelle http://www.religionwriter.com/reviews/books/the-holiness-and-horror-of-amish-life-journalist-joe-mackall-writes-about-his-extraordinary-neighbors/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Emmanuelle Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:35:14 +0000 http://religionwriter.com/?p=72#comment-39 Thanks for this interesting interview. I'm going to read this book for sure. Comments of an outsider on a community as the Swartzentruber are always interesting if well done. I was quite surprise, though, by the subtitle "horror of the amish life" relating to the buggy safety. Well, of course security and some reflector could be nice... But how many death on the US roads (or anywhere else...) because of the cars? Should we talk of the horrors of the american life too? Thanks for this interesting interview. I’m going to read this book for sure. Comments of an outsider on a community as the Swartzentruber are always interesting if well done.
I was quite surprise, though, by the subtitle “horror of the amish life” relating to the buggy safety. Well, of course security and some reflector could be nice…
But how many death on the US roads (or anywhere else…) because of the cars? Should we talk of the horrors of the american life too?

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