Accepting 'God's will'

Washington Times ^ | 5 October 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

NICKEL MINES, Pa. (AP) -- In most communities, a deadly school shooting brings demands for tighter gun laws and better security, and the victims' loved ones lash out at the gunman's family or threaten to sue.

But that's not the Amish way.

As they struggle with the slayings of five of their children in a one-room schoolhouse, the Amish in this Lancaster County village are urging forgiveness of the killer and quietly accepting what comes their way as God's will.

"They know their children are going to heaven. They know their children are innocent, and they know that they will join them in death," said Gertrude Huntington, a Michigan researcher on children in Amish society.

"The hurt is very great," Mrs. Huntington said. "But they don't balance the hurt with hate."

In the aftermath of Monday's violence, the Amish are looking inward, relying on themselves and their faith, just as they have for centuries. They hold themselves apart from the modern world and have as little to do with civil authorities as possible.

Amish mourners have been going from home to home for two days to attend viewings for the five victims, all little girls laid out in white dresses made by their families. Such viewings occur almost immediately after the bodies arrive at the parents' homes.

Typically, they are so crowded, "if you start crying, you've got to figure out whose shoulder to cry on," said Rita Rhoads, a Mennonite midwife who delivered two of the five girls slain in the attack.

At some Amish viewings, 1,000 to 1,500 people might visit a family's home to pay respects, said Jack Meyer, 60, a buggy operator in Bird in Hand.

[Aussie Dasher]

These are truly amazing people.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Indeed they are, A D.

BUMP!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Don't forget your invite after the 1st of the new year!

[Aussie Dasher]

It's carefully stashed away!

[Just Lori]

I'm sorry, but I don't buy the "God's Will" thing. I respect their faith, but I can't believe God would will such a thing.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes they are amazing. I'm not going to put the Washington Times in this grouping, but it really turned my stomach this evening to note the evening news on ABC trying to give this Christian group kudos for their courage and devotion to their faith.

Remember ABC, this is part of the Christian community you and the rest of the media slander at every opportunity.

The media should be shuddering in the presence of people who outclass them by leaps and bounds.

[beaversmom]

So nice of GOD to make Charles Roberts buy all that ammunition and blow those little girls' brains all over the school house.

[Aussie Dasher]

If Charles Roberts had listened to God, he wouldn't have done it.

Remember that bit about "Shall Shalt Not Kill"?

[beaversmom]

I'm not the one saying it was ordained by God and God's will.

Also, it's Thou shall not murder.

[Aussie Dasher]

I'm not getting into that argument! Needless to say, if the piece of trash who committed this crime had followed God's law, the little girls would still be alive.

[stephenjohnbanker]

: )

[stephenjohnbanker]

"So nice of GOD to make Charles Roberts buy all that ammunition and blow those little girls' brains all over the school house.
"

Yeah, God can't wait for the next mass murder.....it keeps Him up late.

Sheesh!

[stephenjohnbanker]

SHEESH! get a clue : )

[beaversmom]

It's not an argument. Also, Charles Roberts was doing GOD's will--according to the Amish. In addition, you shouldn't call him a piece of trash. Who are you to judge? He should be forgiven by all. The girls aren't even cold yet, but he should be forgiven by all. (The sarcasm isn't so much directed at you but at what was said in the article)

The Amish may be, by and large a pretty decent people, but they are people and they are not perfect (just read a story about them covering up sexual abuse in their community) and some of their beliefs are messed up. If this had been some leftie Christian group in Iraq saying that a beheading was GOD's will and we should forgive the killer most of us on FR would be saying what a bunch of nuts they were.

Those little girls weren't any relation of mine except that they were fellow human beings, but I have no problem in saying that I hope Charles Roberts is suffering wherever he ended up.

[Pepper777]

I agree. They truly are amazing people. I actually envy their lifestyle.

Prayers for the family and friends of those precious children.

[DB]

They are amazing.

But I don't believe for a second that it was "God's will".

In addition, if we were all like the Amish, we'd be either dead or speaking German now. I deeply respect the Amish, but the hard cold truth is, their freedom, their very existence was paid for with other peoples blood. That I don't respect.

[DB]

I'm with you.

[justche]

If you're a believer, your eternal life was bought by Someone else's blood as well.

[DB]

I don't believe it is God's plan that we lay down and die whenever some monster wants us to.