How forgiveness can transcend violent tragedy

associate writer — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:51:54 +0000

Following the 2 October 2006 shooting that killed five Amish girls and wounded five others in the USA, three investigators (Dr Donald B. Kraybill, Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania, Dr Steven M. Nolt, Goshen College, Indiana, and Dr David Weaver-Zercher, Messiah College, Pennsylvania) explored why and how the Amish expressed forgiveness in the wake of the shooting. The research methods involved face-to-face interviews with Amish people to probe their practice of forgiveness. In addition the researchers pursued Amish writings on forgiveness as well as historical examples when Amish people forgave those who wronged them. The investigators also reviewed hundreds of media stories and editorials on Amish forgiveness at Nickel Mines. Finally, the investigation compared Amish practices of forgiveness with broader studies of forgiveness in American society. The research was conducted from 1 November 2006 through to 1 April 2007. The results are summarised below and have been released in the new book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy (Jossey-Bass, 2007) - available from the Ekklesia online bookshop.

associate writer

Mennonite quilts will embody humanity of Iran peace mission

staff writers — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:31:56 +0000

Handmade quilted wall hangings by Mennonite and Amish women from the USA are part of what the delegation of thirteen American Christian leaders will be carrying with them next week, during their peace-making visit to Iran.

Category - Amish

How forgiveness can transcend violent tragedy

Mennonite quilts will embody humanity of Iran peace mission