[NYer]

Most interesting! Thank you for sharing that with us. I personally know someone who was raised Amish. He explained to me that in the teen years, they are encouraged to go out and experience the world. When they return they must make the decision to "join" the Congregation or leave. He left.

He is quite brilliant but quirky. He took up with a group whose faith is based on some odd notion. Such a waste of talent! He has always impressed me as lost and confused.

[Conservatrix]

This is true. When the Amish youth go out and party, they REALLY go out and party. It is called "wilding" (sound familiar?).

You are fine as long as (and until) you actually "join" the church. They assume you don't know better until then. After you join, they literally have your soul.

AND the problem lies in this: whom will you marry?Most Amish are not going to attract normal gals. They are usually nice but ignorant, smelly and weird socially. They will usually join the church so that they can get a spouse through the Amish community (albeit a cousin).

Their doctors and midwives need to educate them more on cause and effect.