Dare to Ask: For Amish teens, a time for being 'un-Amish'?

By Phillip Milano

The Florida Times-Union

Question

Is it true that Amish teens do not have to follow Amish traditions, such as not using electricity? -- J.K., Johnson City, Tenn.

Replies

I have heard that Amish teens get a year "off" to live in our world to see which path they want to choose. Otherwise they use nothing electric. -- D., 53, Pagan female, Texas

I think there is an Amish tradition that when they turn a certain age, somewhere in their teens, they are allowed to experience a "normal" life with electricity and shopping malls and all those other things that most people take for granted, and then choose if they want that over their life as an Amish. -- Erika, 15, atheist, Allyn, Wash.

There is a time in which Amish teens go out into the world and experience life how we do. It starts around the time of 16. But the vast majority of Amish teens return to the church when this time is over. Also interesting about this: Most of the boys wear "English" clothing, whereas the girls continue to wear their regular clothes and hairstyles. -- Ann, 21, Catholic, Covington, Ky.

Expert says

Guess what? The Amish can use electricity. (We shocked the world!)

But they differentiate between 12-volt batteries and 110-volt current from a public grid. The former they can use; the latter they don't use because they are averse to being too connected to the outside world.

They derive that sentiment from some biblical passages that urge one to not be too close to worldly things, said Donald B. Kraybill, a senior fellow at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania who specializes in Amish studies.

"They desire to be separate from society ... from evils, war, cheating, divorce and obsessions with sexuality, fads and fashions that glorify the individual," said Kraybill, whose many books include "Amish Grace," about forgiveness after the 2006 Amish schoolhouse killings in Lancaster County, Pa.

So, TVs, computers and cars are no-nos, but battery-operated tools, clocks, cash registers and some farm equipment are OK. Meanwhile, a community phone and a car driven by a hired driver can also be used for emergencies and to conduct business affairs, he said.

As far as Amish teens, they do get a chance to explore the outside world -- from the time they're 16 until baptism in the church at ages 18 to 22 -- in a practice called "Rumspringa."

"They are in limbo between the authority of their parents and that of the church," Kraybill said. "They can do what they want on weekends. Some will get cars, have parties, have a rock band, but many remain traditional."

Most return to the fold.

And when they're adults, are the Amish all dour like they show on TV?

"No, they have a sense of humor," Kraybill said. "They make jokes. I remember one Amish guy who needed to give his contact information to someone. He said, 'You can reach me at kerosene.com.' "

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Phillip Milano, author of I Can't Believe You Asked That! (Perigee), moderates cross-cultural dialogue at Y? The National Forum on People's Differences. Visit www.yforum.com to submit questions and answers. Send general column comments to phillip.milano@jacksonville.com. You can also hear his podcasts or watch his TV spots.