Monday, November 9, 2009
Running Around
I believe that 16 is an appropriate age for the "vaccination" of the side of English life that the Amish kids miss out on but not an appropriate age for the Amish teens to experience English life. I do not believe that the Amish teenagers are likely to experience real English life however, as 16 is much too young to want to seek out a more modern adult life with a job and responsibilities. Even though I say that 16 is too young for one to seek out a true adult life, I do not believe Rumspringa is about this. Rumspringa translates to running around and because of this I do not believe that the true intention of this rite of passage is to be properly introduced to a life in which one can prosper in the long term. Rumspringa is made to cope with the energy of youth so that the youth can understand that a life of partying is no long term substitute for the void filled by the deep seeded Amish values that would be revoked should they not decide to commit to the church. Amish teens are schooled insufficiently should they prospect to get a serious career and by default are almost pulled back to a life they have been so accustomed to.
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So you see rumspringa as essentially an exercise in catharsis for the kids, at the same time being a lesson of sorts, Brendan? Interesting. Why then do you think that the Amish attach it to the question of baptism? Or give the kids the choice (or present the choice) of leaving the community?
ReplyDeleteThe choice to leave or join the church is one that is unaccessable to the Amish until Rumspringa. Because of this, the state of previous "childhood" existence is suspended during Rumspringa. If the choice to abandon or to dedicate was not available, Rumpspringa would serve more as a learning experience rather than an analysis of fate. I find the most interesting thing about such a lease of ultimate ownership of one's destiny is that the outcomes are its perpetuation, or its resignation. In my opinion, I find the elders to expect most of the teens to return to the church after Rumspringa. Even though one is technically not a member of the church until adulthood, its influence is "deeply seeded" in its youth. Rumpsringa, then, is not an illusion of power nor has it ever been, but precisely what you stated, "an exercise in Catharsis". I believe if the Amish's intent was to truely introduce their popultion to real "English" life, they would school their teens normally and pressure them to get a job--much like the influences of a modern family. Instead, their youths are introduced to a world of chaos which is subsequently perpetuatd by the effects of a life with minimal chaos. I believe the Amish elders strongly feel that the morals distilled in the youth are ultimately what will guide them out of chaos.
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