Customer Reviews

Amish Confidential: The Bishop's Son Shatters the Silence

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1 star:		(13)

 

 

As a person who's studied the Amish for many years I was really looking forward to reading this book. I'm halfway through and have decided to write my review already.

This book is not so much about the abuse and misdeeds of the Amish as much as it seems to be a confessional of abuse and misdeeds of the author.

I'll tell you right off the bat that there's a lot of animal abuse in this book, so if that upsets you (it does me) then don't read it. The majority of the abuse comes from the author to the animals when he does things he shouldn't as a young boy and gets reprimanded for them. As a result he takes it out on various animals. I was disgusted, sickened and almost in tears at some of it.

There is some other abuse...mostly by children to other children. What the author terms "abuse" is what alot of the rest of us endure growing up as well...being reprimanded by parents or stern relatives. He makes child abuse in this country pale by comparison. My thinking is that if this author had grown up among the "Englische" (what the Amish call the rest of us) that he would have written this book anyway. The author seems like an cry baby opportunist eager for a venue.

As much as I really was looking forward to reading this book, I'm sorely disappointed. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, especially not animal lovers.
Judge for yourself but I suggest you save your money and buy a book that's worth reading.

I am not Amish but live near Lancaster County PA. I have read several books about Amish culture and lifestyles. In some of those books there is verbiage on some child abuse. Do I believe it happens, yes...do I believe that Chris Burkholder was so abused...that is not something that I can say or not say. But what I do believe is that Chris Burkholder is using this book to make a couple of bucks and I was one of the fools who purchased it! How he repeatedly discusses the sexual activites in his book is digusting. I read the entire book hoping it would get better, it never did. I would not recommend this book to anyone..please do not help in Chris Burkholders get rich quick scheme like I did.

I can't believe that this guy is a good representative of the Amish people. Rather, it seemed to be an odd account of child abuse mixed in with sex with animals. Bizarre, disturbing, and something that's better left alone.

I enjoyed this book very much. Although the book isn't the most eloquently written much of the time, it conveys a strong story of this man's life. Throughout, you get a glimpse of the Amish lifestyle and how it intertwines with Chris's life as a child and young man. There are very graphic details in here of brutality of various sorts, so reader should beware of this.

I have always been interested in the Amish community, and I am a huge fan of the weekly "Amish Cook" column. However, the main reason I read this book is because of the commotion it caused in my hometown. As you will read in the book, Mr. Burkholder eventually ends up in an Amish community outside the small town of Kahoka, MO. Incidentally, this is where I grew up. I remember seeing these Amish at the salebarn auctions; my mom, grandma, and I drove to one of their homes to buy homegrown peas. They may lead their lives differently than us "Englishers", but they are human. That certainly does not justify the wrongdoings mentioned in this book, but I like to think that all Amish communities are not like this.

Like it or not, child abuse/incest/beastiality can occur in families of any religious affiliation. Please read this book with an open mind as I did, and do not condemn all Amish for the poor parenting and leadership of one Bishop in one community.

The book was poorly written and repeatedly informed the reader of "doing it" with farm animals and beatings by his father. More details about daily life beyond sneaking out, getting drunk, and brawling would have been more interesting.

I admire the courage that Chris had for telling his story. I only lived in an Amish community for a little over 2 years AND was abused during that time. Most of the rest of my life since I left, I have been Mennonite. Abuse does happen everyone- the Amish aren't immune. It is those people that don't think it happens- that paint a rosy picture that make us WHO HAVE BEEN OLD ORDER AMISH look like we are not telling the truth, when, in fact, we suffered alot. I do have to say that there are several wonderful Amish communities across America and Canada and that I learned alot from most of them. Its just the , "bad apple", in every community that hurts innocent people. It hurts me to see bad reviews( and I've had my share) when we are the victims. The main reason we are telling our story is to shine a light on the problem. A problem we shouldn't ignore. And for the rest of the Amish- I enjoyed being in their community and they taught me how to cook from scratch and how to be closer to God. Therefore, this isn't directed at all, but some that hurt others.

Sicily Yoder, author of, "Leaving Lancaster County", and "Amish Cooking with Sicily Yoder.

Although the author doesn't admit to being a writer, let's suffice it to say, he should never try and become one. This book was so poorly written, and even more poorly laid out. The title itself lends to accusing an entire group of people for the sins of only some. Come on Mr. Burkholder, due to the sins of some Catholic priests, does that mean all Catholic priests are bad, better yet, that we should be as vengeful as you? It's too bad that the Amish don't use conventional medicine and treatment that often, as you have clearly suffered from ADHD, and quite possibly are OCD.
While growing up, we had several animals. It was also more back then common to spank unruly children. When I misbehaved or was perceived to have misbehaved and was punished, I NEVER, EVER IN A MILLION YEARS, would have even considered retaliation, let alone abusing innocent animals. When the author describes how his uncle tortured and killed a dog, OVER SOMETHING THE AUTHOR HIMSELF HAD DONE, BUT WAS TOO COWARDLY TO ADMIT, I immediately recognized the sadistic streak as well as the utmost in selfish behavior, that appears to be part of the authors being. The author, drowned an innocent kitten, simply for being in the same barn with him. At the time he was mid to late teens, and he was clueless as to right and wrong? Twice he had sex with a calf in the barn? Again, he didn't know this was wrong? Frightening that he is now a parent.
While I admit that the beatings that the author CLAIMS to have endured, seemed extreme, there were no instances where this happens, that the author did not in some way misbehave and MOST of his behavior was very much out of line. Depraved sex, deliberate disobedience, stealing, abusing animals, and moving your bowels in the bath tub for your brother to deal with during his bath? Mr. Burkholder, is an extremely sick man, and a cry baby, who wants to walk around and do as he pleases, without regard for other life forms. He blames his father for his issues, but if you read the book, you'll see he takes NO responsibility for ANY of his actions. If he doesn't get his way, the neighborhood better hide their pets, their personal belongings, and their children.

An autobiographical account of growing up among the Missouri Amish, Chris Burkholder reveals the trials and tribulations of being raised in the strict religious sect and under the oppressive eyes of bishop of the community, his own father. Burkholder recounts some shocking and horrific events, including bestiality, incest, molestation, and child and animal abuse, that put into question the docile and peaceful stereotype that society has come to associate with the Amish. Reading Burkholder's memior, readers will be shocked about how sadistic and malicious both Burkholder and his family are to unsuspecting and innocent animals and children.

Burkholder is by no means a professional writer which is reflective in his style and flow. The story moves quickly through his life, documenting mainly the ages 6 to 9 and after 15, and focuses on the relationship between father and son. A variety of characters are introduced, mainly family members, although only a few are really developed through the story.

I could not help but be saddened by the seemingly unremorseful Burkholder in his treatment of others, both human and animal. The book is definitely not for children and may serve mainly to satisfy the curious readers of exactly how bad could the situation be. One cannot discredit Burkholder but within the book he seems unapologetic towards his own actions, which is a shame unto itself.

This was one of the worst books I have ever read. I'm not saying the abuse & happenings in the story didn't take place, but this does not account for all Amish people & the Amish community. The book portrays all Amish folks are evil & wicked people. There was so much devious sexual behavior & so explicit, I couldn't even continue reading some of the pages. I think a teen-age is capable of knowing right & wrong, and yet Chris continued with these horrid sexual acts. To show such cruelty to poor helpless creatures & torture animals the way he & others did, sickened me. Again, I could not read the details. How this man could go on to marry a girl & have children without professional help from his past, is beyond me. I would have great hesitation before I would marry a man with all that he did & how he hurt helpless animals. I have many books on the Amish & Mennonite people & this is the worst I ever read.
I am very familiar with Amish people, as we have personal friends who are Amish. We know them & all their extended families as well. We've been in their homes, sat at their tables for meals, gone on outings with them & never once encountered any kind of this sick behavior. In our own society, we have good & bad in all kinds of people. Folks suffer physical & mental abuse every day. You don't have to be Amish to suffer the abuse & violence portrayed in this book. It happens every day and in many families. I'm sorry I wasted my money on this book as it was pure filth in my eyes and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I just hope everyone does not think all Amish folks are like this becasue there are many warm, caring & God loving Amish folks like the ones we know. I have to think many of the abuse that does occur, are isolated cases. I don't recall reading, Chris ever being remorseful for all the wrong doings he did. In my opinion, this book should go right to the trash bucket & stay there. Does not belong on any bookshelf at all. Didn't realize there was comments to review because I would have read that first before purchasing this from Amazon. Now I know better & where to search for comments.

I have read the book, and can say that I am glad I did not waste my money buying it. The book is not well written and is not at all what I expected to read about. If you are thinking this will educate you as to the beliefs, rituals, and inner workings of the Amish community, then you are in for a rude awakening. Instead you read about one man's sexual depravity and deliquency growing up, a depravity and delinquency that could be found in any community not just the Amish. Those acts he described in the book served no purpose other than to embarrass himself and others.

I live in one of the towns mentioned in the book, and know many of the people he refers to in the book. It is not impossible to imagine that many of the acts of abuse(physical and sexual) of both human and animal may have been embellished.

If you feel the need to read the book I at least encourage you to borrow it. Put your money towards something more useful.