Forgiveness/Version Out of Print [Paperback]

John L. Ruth (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0836193733 | ISBN-13: 978-0836193732 | Publication Date: May 5, 2007

This book is has been revised and this version is Out of Print. Please reference 9780836195736 Forgiveness - the 2nd edition. This sensitive and thoughtful meditation on the horrific events of October 2, 2006, reflects on the response of the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where a gunman killed himself, five school children, and wounded five others. The tragic crime evoked expressions of shock and sympathy worldwide. But even many Christians were stunned when the Amish community, in the midst of its grieving, offered words of forgiveness toward the dead killer and his family. John L. Ruth considers that extraordinary forgiveness as the legacy of that heartbreaking day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is unspeakably hard for any community to lose its children. Although the Amish have shown an extra quotient of forgiveness, their parental tears are as salty as anyone's. Six months after the lose of two daughters, an Amish farmer could sometimes barely bring himself out to his fields. But his people hear a gracious command When you stand praying, forgive,--and a stern warning. If you don't, your heavenly Father will not forgive you. This duality is at the heart of the gospel that has shaped their attitudes. --John L Ruth in Author's Note

About the Author

John L. Ruth is a Mennonite minister, author, and film-maker. He directed the award-winning PBS documentary, The Amish: A People of Preservation. A former college English professor, Ruth has also written on the life and heritage of Anabaptist communities in books such as The Earth Is the Lord's, 'Twas Seeing Time, and Maintaining the Right Fellowship.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Herald Press (May 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836193733
• ISBN-13: 978-0836193732
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Faith
  • #79 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Theology > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Ashley Merrill, August 23, 2007

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Front Street Reviews www.frontstreetreviews.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forgiveness/Version Out of Print (Paperback)

At first glace, this book appears as though it is going to be a recap of the horrific events that took place in an Amish community in Pennsylvania. One quickly realizes that this book is so much more. Almost in one chapter the book can sum up what happened on October 2nd, 2006, and the rest of the time is spent on numerous other topics, all of which relate to the concept of forgiveness.

It seems pretty obvious that if a member of your community went to your child's school and point blank shot them to death because he felt he was wronged earlier in life, you would want that guy either dead, in jail, or at least to pay dearly for the loss he caused you. You would also probably never ever want to see him or have contact with him, unless it was to be in a court room watching him be sentenced for his crime. John L. Ruth shows us how the media is absolutely shocked to find that the families of the deceased children invite the killer's wife to the funerals, and tell her that she is welcome to stay living in the community, and that they forgive her husband for what he did. If the Amish did not want media attention before this odd behavior, they only made it worse by going against everything our culture tells us is acceptable to feel for someone who has wronged us.

John L. Ruth takes us back to when the Amish first became what they are, how they developed their beliefs, what they had to go through to get to where they are, etc. This helps us to try and understand where they are coming from and how it is that they can have peace of mind and no ill feelings towards such an evil, disturbed man. They accept that they are here on earth for both good events to take place, and for tragedies to take place. They know Jesus suffered for all of us, so it is only appropriate to sometimes do the same.

The end of this book really had you thinking about our culture and the ideas that are ingrained into our heads at such a young age. Should we all be as forgiving as the Amish are? Should we just accept that life is full of tragedies; that life is all about how you deal with them and move on? I have to say that I came pretty close to being convinced that life would be much easier if we did not dwell on the hardships in life and think of it as events that were obviously meant to happen; it was god's will, and the man with the gun was just carrying out god's wish. Unfortunately I have had it pounded into my head so much that seeking revenge and vengeance is the proper thing to do when someone wrongs you so horribly, that I do not think I could swallow that and forgive. It makes you wonder how good of a society we really are.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We need more forgiveness, July 25, 2008

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James I. Meek "JIM" (Indian Lake, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Forgiveness/Version Out of Print (Paperback)

John Ruth begins with the Amish community's tremendous act of forgiveness for the man and his family who killed and wounded their children. Then he explores the roots of such love in their community life and theological outlook and their faithfulness to the bible and especially the sermon on the mount. This book is well written and highlights the great need for this forgiving love in our society.
Dr. Ruth is a Mennonite pastor with a Harvard PHD in English literature who has written many books and articles about the Anabaptist tradition. He has also written film scripts and produced numerous video's about this traditions contributions to all of us.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book on forgiveness, August 14, 2011

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jschristian44 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forgiveness/Version Out of Print (Paperback)

This book showed up at our house, I think from a garage sale. Anyways, I started reading it just to learn more about what the Amish did that day and how they moved past it. The New Hope School is up and they are right spot on about forgiveness. Forgiveness is the only way we move on, otherwise we would be stuck forever in a dark place that no one wants. I am about halfway through the book, the beginning was heart wrenching. The middle is more filled with facts about the Amish Anabaptist past which I find pretty hard to read, but I can get through it. It's not too advanced is what I am saying. But everything that day was in God's hands and everyone should know that. It's a shame something couldn't have been done beforehand, but we could have said the same about 9/11, etc. These things just happen out of no where. It says in teh book that this was the Amish people's own 9/11 which I find very true. It just happened out of no where and made such a huge impact in the world. I was in 9th grade when 9/11 happened and they turned the TV on, etc. Same thing when this day happened it was all over the news. Either way I find this book includes tragedy, forgiveness, and comfort. It's a good read, and I am not much of a reader.