The Amish

Following religious persecution in Europe due to their practices of adult baptism, the Mennonite people sought refuge in the New World around the turn of the 18th Century. Today, in a hurried technological world, they continue to maintain their simple and devout ways in the face of the various modern threats that confront their communal lifestyle. "The Amish", a recent entry in the spectacular American Experience television series,  is a fascinating look at a way of life that seems foreign and baffling to many, but continues to hold an appeal to the few who continue to adopt its ways. This program offers a complete presentation of the religion and its followers, from offering a history of their group to documenting recent struggles regarding fighting modernity and deal with our crippling economy. Interviews are also given, not only by practicing members of the faith, but also by those who were raised in it and subsequently chose to renounce it. "The Amish" is a comprehensive look at an enduring and enigmatic people who continue to fascinate and puzzle due to their simplistic and pious ways.