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96th out of 101 books
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Think No Evil: Inside the Story of the Amish Schoolhouse Shooting...and Beyond
An inside look at the tragic events and astounding forgiveness surrounding the deadly October 2006 shooting at the Nickel Mines Amish schoolhouse.
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
September 22nd 2009
by Howard Books
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Sheri
added it
Anyone who has ever had to forgive someone for whom forgiveness didn't come naturally...definitely read this book. It chronicles the Amish school shootings that occurred in 2006 in Nickel Mines, PA...about 30 min. from where I was living at the time. I watched this story unfold with horror at how anyone could do something so awful to such a peaceful people group, especially the most innocent of them - their little girls. Jonas Beiler, who was once Amish himself and is the husband of the founder...more
Think No Evil: Inside the Story of the Amish Schoolhouse Shooting...and Beyond, by Jonas Beiler, with Shawn Smucker
In October 2006, the world was shocked when a man entered an Amish schoolhouse and shot 10 girls inside, and then killed himself. When the Amish proceeded to forgive the killer, the concept of Amish forgiveness may have shocked the world even more.
Jonas Beiler is perfect to tell the story of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting. While he was raised in an Ami...more
In October 2006, the world was shocked when a man entered an Amish schoolhouse and shot 10 girls inside, and then killed himself. When the Amish proceeded to forgive the killer, the concept of Amish forgiveness may have shocked the world even more.
Jonas Beiler is perfect to tell the story of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting. While he was raised in an Ami...more
After such a tragedy how could the Amish not think of doing evil to the man that shot and killed their innocent little girls. It was an amazing site to behold for the world who takes an eye for an eye. Revenge is mine this world says—watch out. Forgiveness is the choice the Amish families made that tragic day October 2, 2006. “We forgive because we can not forget…God commanded them to forgive seventy times seven.”
The author Jonas tells of how the peaceful Amish community quickly sou...more
The author Jonas tells of how the peaceful Amish community quickly sou...more
Think No Evil by Jonas Beiler and Shawn Smucker is an inside look at the Nickel Mines Amish School shooting of October 2, 2006. Beiler grew up in an Amish home before deciding at the age of 15 to live on the outside, so he has a unique perspective to share on this story that captivated the nation. The world couldn't look away as the news came in about a man who walked into an Amish school, sent out the boys and women, tied up the girls, boarded over the doors and windows and then proceeded to sh...more
How do the surviving families forgive the man who shot 10 innocent Amish schoolgirls before turning the gun on himself? Is it even possible? It is possible and Beiler shares how the Amish families and their greater community have walked the walk and not only forgiven the shooter but forged an abiding friendship with his widow and children.
The author himself grew up in an Old Order Amish family but chose to leave as an adult so he has an insider perspective which allows him to share...more
The author himself grew up in an Old Order Amish family but chose to leave as an adult so he has an insider perspective which allows him to share...more
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For many, our first reaction to violence is to seek retribution, but for the Amish, it is an opportunity to extend the relentless love and forgiveness of the Lord, who prayed for his torturers while he hung on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” When a man known to the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsyvania, barricaded himself in a one-room schoolhouse full of children and proceeded to shoot ten innocent girls, their religious ideals would be put through the ...more
Jonas Beiler tells of how the Amish quickly forgave the shooter who killed five girls and wounded five other girls in a Pennsylvania schoolhouse in 2006 before killing himself. Beiler, a counselor in the area who was raised Amish, tells how such Christlike forgiveness of befriending the killer's family had a healing impact on the victims. Along the way Beiler recounts the sometimes slow painful recovery he made following the death of his twentysomething brother in a motorcycle accident, the deat...more
I thought I was reading a true-crime book with an Amish twist, but instead I got an impressive lesson on forgiveness. This is not a long book, but within it you actually get three non-fiction stories. One is the story of the Amish Schoolhouse shootings you may recall from the news in 2006. The other is a brief history of the Amish, and why they choose to forgive in the face of injustice, including these school shootings. Also, you get a look at the author's own life as it pertains the other ...more
This book is a first person account of the Amish School killings. The author lives in the community and works as a counselor. He was raised Amish, but he and his wife had opted out of that lifestyle. He has stayed and worked within the community, and his life is still immersed in the Amish culture. While he recounts what happened on that day, he looks deeper into the Amish community and their belief in forgiveness and not revenge or retribution. The book gives one a lot to think about and m...more
Jennifer
rated it
Joe and I went to Amish Acres this past week and I gathered an armful of Amish-themed books. This one literally kept me up half the night while on vacation. It tells the true story of a one-room Amish schoolhouse shooting in Lancaster County, PA. In chilling detail it outlines the night before, morning of and aftermath of one man's horrific crime on these most peaceful of people. Even more shocking than the crime is the Amish community's response. Their immediate impulse is to forgive the k...more
The main focus in this book isn't on the crime...it's a lesson on forgiveness that will
stay with you long after you have read this book. A review from Don Eberly....The author
captures the experience of a community having to come to terms with an episode of
homegrown violence that will never be understood or explained. He portrays the Amish, who
are at the center of this drama, as real people who struggle with grief and anger like
the...more
stay with you long after you have read this book. A review from Don Eberly....The author
captures the experience of a community having to come to terms with an episode of
homegrown violence that will never be understood or explained. He portrays the Amish, who
are at the center of this drama, as real people who struggle with grief and anger like
the...more
I confess I've always had the opinion that the Amish were strange and somehow "less" than the rest of us. I found their way of life strange and to be honest didn't have a very good opinion of them. After reading this book I have realized that though their way of life may be simple, they are most definatly not less. The capacity for forgiveness that these people posess is amazing. That they would first be concerned for family of the killer is almost unbelievable. Though I may not unders...more
Once a few years ago, very close to the time that the shooting in Nickle Mines happened, I heard a sermon at my church about true forgiveness. One of the ways the speaker described forgiveness was by sharing how the Amish forgave because it was part of their faith and that because of this reason it was not true forgiveness. The analogy never sat right with be because as a Christian I am commanded to forgive... whether it is easy or not. So because I have to make a choice about it does it not mak...more
I wasn't especially interested in reading this at first, but my mom strongly recommended it to me. When will I learn that 'Mom knows best'? The book drew me in right away with inside information about a tragic Amish school shooting. It went on to describe the community's extraordinary response to intense loss and personal tragedy. Rich with details and a quick read, it brought tears to my eyes more than once and challenged me to both receive and offer radical forgiveness.
A very good book about forgiveness. Would have given it 5 stars if the writing had been a little better, but the story is compelling and moving. It is the story of the Amish schoolhouse shooting in Pennsylvania and its aftermath. Most of the story is about the Amish virtue of forgiveness. After the shootings, in which 5 Amish girls and the shooter died, the Amish community reached out to both the shooting victims' families and the shooter's family.
A very interesting and enlightening book. The first part of the book is about the school shootings and the second part is about forgiveness. How the Amish use forgiveness as a tool for healing. How anger and revenge will continue to torment you. The grief and loss never go away but forgiveness is a better coping mechanism.
The book goes on to explain how forgiveness can help in day to day situations, not just in catastrophic ones. I'm sure I would be the vengeful type but hopefully this...more
The book goes on to explain how forgiveness can help in day to day situations, not just in catastrophic ones. I'm sure I would be the vengeful type but hopefully this...more
The information about forgiveness is amazing. The writing style is okay, but the author sometimes repeats himself. Despite that, he is also very open about his own path to forgiveness in his life. Truly a lesson for us all in this sad world where the first action after someone has been wronged is to contact an attorney and/or plot revenge.
We as a society really have alot to learn about forgiveness, and what it really means from the Amish. It really did bring up some very interesting examples of how to forgive, and why we need to forgive. Amazing how the Amish really do practice this principle of forgiveness.
Tricia
is currently reading it
Although I don't agree with everything about the Amish, the lessons one can learn about forgiveness are amazing. This is about the Amish schoolhouse shooting that occurred in 2006 in PA and about the power of forgiveness this community had for the shooter.
This was a wonderful, quick read. This book is all about the Amish schoolhouse shooting and how the Amish community reacted to that violence with forgiveness. I thought it was very well written. The time spent on the actual events of that day was relatively little, so the tone was not morbid or upsetting. Instead, the focus was mostly on the people, both inside and outside the Amish community, and how the events impacted them emotionally. It explains a lot about Amish culture and how forgiveness...more
Terry Moffitt
added it
I bought this book for professional reasons but it actually had a very profound impact on me personally. I highly recommend this book as one of the best I have read in recent years.
Intensely inspirational. This book is not so much about the tragedy of the Nickel Mine Schoolhouse shooting as it is about the divinity of forgiveness. Powerful example to us all.
This book says exactly what I want to say about forgiveness but everyone thinks I'm crazy, even other Christians.
Truely amazing how the Amish forgive and how it is part of their culture. We could all learn a bit from them in this matter.
Though I would have liked to have more information about the Shooter and his motives, this is a really important book. The Amish's ability to forgive the shooter, fascinated the world and for good reason. Their actions/beliefs are something to think about and maybe learn from. There are lessons in this book.
Very much enjoyed this book for its message. It is a fascinating and wonderful example of the culture of Amish forgiveness in action. Even in situations where their children or family members have been murdered, the Amish turn first to forgiveness, not just in words but in their thoughts and actions as well. They walk the talk.
I have a newfound respect for the Amish people and how they extend forgiveness. I will try to be the smae as I remember this story. And the author adds a few twists of his own and how he had to apply forgiveness in his own life. We should have the love of Christ for everyone. Then we can truly forgive and have peace.
This book was part story of the shooting at the Nickel Mines school, part informational about the Amish, and part instructional about forgiveness. While I didn't think the author's writing style was the best, I enjoyed this book for the information it gave and the challenge to live a life of genuine forgiveness.
I was amazed at the incredible discipline of forgiveness in these people. This book isn't so much about the incident at the Amish school but more about the peoples reaction after. Very moving!
This was a lot more of a religious book than I was bargaining for.
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Jonas Beiler grew up in a traditional Old-Order Amish family in the 1950s. He is the cofounder and chairman of The Angela Foundation. He is also a licensed family counselor and founder of Family Resource and Counseling Center and The Family Center of Gap, both located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Jonas is married to Anne Beiler, founder and creator of Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels, an acclaime...more
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