Amish … mafia?
Lancaster, PA
The Amish and Reality Television
Is Amish Mafia real? It’s a question I’ve heard buzzing around lately. The Discovery Channel series premiered on December 12th, and it’s caught the attention of millions of viewers. If you click over and read the description of the series, it certainly sounds real enough.
“This is a side of Amish society that exists under the radar, and the Amish church denies the group’s existence. Amish Mafia provides eyewitness accounts of the incidents, misdeeds and wrongdoings within the Amish community …”
There you have it! Eyewitness accounts. It must be real. Maybe. Or maybe not. The Washington Post spoke with Ira Wagler, author of Growing Up Amish in this article. Ira says no. It’s not real. Sam Stoltzfus, of Lancaster, PA, wrote his editor and said “Those characters are not Amish.”
I have published 5 Amish books and have 8 more contracted for the next 3 years. Some of those are romances and some are murder mysteries. Murder? Yes . . . because no community is perfect. They are stories of mystery and grace and forgiveness. While researching, I’ve visited Amish communities in Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. I’ve been to Amish homes, Amish barns, and Amish stores. I’ve eaten dinner with Amish families, Amish bishops, and Amish children. I don’t know all there is to know about the Amish, but I do know that they are what they appear to be–people living a simple life, committed to the Gospel of Christ.
And I can tell you I’ve never seen anyone even remotely resembling Amish Mafia.
Perhaps the simple, plain life we see is too calm, too perfect, almost too boring, if you only look on the surface of things. Maybe that’s why a producer in New York or LA came up with the idea of an organized group of men who “protect and maintain peace and order within the Amish community.” A fictional story line? I think so. Maybe it’s poor reporting, but for some–it’s good entertainment.
Vannetta
Last 5 posts by vannetta
- Anna's Healing - August 1st, 2014
- Pebble Creek and the Amish - July 1st, 2014
- Amish Research - June 2nd, 2014
- Plain & Simple Miracles - May 1st, 2014
- February and the Amish - February 1st, 2014
I watched a little of the show the first night. I won’t watch it again. Its nothing like I saw when I lived near an Amish & a Mennonite community. I will not show support on something that could make people see the Amish in the wrong light. They live their life like we all should, by trying to keep God’s word in their daily lives & living by faith.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:52 am
Pat, I think you bring up a good point. Television producers will go with the ideas that bring a bigger viewing. We can affect that!
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Diane Langwith Reply:
June 8th, 2014 at 9:58 pm
Both amish shows bring a huge disrespect to all amish ways of life.we have a very kind respected amish community around jackson county il. I respect their way of life an sense of community.the way tlc portrays them shows what our society has become in the us.tlc shouldnt pick on such a peaceful way of life.i am just glad the amish do not own television and cannot see how some of our society portrays them.i also hope no one tells them the garbage people put out about them.i would hope the.shows creators fill shame when they lay their heads down at nite
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Thank you for writing this article. I too think this show is fake. I have read a lot about the Amish but fiction and non-fiction and never has I heard of anything like this. I have seen the previews of the show but have not watched it nor do I intend to ever watch it. In fact I have thought about not watching the channel anymore. I think if you wanted to do something like this and poke fun (which I don’t agree with) at someone’s lifestyle then don’t call it reality tv. Of course I call all of the reality tv shows non-reality, reality tv and yes I am addicted to some shows. I think this show is in poor judgment but that is just my opinion. Thank you again for writing this.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:53 am
Angela – the definition of Reality TV is a bit slippery. I’ll admit to being a Survivor fan, which I think is the first of the reality craze.
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We need to let the station and producers know that we are not watching and the reasons. I wonder of other Amish fiction writers have alerted their readers also? Not sure if there are commercials on the Discovery channel but if there are sponsors maybe let them know too.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:10 am
Great ideas, Carole!
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I wonder if they took the story of the extremist Amish sect in Ohio and spun it into a series. See: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57330387/fbi-arrests-7-amish-on-hate-crimes-charges/
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:24 am
Thank you for the links, Ruth. I was in Ohio, not to long after that happened. A wonderful man, Eli Small, was our “guide.” He took us wherever we asked to go, even offered to take me hunting! I asked Eli about the hair-cutting group, and he said those people had left the Amish community long ago.
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I posted on my Facebook about this the other night. I was disgusted. While I have not been to Lancaster County I have met and spent time with the Amish in Indiana. Not a lot of time but I never once got the impression that there were a group of unbaptized Amish taking justice into their own hands. Planning a trip to Lancaster County soon and cannot wait.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:36 am
Sandra, you will love Lancaster. Maybe it is a matter of educating folks who don’t read Amish books or haven’t visited Amish communities.
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i have a amish penpal. i tell her about the tv shows that are on tv about the amish….she gets a big kick out of these shows.they are not real,there are no amish mafia…why people want to show these GOD fearing people to be like this,i don’t understand…i know their not perfect but i don’t think you’ll see them with a machine gun…these shows need to get real…
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:37 am
That picture is probably the most upsetting, Debbe – the one of the guy holding the machine gun. The Amish do hunt with rifles and they use crossbows for hunting as well. But no machine guns.
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sandra m Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:53 am
how did you get an amiable pal would love one!!
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sandra m Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Amish…silly auto correct
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:12 am
I have heard of other folks who have this, but I don’t know how, Sandra. It would be fun!
The show is a joke honestly I watched an episode and could not belive what I was seeing! I am sure there are a few young Amish with the possible tattoo, but I doubt it! The “creators” of this show should be ashmed of themselves! They need to find God and pray and not pick on the Amish lifestyle!
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:46 am
Jen, I thought the Washington Post (see link in this article) had a good perspective on that. It’s doubtful Discovery Channel would have dared to do this to another religion.
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Ellen Reply:
January 30th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
We’ve already seen the results when the people of the Muslim religion were maligned; a cartoon printed resulted in such an uproar. No, a “reality” show would not be aired about any group within the Muslim religion.
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I’m sure, as in any religion or community, there are some that are more devout and sincere than others. On a whole, I see the Amish as good people. That being said, there is at times, a bad person that trys to hide in the cover of good people. The Amish are human, not all of them can be “good” all of the time. There has too be some that are not living as they should??? Amish mafia sounds kind of far fetched though!
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:13 am
Exactly, Joyce. One of the problems the Amish I’ve met have with our media, is that they are portrayed so unrealistically.
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Ira Wagler and I know where most of the bodies are buried in the Amish community. And there’s nothing like an Amish mafia.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:27 am
Thank you, Jerry Eicher! Your word is all I need.
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It seems as if the media has no bounds…lol I’ve watched it a few times and it was pretty obvious that this is not real. And if by some chance it is….those people certainly are not Amish by any means. Looks like a lot of gossip and drama….Just what some people like to see to try and discredit the Amish community.. Hog Wash…
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:26 am
Hog wash! I love your description, Kristy. What you’re saying is important though. Amish isn’t an ethnicity. It’s a commitment to a set of beliefs and lifestyle. Should an Amish person act in this way, they’d no longer be Amish. Members of Amish communities take their vow of non-violence very seriously.
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The producers of this show will never seriously pray because God scares them so they feel the need to try to bring him down.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:54 am
I’m sure there are some Christian producers out there, Lois. God sends his people everywhere. But we can try to inform people of the errors in this show. Thanks for posting!
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Thank you for this article and the blog. I watched the marathon the other day ( I was sick and nothing on) and was thoroughly disgusted. My Mom seems to feel there could be some truth in it. We have lived in Lancaster,PA and currently live about an hour away. Could they be ex-Amish that are bitter and want to profit on the term Amish? What ever the explanation God does not like ugly and He will have the truth shine through.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Yes, I imagine they could be folks who have left the church. Happens in all denominations, right?
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The media and entertainment world have sought out methods to poke fun at, demean, and point out charlatans as though they were the norm anyone in the realm of Christianity. It is sad but it is so true. So in “reality” shows you will see what they spin as the real thing, but the reality of the truth is that which is lived out daily by the people of faith. Yes, there are always a few bad apples in every barrel, but that is not the norm.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Well said, Vera! Thanks for commenting.
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I think that reality television and the internet are similar in that you can put pretty much anything on it and it just doesn’t have to be truthful. I think that some folks have way too much time on their hands and have nothing constructive to do with their time. Television and the internet have become the all too convenient babysitter for some folks. Try reading, talking, playing, or praying together. Those should be the values we are passing along to the next generation.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Linda, I think those are some of the things we respect about the Amish — they interact with one another! And it’s one of the things we can learn to do, in spite of our technologically saturated world.
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Have you heard of Mose Gingrich? He did a couple shows about leaving the Amish and he was going to do some looking into it but I haven’t heard the outcome.I have never seen anything like an Amish Mafia around our Amish Community for what its worth
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Here’s the post from Mose, Donita. Thanks for telling us about it! http://www.amishinthecitymose.com/amish-mafia-fact-or-fiction-2/#more-7274
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I watched off and on a couple of the shows they ran on their marathon the other day. I found it to be really ‘out there’ in terms of any Amish I have ever interacted with here in PA. I’ve been around Amish, Mennonite, German Baptists (my son-in-law was raised German Baptist), most of my life and think this is ridiculous. They certainly do not swear nor would ever condone running a man’s fruit stand over with a truck even if he was pretending to be Amish to sell stuff to people. (That was in one of the episodes.) It all just seemed very fake to me from what I watched, and I doubt I will ever watch again, same goes for the other Amish show they had on recently too. The Amish are very private people and I doubt they would agree to participate in these shows.
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vannetta Reply:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
It certainly isn’t meshing with our experiences, Sherri. Thanks for commenting!
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I think the Amish shows have become the new “in” thing so everyone is jumping while the iron is hot. Those of us who love and respect the Amish have done so for a long time and will continue. It’s those who know nothing about them who are watching and believing. How sad that someone with money can decide to change the face of a beloved group of folks by portraying them this way. The term Reality TV should be governed like food labels….there needs to be a certain percentage of truth before we swallow it!
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vannetta Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 7:13 am
Kate, it is frustrating to have something represented as truth — when it’s not! Thanks for commenting.
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We have gone to Holmes Co. for yrs. and I have never seen or heard anything like the Amish Mafia. It’s ridiculous. We have amish friends and none of them act like those people. Plus the amish don’t allow photos of themselves , let alone put them on tv! Give me a break!
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vannetta Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 7:12 am
Bonnie, it’s folks who are familiar with the Amish who understand how crazy this show is. Thanks for commenting!
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While I am not Amish, but English, I am so glad others are speaking out about this show. I have read a lot about the Amish, and have enjoyed novels and visiting Lancaster, Pa and other surrounding counties in PA. In all the years of visiting the various Amish sites and in all the reading I have never seen nor heard of such gross disregard for God’s people.
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vannetta Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 7:12 am
Janice, you’re not the only one offended by what is shown there. Welcome to our group! But it is a free country and producers can produce what will bring in an audience.
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Hey, Vannetta–
I’ve watched the show. For me it’s like a train wreck, I can’t look away. I’m not sure what the thought is behind it, but I think the producers are trying to gain a different audience than the Amish reader/lover that we know. These viewers are not enamored with the Amish lifestyle that we so admire. I think it’s a lure for those who don’t appreciate the Amish simplicity like we do. Amish fiction is so popular right now. They are using that to their advantage to gain a different audience for their show.
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vannetta Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 7:11 am
Excellent points, Amy. Also, there’s this fascination with reality series. Maybe they were running out of ideas … and someone said, “AMISH is a big genre right now.” You never know.
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I wonder if someone came up with the idea of this from the beard cutting scandal that went on in Ohio? I also am sure this show is not real. I do believe the actors may have been Amish at one time.
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I was just reading through my last Budget Newspaper and one of the Amish scribes from Missouri actually mentions the show. She says “some of our local people are ‘worked up’ about some kind of TV show. If informed correctly it’s titled “Amish Mafia” and portrays our people as being very violent. I wish we were 100 percent innocent and not just 99.9 percent.” I found her comment interesting. It seems her way of saying no community or group is perfect, but they do set the bar high. It’s a far cry from the attitude portrayed in the show, it seems.
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For me…the best solution has been to turn the TV off (with rare exception). I’ll get the overnight news headlines first thing in the morning along with the anticipated weather. Then “off”.
From what I’ve heard, none of the reality shows are real. Think about it…when someone turns on a “movie camera” are you the same as you were 10 minutes ago? Someone we met on vacation was loosely associated with Survivor; everyone was given a script outline. Not a script but an outline of what the writers/producers wanted to portray. Well that’s real. Watch what suits you but remember we Christians are charged to pay attention what goes in to our minds and our hearts (GIGO)
Again, for me…”off”.
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I had herd about the show but never watched it. I didn’t believe it because I have nothing but respect for the Amish and the way that they live their lives. They are a peace loving people and don’t wish to bring attention to themselves.
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vannetta Reply:
January 31st, 2014 at 7:34 am
Thanks for your comment, Shirley. I have heard that the new PBS show on the Amish is a bit more realistic and balanced. Blessings to you–
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You have to watch reality programs with an open mind, yes, I have watched the Amish Mafia and enjoyed the first series. Did I believe everything I saw, no, I did not. Will I be watching future episodes – don’t think so as they are now starting to depict the Amish people in a bad light, the producers are going way overboard. But then anything for ratings and money.
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vannetta Reply:
February 11th, 2014 at 9:25 am
I agree, Vanda. I read something from an Amish person that said the same thing. “It’s entertainment, not real life.”
Not that Amish folks watch it, but they have a clear perspective that it doesn’t really represent them.
Thanks for your comment.
V
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