Amish men and women stop cutting their hair and beards as soon as they are married. It is a sign of their religious devotion and that they are following their biblical interpretations. Cutting it off would be shameful, and a disgrace.
In February 2015 an Amish Leader went back to court to ask that his sentenced be lightened. His reasoning for this is that the Constitution demands freedom of religion, and separation of the church and state. He claims that his actions were religion based and the courts cannot interfere with religious activities.
Originally in October 2011, several Amish men were arrested and charged with burglary and kidnapping. The men (along with several others) were accused of breaking and entering other Amish homes. While in these homes the intruders they cut off wen’s beards and women’s hair with scissors and horse trimmers. In many of the cases, the attackers were immediate family. In one, a son cut off his own parent’s beard.
The judge said that the legal system cannot interfere in religious activities, but they can charge someone with breaking into homes and assaulting the occupants.
Reports stated that the elder Mullet had previously been reprimanded by the Pennsylvania bishops. Over 300 bishops assembled and together they condemned Mullet’s for his poor leadership. Mullet responded by yelling at the bishops, telling them to go to hell. Then he thumbed his nose at them. Investigations found that after the chastising, Mullet and his followers had moved away from their original community. It was believed that the attackers were a group that was ostracized in the main community.
In their new community, the people continued to follow Mullet faithfully. They also started recruiting more followers. The community steadily grew for years. Mullet, apparently, encouraged his followers to shun the practices of any other Amish communal.
The Amish leadership had stated that they have been watching Mullet for years, but could do nothing until this blatant attack. Two of the attacks were even against bishops.
Supposedly, Mullet ordered the attacks. The investigation turned up a “hit list” where several people had not yet been attacked. The authorities stated that this “war” could keep going and even esculate into worse crimes.
Even though Mullet did not do any of the actual breaking in or hair cutting, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The others received one to five years.
According to Jones (1998), "Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time" (p. 199).
According to Rosenstand, N. (2013) chapter 1 “Religion is the key to the moral values of the members of the community”(p.17). What moral values are being taught here?
Do you think he should not have been charged? Do you think he should not have been charged so harshly? Do you think that these types of action should be considered completely religious and the law should not interfere at all?
According to Rosenstand, N., (2013) chapter 1, “Philosophy teaches that one must exam the issue without solely relying on the word of authority” (p. 17)
I think the law did exactly what it should have. Mr. Mullet was a very influential leader. He convinced his groups that they were the only ones following the Lord “correctly”. He was so persuasive that he persuaded them to assault other Amish. He is a very dangerous religious zealot. He and his people cannot commit crimes and use their religion to hide behind them.
References:
SEEWER, J., (Feb 2015). Ohio Amish leader in prison for beard cuttings seeks release. Associated Press.
Retrieved from:
http://news.yahoo.com/ohio-amish-leader-prison-beard-cuttings-seeks-release-181527587.htmll
TRIP GABRIEL, T., (Feb 2013) Amish Sect Leader Sentenced to 15 Years in Hair-Cutting Attacks .The New York Times Retrieved from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/09/us/amish-sect-leader-gets-15-years-in-beard-cutting-attacks.html?_r=0
WELSH-HUGGINS, A., (Dec 2011) Amish Beard-Cutting: Leader Of Eastern Ohio Group Calls Attack A Religious Matter. The Huffington Post . Retrieved from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/amish-beard-cutting-attack-ohio_n_1004321.html
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