How ironic that two people, both so well-educated, would freely choose a life that rejects formal education past eighth grade. I respect *their* choice, but by depriving their children of even a high-school diploma, they've effectively chosen for them. The Amish I knew in Indiana and Ohio, while certainly religious, were also prone to the sorts of pitfalls ignorance brings with it -- quack medicine and virulent racism among them. We'll see how the Mosers feel when their grandchildren climb on their knee and ask about their wicked former life among the n-----s in Detroit. (Yes, that's a word I heard often among the Plain people.)

Your comment recalls Bill Moser's quote in the story, "the Amish are a people like any other, with the same struggles." For what it's worth, the Moser family seeks modern medical treatment, and I'm sure would never use the "n" word. But I do not doubt what you describe. Certainly the education situation is something that many mainstream Americans would disagree with. Bill told me the Amish are a remarkably well read culture and that learning continues lifelong, but within a more limited scope, I'd imagine. Yes there are inconsistencies in the Amish culture, but most mainstream Americans have inconsistencies in their own lives, as well.--Jeff Smith

The Moser's are faux Amish. In five, ten years they will be onto something else. In particular, the Moser's blow like a feather in the wind to the next Christian religious group that will tickle their fancy. In general, I highly respect the Amish but they choose to live in America and Canada where others fight for their rights and freedoms. I too was at the service they spoke of at their old church. The fact is I have relatives and friends, Christians, who fight for and serve their country. The fact is we live in a fallen world, due to Adam, and in fact we have to occasionally stand up and fight for what is right, to fight evil, here and around the world. I too disagree with some of the issues but recognize that overall if we do not stand up, who will? Certainly not Bill and Trish. The Moser's hide behind the Amish way of life and appear to be simple people but will let others do their bidding. I don't find their choice admirable but cowardly and personally convenient.

Like the author and some who left comments before me, I too know these people.
There is nothing noble about the choices the Moser's are making or have made in the past. I chuckled at the description of "faux Amish" given to them. In fact, they are "faux Americans". No wait: they are just plain old "faux". Like so many people in our country today, they are aimlessly searching for some kind of validation that they hope a lifestyle choice or a religious community can give them.
The writer asserts that Bill demonstrated early-on his understanding of the need to reach out to other cultures and socio-economic groups when he attended a Marvin Gaye concert in Detroit. Give me a break, please. The only reason they can afford to chase their proverbial spiritual tails is because they were born white, are both college graduates, are healthy well-fed aimless elitists who have figured out how to make the system work for them and their spineless empty pursuits. If they had any real working knowlege of the plight and the daily miseries of the sick, deprived, depraved, hungry, homeless, outcast and unloved urban poor in the City of Detroit, they would never ever be so thoughtless as to assert that they were drawn in kinship to them. The church they left is in Harrison Township MI. It is located very near the Selfridge ANG Base. Many fine, unselfish service personnel attend this church. Yes, a color guard did participate in a service during the Gulf War...no, that same guard did not lead the congregation in singing during worship. It is for people like myself, like the urban poor in Detroit, like the Moser's......it is for all people in the USA that these brave and sacrificial people stand in the gap, and in harms' way.
The Moser's thought nothing of taking serious amounts of financial and material aid from this dear church that they left.I ache for their beautiful children who are growing up with a chronically distorted view of authority, the view clearly described in God's Word. Bill and Tricia Moser are misfits who have gone into a strange underground called Amish Seekerdom, to avoid the patterns of irresponsibility and financial indiscretion that caused a number of kindly people to lose money and worse.
Praise God "it is by grace we have been saved through faith and not because of anything we have known or done. It is the gift of God, period, and not something that we can boast in or take credit for ourselves". That is a paraphrase of Ephesians 2:8
It is time for Bill and Tricia Moser to "man-up" and follow the example of the God/Man/Savior Jesus Christ.

The caustic remarks on here are very surprising to me. Apparently actually LIVING OUT what you believe is seriously offensive to some people. Perhaps the offense is taken because it shows us for what we are as Americans unserious, unthinking, undisciplined people.

America is caught in the throws of idolatry. One faction favors government as god the other tradition and culture as god. The thinking and repentant Christian belongs in neither category. We have labored to build a false Eden where we can have it all and the effects of the fall will be not felt. However, this has done nothing but increase our sinfulness.

The Amish have taken a radical view, that technology most often separates us from family and community. I would venture to say they believe like I that failing to learn mature relating skills in family and commmunity seriously impedes our relationship with God.

Therefore they choose to live in a way that experiences the full force of the effects of the fall. This is a simple concept. Applying it is not so simple. To accuse someone who has worked so hard to apply it of being "faux" is gross and heartless.

I discovered during hurricane IKE that this belief of the Amish is very truthful. As neighbors gathered to help each other, cooking for each other sharing generators and there was no television so for two weeks we talked in driveways while handwashing laundry and actually GOT TO KNOW each other. That did more to create bonds between the many cultures of Houston than any stupid lecture on diversity will ever do. People are now bonded who once shared NOTHING in common. That is all due to facing hardship and no one-eyed timewasting brainsucker.

I realized what we need to do is leave this false Eden we have created, because it is unsustainable and is doomed. We must renounce our idols and stop trying to fashion God into an image we prefer. HOW each person chooses to do this is likely going to be very different, but I know of several movements underway that are quite close to Amish philosophy.

To do this will ultimately cause those who worship big government or patriotism or capitalism or whatever aspect of American or global culture to virulently reject us. So be it.

While I am not as eloquent as some of those who have commented, I would just like to say that from what I have learnt about the Amish culture, I have a deep respect and admiration for them.
I was brought up in an all-Catholic community and I can very much respect the Amish ways of truly practising what is preached in the bible. The hypocrisies I saw within a supposedly god-fearing community – hypocrisies which were an integral part of the community’s culture, not a small diversion from a path which can be easily repented – made me cynical of the Christian faith. The materialism we see within western culture is destroying communities all over the world for the profit of the few. Rejecting this culture to lead a life more close to that which God dictated could surely only be admirable. It certainly couldn’t be an easy decision to make, given the reactions it has provoked within their own previous – and Christian! – community. At the very least, I would certainly not call it cowardly.
I feel very sad and frustrated to read that some see nothing wrong with relating in any way the worshipping of God to the practising of war, and the idolisation of a governments decisions. You may think that those young people were protecting the people of America from harm, but even ignoring the fact that is debatable - what about the rights of others to be free from harm? Did God instruct those young people to go harm innocents in other countries, to destroy cultures they know nothing about? If God spoke to you tomorrow would he tell you to kill others in order to find peace or to follow his word to the best of your ability?
The Mosers are protecting the USA in another way, and one which to my mind is very obvious. Global warming and the resulting changes in weather patterns has already begun to hugely affect the world in both poor and rich countries, but particularly the most vulnerable in all. It is also causing huge proportions of God’s creatures to die. Their chosen lifestyle is HUGELY reducing their impact on their environment and retaining some of the world’s resources for future generations. It is following the seasonal patterns, living as a community and as a family, helping one another to live in a way which does not go against moral codes and does not damage others or the earth. This to me is a very noble and Godly way to live.
Their chosen lifestyle has many similarities to the permaculture principles which may be one of the ‘several movements’ which the above comment alludes to. Permaculture as a concept has only been around for a few decades, but already has a huge following. It is an approach to agriculture and to living that aims to create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs, harmoniously integrating the land with its inhabitants. Core values are caring for the earth, caring for people and ensuring a fair share among those today and in the future. Many of those following permaculture practises are choosing to live in communities which they see as healthy, ecologically sustainable, self-sufficient, ethically robust and peaceful – much like the Mosers.
Whether or not you agree with the Amish or permaculture ethics, if current ways of living are not promoting this positive type of community, we must reassess what is wrong with our society and treat those who are seeking a better one with a bit of respect.

Amen to the Mosers for doing what there heart telling them.

I met Bill this past weekend when I stayed with my friends who are also Amish and neighbors of the Mosers. For those of you who doubt their commitment to the Amish faith, go visit first hand and see for yourselves.
They raised their children in the faith and are living their lives as best as they can like anyone else, just in a different way. If they left the community for something more "progressive" it would be their own mistake

The Mosers have done the most they could do as far as a favorite liberal "issue" is concerned: almost completely reduced carbon footprint. They have also done the most they could do as far as conservative issues: they do not rely on government funded social services and do not practice/condone abortion. Yet they are being skewered by these comments on here by BOTH groups! Shame on all of you who condemn them in the name of your liberal and conservative agendas. Hypocrites, all.

Praying for the Mosers and all whom have posted here. May God Bless You All!