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In some of the larger communities, there are sizeable youth groups of maybe 100 to 125 kids. Here in Eastern Pennsylvania, we have about 26 or 27 sizeable youth groups like this that a young person would join at the age of 16. Out of 26 or 27, a few of them, three or four are going to be more rambunctious, more mischievous. The boys in some of those groups will own cars or trucks, they'll go to movies sometimes, they may go to the beach, or go to New York City. But many of the other youth groups are much more traditional. Then at some point, they need to decide if they going to join the church and become baptized or gradually drift away from the community.

Do you have any thoughts about the show?

It strikes me as absurd and ridiculous for a number of reasons. It will be impossible to find typical Amish youth to participate. The ones who would be willing to participate in this kind of thing are ones who have likely decided to leave the community, and they will be very aware of the outside world. So, from that standpoint, I think it's going to be very unrealistic, and certainly not reflective of what typical Amish teens or youth would say or do in response to that.

I think it also is a cultural slap in the face to the Amish because they have consistently objected to having members of their community photographed. They do not object to photography—they don't have a problem taking photographs of buildings and animals and furniture—but they do object to having individuals face cameras and have their photographs taken.

I think there's also kind of an underlying theme here that somehow the Amish are un-enlightened, and that the rest of our society understands progressive values and is enlightened. This is a chance to make fun of people that we think are less enlightened.

The fact of the matter is, in terms of some basic indicators of happiness and satisfaction, they may be a whole lot more satisfied and find a whole lot more meaning in life than the rest of us do.

Do you think that is why people are interested in the Amish?

I think that is certainly one of the reasons that stirs our imagination and, as I've said in some essays, torments the modern soul. I think we worry that they may indeed be happier than we are without going to high school or higher education or having access to as much modern technology as we do. It certainly stirs our curiosity, and it may be one factor that draws us to them.

I think there are issues like community and stability, a sense of place, a sense of coherence in life that also are factors that pull us toward them. But that doesn't really provide the rationale or reason to have this kind of a "reality" show.

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Other coverage of the show includes:

UPN eyes Amish for reality TV | Series follows 5 during traditional decision to stay or leave roots (Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio)

Amish reality TV? Get real! | Must you continue to pile boxcars on this runaway train that is the reality show wreck from which we can't look away? (Alex Richmond, The Trentonian, NJ)

My Big Fat Amish Diet | Forget the Amish reality show. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Reality TV Goes Amish—and Amiss | "Amish in the City" is only the working title for the new reality series that's set to air this summer. (Washington Post)

Other CT articles on the Amish include:

Threatening the Amish | How the Amish solve the legal problems of civil liberties (December 2003)

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January (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48