Devil's Playground

"They live in a strict society, under tight control of their family and close-knit community. But when they turn 16, Amish teenagers are allowed the freedom to explore the customs of the outside "English" world -- including alcohol, drugs and sex -- before deciding whether to join the Amish church for life or leave the community altogether." (from NPR)

The documentary, Devil's Playground, explores the Amish traidition of rumspringa. What I took away from it was how dangerous it is to raise kids in an ultra-conservative environment with no skills for navigating the real world.

I was especially moved by the story of Velda. She became depressed and suicidal during her time "in the world," and eventually chose to return to her family and join the Amish church. Within a few years, however, she came to realize that she could not continue as an Amish woman and maintain her sanity so she left and was shunned by her family.

I highly recommend watching this film. The parallels between the Amish and fundamentalist Christianity are striking and disturbing.