READING SCHEDULE
Date Class Discussion
Sep 10, 2017 Watch Video:
Kate Segal ancestry from TV show
Who Do You Think You Are
Sep 17, 2017 Jacob’s Choice,
Historical Background
Pages 299 to 352
Sep 24, 2017 Jacob’s Choice, Part 1
Pages 9 to 100
Oct 1, 2017 Jacob’s Choice, Part 2
Pages 103 to 194
Oct 8, 2017 Jacob’s Choice, Part 3
Pages 197 to 297
Oct 15, 2017 Joseph’s Dilemma, Part 1
Pages 9 to 104
Oct 22, 2017 Joseph’s Dilemma, Part 2
Pages 107 to 252
Oct 29, 2017 Joseph’s Dilemma, Part 3
Pages 255 to 329
Nov 5, 2017 Christian’s Hope, Part 1
Pages 11 to 102
Nov 12, 2017 Christian’s Hope, Part 2
Pages 105 to 248
Nov 19, 2017 Christian’s Hope, Part 3
Pages 251 to 337
Nov 26, 2017 To Be Determined
The three books of this trilogy are historical novels based an incident that occurred during the French and Indian War (1754–63) when Indians under the command of French scouts attacked the homestead of an Amish family on the evening of September 19, 1757. At the first sign of attack the teenage sons wanted to defend the family by returning fire with their hunting rifles (they were experienced hunters due to their frontier surroundings). Jacob, the father of the family, refused to allow his sons permission to use firearms because their Christian faith would allow them to take the life of another human being.
These three books tell the subsequent story of the following years that resulted from the fateful decision to not resist the attack with guns. Three members of the family were killed during the attack and three, Jacob and two sons, were taken captive. Jacob escaped and returned to his settlement within the first year following the attack. His two sons lived among the American Indians for six and seven years respectively and were reluctant to return to Amish life. Terms of the treaty that ended the war required that all “white” captives be returned to their home communities.
The book titles reference the names of the father Jacob, and two sons Joseph and Christian. “Jacob’s Choice” refers to his decision not to use firearms. “Joseph’s Dilemma” refers to his anguished choice between leaving his adopted Indian mother or returning to the Amish community. “Christian’s Hope” is about his search for a way to be true to his inner Indian self and also fit into “white” society, something he finds impossible in the Amish community.
The last name of this historical Amish family was Hochstetler. Many Amish and (old) Mennonites are descendants of this family, including several members of our church.
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