Unconventional Freedom: A Mennonite Childhood and National Scandal

Growing up among the "Plain People" in the lush farmlands of Central Pennsylvania, Patty Bear was surrounded by black bonnets and cars, and a world that was both idyllic and harsh, steeped in traditional beliefs from the old world. Insulated within this culture, she expected to follow in her mother's footsteps, until 1972 brought religious controversy sparked by her father, shaking their community. At the age of eight, Patty found herself, her mother, and five siblings caught up in the chaos of shunning, enduring absurd accusations and public humiliation that grabbed headlines in national newspapers for nearly a decade.

Her childhood and adolescence were marred by domestic violence and her father's abusive words, and the Church's teachings that women were meant to be submissive and obedient. Despite this, Patty's vision for her future slowly changed, as her wild soul and inner Guides began to beckon her towards an unexpected pursuit of freedom.

product information: