Narrative Summary
Interview with Amy Stahl by Jesse Clem
Amy’s sense of humor was evident even before the interview started. She asked if I had
“brought my pitchfork to get the witch.” This set a great atmosphere as she told me about her
life. Amy Stahl has lived in the Ozarks for seven years. She was raised in Michigan. As a child,
she was not forced to go to church. Her father took her randomly, maybe once or twice per year.
This lack of forced religion gave her a chance to search out her own answers, rather than having
to regurgitate answers given to her by a church.
Without question, Amy Stahl has a unique combination of religious beliefs. Amy’s
grandmother instilled a foundation of gypsy thought in her. Amy is in tune with many Wiccan
practices such as reading palms, cards, and crystal balls; she is also skilled at interpreting
dreams. However, her foundation in Wicca has not preventing her from finding faith in Jesus
Christ as her Savior. This combination of religious traditions is uncommon, but after a long talk
with this amazing woman, I found it easy to understand her collage-style of religion. Today, it is
hard to find any group that is accepting of all walks of faith. If more people were as open-minded
as Amy Stahl, we might be able to succeed in equal acceptance. Her eclectic religious beliefs are
a true testament of her willingness to listen to others and take the best from those around her.
Her best religious experience is her salvation story. She believes she felt the hand of God
reach down and actually touch her. She said that while attending an Easter Sunday Passion play,
she could feel the vibrations in her own heart from the nails being driven into Jesus, and she
knew he was real. It was then that she accepted Jesus as her Savior. Although she has had a Godintervening experience, she does not take the Bible as a book written by God, which causes her
to not fully follow the Christian church.
Missouri State University
Spring 2011
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women
2
Her worst religious experience happened in a Christian church, much like the one where
her best had happened. She was 13 when she was held down and informed of demons living in
her. This experience of what she described as “crazed lunatics,” did not hinder her from
accepting the good in Christianity. Amy has an amazing ability to take the good from each
religion and not hold the bad against them. She realizes that just because they get one thing
wrong does not mean that everything they believe is wrong. This is an admirable quality.
Her draw to nature and her use of nature is an amazing thing. If you are in need of
healing she asks, “When was the last time you walked in the woods with no shoes on?” This
view that nature has an innate healing ability is not an accepted Christian norm. She uses
meditation and nature to center herself, and she describes the difference between natural forests
and man-made parks as the difference between a couple minutes of centering versus days of
centering. She believes untouched forests with waterfalls can sooth a soul for days.
Amy is a Christian with the ability to see the possibilities of different viewpoints. She is a
skilled card reader and dream interpreter. As a friend, I appreciate her caring personality and
honesty. She will talk to anyone who asks questions but does not shove her religion down any
throats. She would rather listen and learn than preach.
She uses the rule of three to guide her life, believing that if you do well, good will come
back to you threefold. (This is a common thread among most religions.) As Amy said in our
interview, “I think they all have some things right.” She puts her religion together with pieces
from different puzzles, and somehow it comes together in a perfect picture. She has no prejudice
and has no problem with her abnormal religious beliefs. She has no apologies, as she should not,
for pulling pieces from different areas and calling the collection her own. Her collection, in my
opinion, sheds a light of hope and acceptance on fundamentalist thought.
Missouri State University
Spring 2011
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women