Comments on: The Flaw of Neo-Monasticism http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/ The fullness of joy is to behold God in all. — Julian of Norwich Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:33:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Mariah/Caelesti http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-7294 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:41:11 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-7294 Neo-Monasticism is even beginning to emerge in the Pagan community, believe it or not. The most fully formed so far being the Church of Asphodel’s Order of Horae. They have *rules* about sexuality, that it can only be used for spiritual purposes rather than celibacy per se.
I find it interesting that sex ends up being the decisive issue- you’re right that Christians are not the only ones hung up on it. I think for a new monastics the issue should not be so black and white
Also keep in mind, IIRC, the reasons for the celibacy of monks and priests wasn’t just
spiritual, but economic, if the first (& second) son died, the second or third son who went into the religious life inherited, thus the church inherited.

]]> By: Is it really a flaw? « From The Priory http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-7062 Sun, 11 May 2008 05:48:11 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-7062 [...] The Flaw of Neo-Monasticism (read whole article w/comments here.) [...]

]]> By: Is it really a flaw? « From The Priory http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-7061 Sun, 11 May 2008 05:48:11 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-7061 [...] The Flaw of Neo-Monasticism (read whole article w/comments here.) [...]

]]> By: Carl McColman http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6786 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:13:03 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6786 Dylan, thanks for sharing your opinion, but in all honesty I am surprised at how defensive and almost belligerent a tone you strike, in response to one man’s off-the-cuff remark. If your words are indicative of the fruits of the new monasticism, then I’ll stick with the old, thank you very much. While the monks at the monastery where I work are sinners and therefore imperfect just like the rest of us, I am continually amazed and impressed by how hard they work at truly living the gospel, day in and day out. It’s a far cry from the elitism you project upon them.

]]> By: Dylan D http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6784 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:45:58 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6784 Friends, this is far too bad these kinds of attitudes prevail in the modern century, and by far, regardless of the way you wish to define it, there appears to be a huge religious pomposity expressed by those who consider themselves “elite” among christians as “monks”. In fact, there is a growing, dynamic and deeply spiritual movement in this so-called “New Monasticism”, and in fact that is just why we call it that – New – because it is non-traditonal, and has very little to do with your old traditions. Fine if you wish to segregate yourselfes away from the world as a vocation, but God’s will and purpose entails far more things for most people! The new monastic movement is but another expression of the “contemplative movement” and if one wants to refer to themlselves as “new monastics” or even “monks” in their new definition of the world, the big old Catholic church lays no claim or ownership over the word. I suggest you open your perspectives a bit, if you intend to remain a spiritual entity in the church, and understand that monasticism has many, many dimensions, and even includes the protestant/ecumenical realm more now than ever.

]]> By: Darrell Grizzle http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6338 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:12:42 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6338 Agreed, Carl!

]]> By: Carl McColman http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6334 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:25:38 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6334 I don’t think obsession with sex is just a Catholic issue. You don’t have to search very hard to find Protestants who are just as patriarchal, legalistic, and/or obsessed. In my day I’ve met Muslims, Jews, and Hindus who also struck me as having sex/religious issues. For that matter, I know more than a few Pagans who are sex-obsessed, but they operate under the notion that “the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom”!

]]> By: Darrell Grizzle http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6332 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:08:02 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6332 I assume the word monos is related in some way to the Greek word monakhos, which has usually been translated in terms of celibacy. Some scholars, though, translate it in terms of “standing alone” in one’s faith (even in the face of parental opposition, as in Jesus’ saying about “hating your mother and father”). And of course a person can stand firm in his or her faith and embody this kind of monakhos while in community.

It’s interesting that the first thought the monk had was about what the Neo-Monastics do with their genitals. Even in the contemplative world of the monastery, Roman Catholicism is such a sex-obsessed religion!

]]> By: Pat http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6315 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:33:45 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6315 It’s intersting to me that those (of us, like me) who are incorporating neo-monastic stuff don’t use the ‘friar’ langage as much as we use ‘monk’.

Maybe because ‘neo-monastic’ sounds cooler than ‘neo-friartastic’? :-)

]]> By: Carl McColman http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6304 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:45:32 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2008/03/08/the-flaw-of-neo-monasticism/#comment-6304 I suppose monos, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. To my Cistercian friend, what makes a monk is celibacy, whether he is an eremitical or cenobitical monk. But, despite his misgivings, I think we can all agree that the neo-monastic genie is out of the bottle. Onward with evolutionary meaning.

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