Category Archives: New Monasticism

“the simple way” » 12 Marks of New Monasticism

Posted on by
Reply

Through a google alert pointing me to this article, I just stumbled on The Simple Way, “a community in inner-city Philadelphia that has helped birth and connect radical faith communities around the world.”

I am looking forward to exploring more. But first, I love this clear exposition of their values (how many elements of monasticism can you count?):

  1. Relocation to the abandoned places of Empire.
  2. Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us.
  3. Hospitality to the stranger
  4. Lament for racial divisions within the church and our communities combined with the active pursuit of a just reconciliation.
  5. Humble submission to Christ’s body, the church.
  6. Intentional formation in the way of Christ and the rule of the community along the lines of the old novitiate.
  7. Nurturing common life among members of intentional community.
  8. Support for celibate singles alongside monogamous married couples and their children.
  9. Geographical proximity to community members who share a common rule of life.
  10. Care for the plot of God’s earth given to us along with support of our local economies.
  11. Peacemaking in the midst of violence and conflict resolution within communities along the lines of Matthew 18.
  12. Commitment to a disciplined contemplative life.

via about the simple way » 12 Marks of New Monasticism.

iMonk on “What Have I Learned from Living in Community?”

Posted on by
Reply

I’m struck at how similar this blogger’s experience in intentional community is to my own (regardless of questions of faith). His top 5 lessons:

  1. “It’s amazing how important it becomes to simply speak to another person; to give them the grace and dignity of a friendly greeting.”
  2. “Kindness.”
  3. “Staying with people who are not easy to relate to.”
  4. “Accepting criticism….from all sorts of directions.”
  5. “Surrendering your own agenda.”

read more at iMonk Classic: What Have I Learned from Living in Community? | internetmonk.com.

More from “Re-monking”

Posted on by
Reply

After reading Re-Monking the Church: new monasticism (see my previous post), I sent Dr. Armstrong the following note on his “Ask Dr. Church History” page:

I just finished reading your fantastic article “Re-Monking the Church: new monasticism.” A question: In your mind, what does the secular world have to learn from monasticism?

I think the “Lure of Tradition” and the “Longing for Connectedness” are as relevant to non-Christians as to Christians. You write, ‘Can Western monasticism’s “father,” Benedict, still give us an antidote to cultural compromise?’ Do you think that could apply on an interfaith or even secular level?

You mentioned monastic dialogue between catholics and protestants. For those in the “new monastic” movement, what kind of interfaith conversations are happening? I’m aware of something like this at http://www.monasticdialogue.org.

This is a particularly interesting topic for me. I live in a ex-Franciscan convent north of Rome with a community of musicians, dancers and painters (of all faiths any faith) working to apply the the wisdom of monasticism—contemplation, routine, shared meals, eco-efficiency, renunciation, periods of silence, rules, vows, etc.—to art-making and community-building. We call ourselves “artmonks,” and we inhabit an “Art Monastery.” All of which is to say: I’m certain we would have a lot to learn from the “Re-monks” you mentioned in your article!

Looking forward to reading “Patron Saints for Postmoderns”, not to mention “Medieval Wisdom for Modern Protestants” and “Resources for Radical Living”!!!

…

His response was illuminating and forthright:

Nathan, I think Christian monasticism, like Christian ethics, shares many insights with other traditions. It addresses universal human needs in its disciplines of contemplation, silence, humility, and obedience; in its communal intentionality toward a common spiritual goal; in the rhythm of work and worship.

Continue reading →

“Re-monking”: What can secular monastics learn from Christian “New Monasticism”?

Posted on by
Reply

In “Re-Monking the Church: new monasticism“, Dr. Chris Armstrong (author of the book Patron Saints for Postmoderns) asks:

Can Western monasticism’s “father,” Benedict, still give us an antidote to cultural compromise?

His question is inspired by the words of historian Mark Noll:

“For over a millennium, in the centuries between the reign of Constantine and the Protestant Reformation, almost everything in the church that approached the highest, noblest, and truest ideals of the gospel was done either by those who had chosen the monastic way or by those who had been inspired in their Christian life by the monks.”

The cultural compromise Armstrong is talking about (I assume he’s referring to Christians not approaching “the highest, noblest, and truest ideals of the gospel” in their day to day lives) is also relevant to the interfaith and secular world. For many folks—Christian and decidedly non-Christian—who find inspiration in the life of Jesus, the “highest, noblest, and truest ideals of the gospel” are tough things like unconditional love, non-violence, compassion, forgiveness, and self-knowledge.

Can Benedict give non-Christians an antidote too? Can we “re-monk” what’s never been “monked” before?

Continue reading →

Getting the questions right

Posted on by
1

Examples of the secular world learning from the world’s ancient contemplative and spiritual traditions abound.  Neuroscientists, psychologists, doctors, cognitive scientists and cosmologists are learning from inner technologies of meditation and contemplative practice.

But what of the outer, visible, measurable technologies of those traditions? How are we learning from those technologies that fit into what is broadly called monasticism? And how are we impacting them? This blog asks the question:

What can the secular world learn from monasticism?

and

What can the secular world do for monastic traditions?

Some interfaith and secular groups are already learning from monasticism.  For example, I live in an ex-Franciscan convent in Labro, Italy with a community of artists called the Art Monastery, where we live together as “artmonks”.  We are growing our own monastic order: the International Otherhood of Artmonks.

Why can’t anyone build or be part of an “otherhood”? Any community or movement—whether seculary, interfaith, or of a single spiritual tradition—can choose to benefit from the wide array of monastic technologies that humanity has produced in the past 3000+ years.

This blog is about:

  • secular monasticism,
  • and high-tech monasticism,
  • and art monasticism,
  • and religious monasticism,
  • and interfaith monasticism,
  • and scientific monasticism
  • and integral monasticism
  • and more…

This is for:

  • Artmonks and other Creative contemplatives
  • “Re-monks” (part of the Christian “new monasticism” movement)
  • Co-ops, cohousing and other intentional communities (member of intentional communities around the world)
  • Benedictine, Augustine, Franciscan monks
  • Neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, information scientists
  • Doctors and medical professionals
  • Secular buddhists
  • Regular folks who want to add a little order to their lives
  • Sufi fakirs
  • Theravadan monks, Tibetan buddhist monks, Zen monks
  • Advaita Vedantan monks, etc.
  • …

Have an idea for an otherhood you want to start?

Monasticize your community’s future. Add a little order to your life. Grow your own Otherhood.

About the author

Nathan Rosquist is a writer and composer living as an artmonk at the Art Monastery in Labro, Italy.  He has a MBA in Sustainable Community Economic Development from Bainbridge Graduate Intitute.