I did my MA thesis on the Benedict Option - wish I had more awareness of the Bruderhof when I was writing! In my thesis I contrasted Celtic monasticism and community with Benedictine. There are a lot of stronger comparisons with the Bruderhof and Celtic monastic communities, not least because of the inclusion of marriage and family life in community.
great Start for a discussion Melinda. Even though far from the American culture and with other issues in our hands (even the assumed "spread" of christianity in the South - much more the spread of an old form of religious power seeking and popular religion). We are also reading and discussing options for the colapse of the west Empire's culture and how it affect us, what options we have ahead, and what can mean to be loyal, fully loyal to God in our generation. I would love if to be together in the conversation was a possibility... I would love to continue to watching your reflections on the "Benedict option". keep going.
Can a whole community be that content surely there must be people in there who have issues mental physical etc we are not robots are we only seeing the top soil
Sorry for off-topic. Have you ever read great christian apologist's G.K. Chesterton's little book "Orthodoxy"? If so - what are your thoughts about it? How about his other books?
Where I always come up short, is with the notion that Christianity, as personified in Jesus, is the only sure road to a reverent, meaningful, holy life. The values I see expressed in the Gospels, make sense to me as a road map for sane living, but the insistence on the institutional bureaucracy of Christianity, and the person of Jesus, as the only acceptable path to a meaningful life, make me hit the brakes. The other thing which sets me back on my heels, is the idea wired into Christianity, that its message must be assertively pushed onto other people, in order to "save" them, and in order to fulfill the mandate to "spread the good news." It smacks of arrogance, and assumed superiority. To be fair, many (but not all) religions regard themselves as the one true path, and see other religions as inferior -- or worse. There is something primitive about that idea. Must religions be in competition for souls? Must spirituality be a contest, with winners and losers? My own view is that the elements which go into living a meaningful, ethical, reverent life, are universal, and cannot be attributed to one religion or another. In fact, those ideas can be identified and put into practice, with no organized religion at all, or with any religion one chooses. We do not eat the skin or the seed of an avocado. We eat the meat of the fruit. We should be careful not to confuse the package, with the contents.
Melinda I doubt that you and those your age would at this point in your lives understand what repression and abuse many Christians have suffered. You have your whole lives and enthusiasm ahead of you and I pray it will serve you well. Many Christian communities will be driven into exile and quite possibly the Bruderhof will be one of them.
Mary Therese you're right, I've been fortunate enough to be able to live out my faith without oppression. But the Bruderhof has faced religious persecution historically. In 1937 members were forced to leave the settlement and farms they had spent years building up within 48 hours or face internment in Nazi concentration camps. So we know it can happen - Melinda
I feel a resist to stillnes and solitude, that Antony of Egypt waisted his life Maybe we want to be in touch with Babylon Afraid for entering the dessert Afraid to have noting but or lumpen! Afraid to be labrled as nutcase & hobo! Afraid to drink the beker!
"A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand." Thank you, Martin Luther.
I did my MA thesis on the Benedict Option - wish I had more awareness of the Bruderhof when I was writing! In my thesis I contrasted Celtic monasticism and community with Benedictine. There are a lot of stronger comparisons with the Bruderhof and Celtic monastic communities, not least because of the inclusion of marriage and family life in community.
Thanks for the insights! It is good to hear an opinion from a radical community. Thanks!
How about “Live Not By Lies” Dreher’s more recent contribution ? Any thoughts on it ?
great Start for a discussion Melinda. Even though far from the American culture and with other issues in our hands (even the assumed "spread" of christianity in the South - much more the spread of an old form of religious power seeking and popular religion). We are also reading and discussing options for the colapse of the west Empire's culture and how it affect us, what options we have ahead, and what can mean to be loyal, fully loyal to God in our generation. I would love if to be together in the conversation was a possibility... I would love to continue to watching your reflections on the "Benedict option". keep going.
ascolta anche TEMI DELL'UMANO:Matzuzzi/Dreher "L'Opzione Benedetto"(SanPaolo)
I love you melinda
Can a whole community be that content surely there must be people in there who have issues mental physical etc we are not robots are we only seeing the top soil
Sorry for off-topic. Have you ever read great christian apologist's G.K. Chesterton's little book "Orthodoxy"? If so - what are your thoughts about it? How about his other books?
Where I always come up short, is with the notion that Christianity, as personified in Jesus, is the only sure road to a reverent, meaningful, holy life. The values I see expressed in the Gospels, make sense to me as a road map for sane living, but the insistence on the institutional bureaucracy of Christianity, and the person of Jesus, as the only acceptable path to a meaningful life, make me hit the brakes. The other thing which sets me back on my heels, is the idea wired into Christianity, that its message must be assertively pushed onto other people, in order to "save" them, and in order to fulfill the mandate to "spread the good news."
It smacks of arrogance, and assumed superiority. To be fair, many (but not all) religions regard themselves as the one true path, and see other religions as inferior -- or worse.
There is something primitive about that idea. Must religions be in competition for souls?
Must spirituality be a contest, with winners and losers? My own view is that the elements which go into living a meaningful, ethical, reverent life, are universal, and cannot be attributed to one religion or another. In fact, those ideas can be identified and put into practice, with no organized religion at all, or with any religion one chooses. We do not eat the skin or the seed of an avocado. We eat the meat of the fruit. We should be careful not to confuse the package, with the contents.
Melinda I doubt that you and those your age would at this point in your lives understand what repression and abuse many Christians have suffered. You have your whole lives and enthusiasm ahead of you and I pray it will serve you well. Many Christian communities will be driven into exile and quite possibly the Bruderhof will be one of them.
Mary Therese you're right, I've been fortunate enough to be able to live out my faith without oppression. But the Bruderhof has faced religious persecution historically. In 1937 members were forced to leave the settlement and farms they had spent years building up within 48 hours or face internment in Nazi concentration camps. So we know it can happen - Melinda
I feel a resist to stillnes and solitude, that Antony of Egypt waisted his life
Maybe we want to be in touch with Babylon
Afraid for entering the dessert
Afraid to have noting but or lumpen!
Afraid to be labrled as nutcase & hobo!
Afraid to drink the beker!