I hope you like the new theme! It reflects a fresh enthusiasm for the topic of this blog, namely: Intentional communities in Africa, monastic spirituality and the so-called ‘new monasticism’.
Two, quite different, posts recently caught my eye:
- Roger Saner’s experience at Mariya uMama weThemba monastery near Grahamstown.
- Kevin John Boddecker’s portrayal of Maria Skobtsova as an Orthodox precursor of neo-monasticism. Thanks, Steve.
Roger’s hope for the emerging church as a “desert within the oasis of life” (Pete Rollins) raises the intriguing issue of overlap between monasticism and post-modern expressions of Church.
The second article explores how Maria reinterpreted the traditional vows of chastity, obedience and poverty in the context of early 20th-century Europe. Especially interesting is her take on ‘non-possession’.
Best wishes for 2008.
3 comments
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9 January 2008 at 12:48 pm
Steve
Welcome back Carl! I like the new look.
10 January 2008 at 4:29 pm
Roger Saner
What I like about monasticism is that it presents a hopeful way of living life. It also connects the monks into a bigger and longer story than just themselves which - in the Benedictine tradition - goes back 1500 years.
These are both challenges which postmodernism needs to navigate: to find the stories we can believe (and participate) in, and to find hope.
Looking forward to you writing more this year
10 January 2008 at 5:29 pm
Carl
I’m intrigued by your impression on hope, Roger - have you explored Moltmann’s theology? Love to see how you reflect this in your art.