Monasticism, Monotheism, and Monogamy
Past and Present Expressions of the Undivided Life
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3272778 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Martha Elias Downey (Independent Scholar, Montreal, QC H4R 3A7, Canada, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 489 |
| Publication date | 2019-08-20 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel10080489 |
| OpenAlex | W2969327058 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 2 |
Monasticism first appeared in Christian tradition in the late third and early fourth centuries as a way to practice true religion. Soon after, it also became a way of eschewing the Church's embrace of political power and the divided loyalties which accompanied that union. Contemporary expressions of monasticism in the Protestant tradition (often identified as new monasticism) have interpreted the mono (singularity) not as celibacy or living in a cloistered community, but as abandoning cultural promiscuity in order to live out a monogamous spirituality. Though each monastic community has its own distinct characteristics and context, one can identify two common markers which unite both contemporary expressions of monasticism and historical monastic communities: (1) monotheism or a singular devotion to God which is separate from political, societal, and economic ambitions, and (2) monogamy or a commitment to a particular community, neighborhood, and mission. This article explores ancient and contemporary expressions of monasticism by examining their guiding documents and looking for evidence of monotheism and monogamous spirituality. By giving fresh articulation to the mono in monasticism, we are better able to identify the heart of the undivided (monastic) life and discern its presence in reimagined forms
Archaeology · Celibacy · Monasticism · Monotheism · Political science · Politics · Protestantism · Sociology · Spirituality · Theology · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · History · Law · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious studies
| Citations per year | 0.2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2021 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |