The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
Some evangelicals perceive monasticism as a relic from the past or a retreat from the world, or they reject it as an aberration in Protestant circles. At the same time, contemporary evangelical spirituality desires outward manifestations of the faith. Greg Peters, an expert in monastic studies, offers a historical survey of monasticism from its origins to current manifestations. Recover the riches of the monastic tradition for contemporary spiritual formation and devotional practice, and learn why the monastic impulse is a valid and necessary manifestation of the Christian faith for today’s church.
For more on monasticism, check out the Wipf & Stock Anglican Monastic Studies Collection.
Key Features
- Offers a historical survey of monasticism
- Explores the relevance of monastic life to today’s church
- Analyzes contemporary spiritual formation and devotional practice
Contents
- Anthony to Benedict
- The Origins of Christian Monasticism
- Of Anchorites and Cenobites
- The Rule
- Benedict to Bernard
- The Flowering of Benedictine Monasticism
- Other Voices: Celtic, Frankish, and Eastern Monasticism
- Challenges of Christendom
- The Road to Reform
- Bernard to Luther
- The Cistercians, Carthusians, and Other Reforming Orders
- Regular Canons, Hospitallers, and the Military Orders
- The Friars
- Decline or Development? Lay Piety and Religious Life in the Late Medieval Era
- Luther to Merton
- The Reformers and Counter-Reformers
- Protestants and Monasticism after the Reformation
- Continuing Roman Catholic Monastic Practice
Top Highlights
“‘Contemplation is a loving and sustained gaze upon God’s presence in creation and God’s mighty acts.’” (Page 5)
“2) particular callings by God to a special work, office, or position of responsibility within his covenant community” (Page 6)
“a rediscovery and recovery of the past in order to give fresh expression to contemporary faith” (Page 2)
“the recovery of ancient sources as a way to imagine the future” (Page 2)
“monastic vows can be defined as a deliberate and free promise made to God about a possible and better good.” (Page 18)
Praise for the Print Edition
I have never met a Protestant theologian--evangelical or mainline--who speaks about monastics with as much competence and ease as Greg Peters. This book presents a well-documented, interesting, and enjoyable summary of the Christian monastic way of life and also describes the personal journey of a young Baptist-turned-Anglican minister seeking God’s face through contemplative prayer and by following Christ’s footsteps back to the apostolic church.
—Denis Farkasfalvy, research scholar in theology, University of Dallas
Greg’s writing is succinct without compromising thoroughness in a well-researched text that will be as useful for the classroom as it will be for the interested individual.
—Dennis Okholm, author, Dangerous Passions, Deadly Sins
Carefully researched, balanced, and irenic, this book seeks to affect the way we do church by uncovering resources from those who lived in intentional Christian communities.
—James Wilhoit, Scripture Press Professor of Christian Formation and Ministry, Wheaton College
About Greg Peters
Greg Peters is assistant professor of medieval and spiritual theology in the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University. He is also visiting assistant professor of church history at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin and is a visiting professor of monastic studies at St. John’s School of Theology in Collegeville, Minnesota. He is the author of Peter of Damascus: Byzantine Monk and Spiritual Theologian and Reforming the Monastery.