Binding: Paperback
Description: Monasticism is a social and religious phenomenon which originated in antiquity and which still remains relevant in the twenty - first century. But what exactly is it and how is it distinguished from other kinds of religious and non - religious practice? In this Very Short Introduction Stephen J. Davis discusses the history of monasticism from our earliest evidence for it and the different types which have developed from antiquity to the present day. He considers where monasteries are located from East Asia to North America and everywhere in between and how their settings impact the everyday life and worldview of the monks and nuns who dwell there. Exploring how monastic communities are organized he also looks at how aspects of life like food sleep sex work and prayer are regimented. Finally Davis discusses what the stories about saints communicate about monastic identity and ethics and considers what place there is for monasticism in the modern world. About THE Series: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket - sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Title: Monasticism: A Very Short Introduction
Author(s): Davis Stephen J. (Professor Of Religious Studies History And Near Eastern Languages And Civilizations Yale University)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Barcode: 9780198717645
Pages: 176 Pages, 9 Black And White Images
Publication Date: 4/1/2018
Series: Very Short Introductions
Category: Religious Communities & Monasticism