Monasticism: A Very Short Introduction

Product Description

Monasticism is a social & religious phenomenon which originated in antiquity & which still remains relevant in the twenty-first century But what exactly is it & how is it distinguished from other kinds of religious & non-religious practice? In this Very Short Introduction Stephen J Davis discusses the history of monasticism from our earliest evidence for it & the different types which have developed from antiquity to the present day He considers where monasteries are located from East Asia to North America & everywhere in between & how their settings impact the everyday life & worldview of the monks & nuns who dwell there Exploring how monastic communities are organized he also looks at how aspects of life like food sleep sex work & prayer are regimented Finally Davis discusses what the stories about saints communicate about monastic identity & ethics & 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 & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable