Reforming the Monastery: Protestant Theologies of the Religious Life

Greg Peters

Nov 2013 · New Monastic Library: Resources for Radical Discipleship Book 12 · Wipf and Stock Publishers

About this ebook

Richard Froude wrote in 1833 to John Henry Newman that "the present state of things in England makes an opening for reviving the monastic system." Seemingly original words at the time. Yet, monasticism is one of the most ancient and enduring institutions of the Christian church, reaching its zenith during the High Middle Ages. Although medieval monasteries were regularly suppressed during the Reformation and the magisterial Reformers rejected monastic vows, the existence of monasticism has remained within the Reformation churches, both as an institution and in its theology. This volume is an examination of Protestant theologies of monasticism, examining the thought of select Protestant authors who have argued for the existence of monasticism in the Reformation churches, beginning with Martin Luther and John Calvin and including Conrad Hoyer, John Henry Newman, Karl Barth, and Donald Bloesch. Looking at the contemporary church, the current movement known as the "New Monasticism" is discussed and evaluated in light of Protestant monastic history.

About the author

Greg Peters is Associate Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology in the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University. He is also the Rector of Anglican Church of the Epiphany in La Mirada, CA and a visiting professor of monastic studies at St. John's School of Theology in Collegeville, MN. He is the author of Peter of Damascus: Byzantine Monk and Spiritual Theologian (2009).