Early Egyptian Christianity’s contribution of Monasticism

[Anonymous]

I have been reading a book by C. Wilfred Griggs – Early Egyptian Christianity. This work goes through how Roman Catholicism essentially extinguished many of the gnostics and charismatic philosopher/Christians that flourished throughout 200-300 AD. The Story of Origin, the Christian Philosopher/teacher is remarkable, but sad in the end. Without spoiling the book, I was thinking recently with all of the topics of women having the Priesthood, and the issue of Gay marriage, and the acceptance of any of the LGBT community in the Church, I thought about a group of Mormons that is more present and increasing in size: The single thirty-somethings that don’t have any desire to be married. Wouldn’t it be a good thing to have Mormon Monasticsm where you could have single men or women live together and increase their spirituality, and serve others like other Christian groups? I know someone will say that is what a single’s ward is for, yet most singles wards serve those in there twenties who are planning on getting married. I know Eternal Marriage is an ideal, but I know so many individuals who have fallen short of that ideal, or who do not want that ideal and they are either ostracized to some extent, or they serve in the Family wards and then hide in the shadows. An interesting note that Griggs points out from history is that the early bishops in Alexandria, Egypt thought of those who lived the monastic way of life as more spiritual than the bishops. I also think perhaps it would limit the divorce rate in the church where people could have a viable option of exercising their religious faith in another way since it is so hard to raise the traditional Mormon family these days with a Suburban/mini van full of kids. Since we live in a society with a high divorce rate, where alternative lifestyles are more predominately displayed, there should be another option for those who just want to lead a different life away from the socially accepted norm: Mormon monasticism.

[Anonymous]

We have a monastic lifestyle in the church, it’s just for twenty something boys and girls for a couple of years.

[Anonymous]

We have several bro’s and sis’s in our ward who are 30 something or older, who are single and show little inclination / opportunity for marriage. As a result, they have struggle fitting in. I didn’t get married until nearly 50, but most of my senior adult years were spent muddling through my faith crisis, so not fitting in wasn’t due to just being a single adult. But I could still empathize with them.

[Anonymous]

I don’t disagree with the ideal, Jamison, but it doesn’t really fit in with Mormon theology and hence I don’t think it would happen. I could see a group perhaps doing something like this on their own, but I don’t see the church sanctioning it. There’s too much emphasis on the necessity of marriage for the church do something like this at this point. And can you imagine the fallout (on both sides) from the suggestion that a bunch of gay Mormons live together and do service?

The book does sound interesting, though. As I understand it the monks, even in later Catholicism, were much more studied than many bishops because bishops were often corrupt and not necessarily appointed by the church, rather the nobles and monarchs appointed them. From what I recall of my study of the middle ages, some priests and bishops were actually illiterate themselves – the monks, however, were educated. This is actually what lead to religious schools – the beginnings of all the Notre Dame and Seton High Schools we have in this country.

We do have some of those like you describe in our stake as well. There are a couple very prominent ones, actually. I know a sister in her late 40s, no desire to marry or have children (and not Lesbian, I know her quite well), highly educated professional, serves in the stake YWP and pretty reminiscent of Sherri Dew, actually. She has been able to move beyond any stigma attached to her status – but it takes a great deal of self confidence (which she obviously doesn’t lack) and willpower to do so.

[Author]

Posts