Reforming the Monastery: Protestant Theologies of the Religious Life

by Greg Peters

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.

178 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2013

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and fair overview of Protestant assessment of monasticism and a good companion to Greg Peters’s Story of Monasticism. However, I came away from the book thinking that Protestants in general have not been too fond of the institution and that Peters’s case that they were more fond of it than commonly suspected was not too persuasive.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid historical overview of Protestant thinking about monastic life. A necessary addition to literature on monasticism- because I've read lots of it, and this is the first one I felt the Gospel took center stage without distortion or misrepresentation.

This is a history book, though. It's not a how-to guide or devotional reading or much of an argument. Instead, it's a quiet little book documenting the many times and ways the Reformers and their heirs have considered reforming or reintroducing religious life. It's background research- sorely needed, but the conclusions are left as an exercise for the reader.

[Alex Chiang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really convinced that the strength of Protestantism is our ability to co-opt any tradition and embrace it if it's useful. Dr. Peters has done both the historical work in this book and much of the theological work in The Monkhood of All Believers in order for Protestants to begin retrieving the monastery. Please now someone just make me take a vow of obedience. Pretty please.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peters traces the Protestant development of forms of the monastic life from Luther and Calvin down to Barth and Donald Bloesch.