Orden und Klöster

by Rolf Toman (Hrsg.)

How did the monks, nuns and hermits live? What rules did they agree to obey? To what extent were they able to uphold those ideals in reality? What was the relationship between the monasteries and wordly authorities? And what was the source of the power that the religious orders were able to exercise in political affairs at various times? Are the remarkable cultural accomplishments of the cloisters simply the fruits of great self-discipline, or did they also result from a privileged way of life? Who were the men and women who entered monasteries? Knowledgeable responses to these and many other questions, in conjunction with the opulent illustrations, make this an impressive volume that is destined to become a standard on the subject.

Genres: History, Art, Religion, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars book raised to 4 stars rating thanks to the splendid photographs and artwork illustrations.

[SlowRain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating introduction to the Christian monastery and the life within. Not heavy on doctrine or theology, it instead focuses on the origins of monastic life and rules, as well as on the buildings themselves. And, boy, does it do the buildings in spades! The bulk of this very bulky book is photos of exteriors and interiors of some of the most beautiful old-world buildings. We also learn a bit about the important characters in certain monasteries and monastic orders, and there is a bit of discussion of different works of art, but the primary focus is how monasteries looked and were operated. Highly recommended if you're interested in this sort of thing.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page after page of beautiful art and excellent production to illustrate the history of Christian monasticism. After all the pages of awe-inspiring, diverse architecture, the final page on late 20th century brutalism hits all the harder. Few books illustrate as powerfully the incredible beauty of the Christian architectural imagination throughout history, and then the demon possession that 20th century western architectural schools embraced with brutalism.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a massive book, with heavy pages, loaded with incredible photographs of Catholic monasteries and their chapels and churches, spanning the last 2000 years. As well, there is an overview of the most well-known of the religious orders and their founders, and even photographs of some contemporary hermits. I looked at interiors and exteriors of places I'd heard of but not seen, and places I'd never heard of.

[Daisylotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a rich feast not to be taken in at one sitting! The gorgeous full page photo of the Chi-Rho page from the Book of Kells is the icing on the cake and almost like seeing the real thing.

[bibliotekker Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to write science fiction that features a self-contained, self-sufficient society organized around a core philosophy, the history of western monasticism provides some interesting examples. In fact, from Jedi knights onward, it is almost a cliche of science fiction film and literature that there is a group of acetic philosophers somewhere in the background of many stories.. This richly illustrated text provides a comprehensive source for researching and learning about these ancient institutions.