Angelic monks and earthly men : monasticism and its meaning to medieval society
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Angelic monks and earthly men : monasticism and its meaning to medieval society
Boydell Press, 1992
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Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Both authoritative and attractive, this is a most welcome study. One may resist or qualify the thesis and still be greatly edified by this cornucopia of facts and insights... Many apt illustrations and abundant, instructive documentation enhance the text. CHOICE Monasticism is often seen as a central driving force of the medieval world - `a specific spiritual ideal and aim of perfection implemented as a lifestyle' - which had a considerable impact on society as a whole. This challenging book reexamines this view, looking at how monastic ideals and practices interacted with the world outside the monastery walls.
Professor Milis believes that, because monastic records predominate, there is a serious risk that the monks' role may have been overemphasised. From this base he sets out to examine what effect monasticism really had on ordinary people, and argues that because monasticism denied the intrinsic value of earthly life, instead placing emphasis on the transcendental afterlife, it was almost ineffective as a force for social change.
LUDO J.R. MILISis Professor of Cultural and Religious History of the Middle Ages at the University of Ghent.
Table of Contents
- Part 1 Our written information: from recording the exceptional to recording the usual: is our knowledge of the Middle Ages representative
- is our knowledge of medieval monasticism representative?
- can proportions be measured? Part 2 The global vision of the created world: the fulfilment of God's will
- the ineluctable decay of the Creation
- fundamental pessimism and presumed monastic creativity. Part 3 The sources of material wealth: the rural setting
- craft and commerce - the abbey, the market and the town. Part 4 The monks' attitude towards people: monks, nobility and common people
- rural people
- urban people
- the works of mercy
- the impact on the demographic situation. Part 5 Value systems, Christian and monastic: Christian values and ethics
- reciprocity, a social function. Part 6 The intellectual contribution: the legacy of antiquity
- an everlasting renaissance
- writing, reading, teaching and thinking - monks as the keepers of collective memory
- allegory and rationalism
- as times changed, education changed
- tolerance and incomprehension. Part 7 Religion, religious life and the Church: mission, conversion and the crusades
- charisma, rule and institution. Part 8 Artistic expression: art for them or art for us?
- space and image
- "art for art's sake" or functional art?
- a deeper sense. Part 9 Monastic life: heaven and hell on earth - individuals living together
- a pyramid of self-negation - the individual and the community
- spirit and flesh - the battle of the individual
- the easy way or the difficult way - comparison with the world outside.
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