One of the developing themes of my 20s has been an increasing tension between what I want out of life. Do I want to live a bustling life in the city or a quiet life in the country? Do I want a jet-setting international career, or do I want to set down roots state-side and dedicate myself to investing in a single community? Do I want to work in academia, nonprofit, or government? What is the best way for me to live? Do I? Do I? Do I?
Amid all these questions, my mind often settles on a little idea: I’ve been nursing since I visited the Sinsinawa convent in southwestern Wisconsin. With declining populations in monastic orders and an increased interest in communal living among the young, why don’t these young people buy or acquire old monasteries and reinvigorate them with new communities?
These thoughts came to a head when I opened the book A Pslam for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers, a part of the Monk and Robot series. In this book, a monk named Dex is a part of a monastery in a post-industrial solarpunk world. Dex is a tea monk whose duty is to travel between villages, hamlets, and homesteads, setting up a stand, listening to people’s problems and worries, and brewing them some tea. In my opinion, this is a beautiful model for secular monks in the 21st century.
For now, let’s ignore the fact that the Catholic church is unlikely to want to transition these historic places to a bunch of pot-smoking, queer leftists (who constitute most of my social circle). After floating this idea to some friends, I received much more enthusiasm than expected. It seems there is a strong interest in communal living among us Gen Zers. As this seems like an idea many people in my social circle gravitate towards, I thought I’d write out some thoughts on the matter and how I would design such a community, both in its fundamental principles and some practical matters of running an intentional community. Consider this some fun fantasizing over any sort of coherent plan.
The Historic Role of Monasteries
(A quick note: this section is focusing on monasteries in already Christian areas of Europe; in non-Christian regions, monasteries served a more pernicious role in colonial projects)
During their heyday, monastic orders served a number of roles in European societies. Their core function was scholarly. Monks preserved ancient texts from Greece and Rome and maintained libraries of religious tomes. They also produced and disseminated knowledge by making copies of manuscripts to be distributed through Church institutions. While this often focused on matters of theology and law, other domains of knowledge such as horticulture, brewing, and literature were also focuses of attention for some monks. Young men (and women in convents) would be educated in monasteries as well on occasion, making these institutions an early source of schooling.
Community service was also an important function monasteries served. They fed the poor, treated the sick, and supported their communities when possible. Monasteries were critical in providing shelter to travelers, especially pilgrims, and ran services such as orphanages.
Labor was also an important aspect of the monastic model. However, it’s less tied up in our modern conception of a hypercompetitive work ethic and is more focused on craft and a spiritual connection to the act of work. The following quote from the Rule of St. Benedict, a treatise that serves as the foundational text of monastic governance, captures this ethos well:
“Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading”
In thinking about how a monastery may function today, looking back to these core functions can provide ample inspiration.
Communal Living in the 21st Century
In reimagining the monastic model for modern life, the first step would be toward secularizing the institution. In our new-age monasteries, Christian theology would be replaced with spiritual agnosticism. Individuals can have more formal religious ties and specific beliefs would not be enforced among the group. Still, a general sense of spiritual connection between individuals in the community and the natural world would be cultivated.
The internal economy of the monastery should be reciprocal. Individuals will pay rent in a cooperative function to allow for the property's supplies, taxes, utilities, and upkeep. Labor for common area cleaning and maintenance are to be split equally. Individuals can decide to go in on a collective meal fund, where a few individuals prepare a large meal and rotate every night. Otherwise, individuals can prepare their own meals in the joint kitchen space.
Scholarship is another aspect of monastic life that I think would fit beautifully in a modern monastery. Most of our scholarly work happens in the university system. While this works reasonably well, with cracks forming in the tenure system, many are looking for other organizational models to conduct research. Especially for hobbyists and amateurs, monasteries could encourage the formation of small groups of scholars to work together on their research goals, be it documenting change in local ecosystems or digging into historical archives.
Given the rural nature of monasteries, agrarian and craft work will be maintained and encouraged. As the goal is not to provide a business or be self-sufficient, these activities' primary role is recreation and connection. Orchards, gardens, and small herds of animals will be kept on the property for those who wish to engage with that lifestyle. Other ceramics, fabric arts, and other crafts facilities will be maintained. Again, the goal is to have a way for people to connect with their own labor mindfully instead of primarily for income or survival goals.
Governance
Unlike medieval monasteries, which were governed authoritarianly by an Abbott, our modern monasteries would be governed democratically. Since these communities would be relatively small, direct democracy would work rather well. Meetings would ideally follow a consensus decision-making process but would resort to taking a proper vote should a consensus not be reached. The group would also elect individuals to coordinate kitchen, cleaning, and financial management and ensure tasks are shared equally among community members.
A community like this would be funded by its members. As the goal is not to close off the monastery from broader society, members would still maintain employment and income, either working remotely in the monastery or finding a job in the surrounding area. Members may start their own businesses using monastery space to develop an income stream. This residency-based model allows for smoother operation, as success in the business world is not necessary for the success of the monastery.
Unfortunately, this country's legacy of communal living has been fairly sketchy, largely due to the rise of cults within them. Ensuring such situations don’t arise in modern monasteries is critical to their long-term success. Monasteries should be quite open to the outside world and not strive to be self-sufficient but embedded in their wider regions. Members should be encouraged to pursue employment, education, socialization, and volunteering outside the monastery. Making such living situations a node in the wider world instead of cutting them off from the outside is much healthier for individuals and the community at large. In the same vein, the monastery should not under any circumstances manage members' finances, and every member should maintain an independent fund should they want to leave the monastery.
Future Development
I cannot emphasize enough that this post is mostly daydreaming. I am quite happy living my normal life of living alone and having standard relationships with my friends and family. But a part of me still fantasizes about buying up a patch of land with my 30 closest friends, starting a small farm, making our own clothes and ceramics, and working together on ecosystem restoration or
There is potential for establishing a network of monastery-like organizations for everyone to engage with, regardless of gender, sexuality, marital status, parental status, or spiritual affinity. Creating places for people to come together in labor, service, and scholarship is necessary for all ages. As people crave more options in economic and social models, may I propose we look to the rich history (and architecture) of the monastic system?
And if you see an old monastery or convent for sale in your area, please please please let me know!!
What I’m reading, watching, and listening too
Claire Saffitz Tours A Flour Mill: A fun video showcasing an artisan flour mill in Austin from one of my favorite food personalities.
How Illinois Is Bringing Grocery Stores Back to Main Street: If the cooperative nature of Monastic living interests you, you’d enjoy this piece about a resurgence of co-op grocers in rural America.
Circles And Slashes: The history of the “no” circle and slash symbol is unexpectedly recent and winding and features, Dan Aykroyd . . .