Monks and Empire: Asceticism and Political Disengagement in Late Antiquity

Thumbnail Image

Files

2017-6.pdf (246.49 KB)

Authors

Smith, Zachary B.

Issue Date

2017

Volume

14

Issue

Type

Journal Article

Language

Keywords

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

Unlike other modes of Christianity in late antiquity, monks and nuns in the eastern part of the Roman Empire practiced a careful disengagement from imperial politics. While political figures tried to draw monks into their spheres of influence and use their popular power for political ends, monks practiced political renunciation in almost all instances. The only exceptions occurred when something interfered with their ability to practice asceticism; in those instances, monks viewed politics as a tool to ensure their freedom. This disengagement mirrors monastic reluctance to become involved in ecclesiastical politics, and is part of the impetus to retreat in late antique monasticism. The Roman Empire was the location of ascetic practice, not the proper concern of Christian monks.|Keywords: monks, politics, asceticism, monasticism, Egypt, Syria, Palestine

Description

Citation

Smith, Z. B. (2017). Monks and Empire: Asceticism and Political Disengagement in Late Antiquity. Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society Supplement Series, 14, 14-27.

Publisher

Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke Center, Creighton University

License

CC-BY 4.0

Journal

Volume

Issue

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/109257

PubMed ID

DOI

Identifier

Additional link

https://moses.creighton.edu/jrs/toc/SS14.html

ISSN

1941-8450

EISSN

Collections

Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion and Society