PowerSwitch

Just wanted to let everyone know I've left the monastery where I've been a nun for the last 16 months. After lots of pondering and prayer I've decided this isn't the place I want to spend the rest of my life; or at least that I need a break to look at it more objectively. I've loved being here - and I can hardly imagine a more beautiful and loving community. The difficulty I had was with the restrictions on extrovert things like reaching out to the wider community or even having contact with the guests that come to stay. I've learned so much though, and I've changed a lot as a person. A very worthwhile thing to do, and I learned a lot about veg gardening and cooking for large numbers, and running a laundry, and of course there was lots of singing which I love.

For my next trick I'm going to another community down in Devon near Exeter; this time not an enclosed monastic community but a 'lay community' of ecumenical Christians who run a large retreat centre specifically aimed at priests and ministers of any Christian denomination. Normal people can go too.

So it's back to 'Tess', although actually I really liked being called Clare. I'll answer to either

I see the world hasn't ended yet outside the abbey walls. There's an air of gentle resignation about which I don't remember from before. It's not a bad thing - more of a 'let's enjoy the present rather than get all greedy and obsessive for a wealthier future'.

Welcome back .

I'd say it's worth even a rabid atheist like me doing something like you have, just to learn the skills you've gained. Well done.

Religious or not, we need more like you.

emordnilap wrote:Welcome back .

I'd say it's worth even a rabid atheist like me doing something like you have, just to learn the skills you've gained. Well done.

Religious or not, we need more like you.

Thanks!

It's true actually that I always wanted to do something like this even when I was also a 'rabid atheist' because it's beneficial all round to learn these practical skills and also to experience living in a large community of very disparate people who generally (and sometimes specifically) want the best for you (rather than trying to exploit you or manipulate you into making their lives easier). When I became a Christian it became inevitable that I'd have to take my chance and get involved.

We need a serious community for rabid atheists. Or perhaps we could bluff it with a made-up religion (Jedi, Pastafarian, etc) so it at least has a bit of gravitas. And tax relief.

Welcome back to the "outside". I hope that means more posts...Sister Clare was a bit quiet...

RenewableCandy wrote:We need a serious community for rabid atheists. Or perhaps we could bluff it with a made-up religion (Jedi, Pastafarian, etc) so it at least has a bit of gravitas. And tax relief.

Welcome back to the "outside". I hope that means more posts...Sister Clare was a bit quiet...

It should mean more posts. While in the abbey internet access was officially banned as being subversive to the common good, but I was never a very obedient nun on that score.

For an amusing made-up religious community based loosely on liberal pagan Anglicanism or something inoffensively inclusive, see here : http://cyber-coenobites.blogspot.co.uk/

I like the idea of a Jedi community, but there'd be lightsaber fights at dawn over who was the 'master' and who the padawan.

Welcome, do keep us informed about life in general, and about the new comunity that you intend to join.
Although I am non religous, I appreciate that religous groups do a lot of good, and that most "tread lightly on the world"
Religous extremism that leads to wars etc is a great evil, but moderate and sensible beliefs, why not ?

adam2 wrote:moderate and sensible

Those are my middle names! Also, Irenic.

Tess wrote:Just wanted to let everyone know I've left the monastery where I've been a nun for the last 16 months. After lots of pondering and prayer I've decided this isn't the place I want to spend the rest of my life; or at least that I need a break to look at it more objectively. I've loved being here - and I can hardly imagine a more beautiful and loving community. The difficulty I had was with the restrictions on extrovert things like reaching out to the wider community or even having contact with the guests that come to stay. I've learned so much though, and I've changed a lot as a person. A very worthwhile thing to do, and I learned a lot about veg gardening and cooking for large numbers, and running a laundry, and of course there was lots of singing which I love.

For my next trick I'm going to another community down in Devon near Exeter; this time not an enclosed monastic community but a 'lay community' of ecumenical Christians who run a large retreat centre specifically aimed at priests and ministers of any Christian denomination. Normal people can go too.

So it's back to 'Tess', although actually I really liked being called Clare. I'll answer to either

I see the world hasn't ended yet outside the abbey walls. There's an air of gentle resignation about which I don't remember from before. It's not a bad thing - more of a 'let's enjoy the present rather than get all greedy and obsessive for a wealthier future'.

Hi Tess.

It would appear your mind is too independant to be boxed in by organised religion. Of course, that doesn't mean you have lost faith. Indeed, your faith may even grow stronger as a consequence of ploughing your own furrow. You never know. I say all of this in good faith and with the best of intentions as an atheist myself Tess.

Good luck to you on the rest of your journey, wherever it may lead.

stevecook172001 wrote:It would appear your mind is too independant to be boxed in by organised religion.

Oh it's not a matter of being 'boxed in'. Just because I'm not entirely suited to one particular way of 'doing religious community' doesn't mean I'm on the fringe of organised Christianity, except in the same way that Jesus was on the fringe of organised Judaism. In other words he loved people (especially those who couldn't believe anyone cared about them) instead of following the prescribed religious rules. In my experience, most of those who complain about religion are quite right to do so, and would find Jesus beside them in full agreement.

Tess wrote:There's an air of gentle resignation about which I don't remember from before. It's not a bad thing - more of a 'let's enjoy the present rather than get all greedy and obsessive for a wealthier future'.

Really? Amongst who? I think that things are more touchy,


Peter.

Blue Peter wrote:

Tess wrote:There's an air of gentle resignation about which I don't remember from before. It's not a bad thing - more of a 'let's enjoy the present rather than get all greedy and obsessive for a wealthier future'.

Really? Amongst who? I think that things are more touchy,

Maybe it's just me who's changed then . People were making eye contact with me in the high street and smiling!

Tess wrote:

Blue Peter wrote:

Tess wrote:There's an air of gentle resignation about which I don't remember from before. It's not a bad thing - more of a 'let's enjoy the present rather than get all greedy and obsessive for a wealthier future'.

Really? Amongst who? I think that things are more touchy,

Maybe it's just me who's changed then . People were making eye contact with me in the high street and smiling!

Good grief! You were still wearing your habit or something were you?


Peter.

Blue Peter wrote: Good grief! You were still wearing your habit or something were you?

No, I'd taken it off by then. And yes, I had put on something else, otherwise there would have been more than smiling, to be sure.

Tess wrote:No, I'd taken it off by then. And yes, I had put on something else, otherwise there would have been more than smiling, to be sure.

You managed to buy some new clothes then. I thought you told me you'd given them all away .

JohnB wrote: You managed to buy some new clothes then. I thought you told me you'd given them all away .

That's true, I did. And a very good friend who is my size just gave me some of hers! So I have a couple of outfits at least. I'm off to the charity shop tomorrow though.