Thursday, March 22, 2007

Today I'm just giving you a list of questions, of which you can choose four for your your homework:

1. Benedict says towards the beginning of the Rule that he doesn't want to introduce anything harsh or burdensome.  Do you agree?  What features of the Rule seem to attempt to exercise a moderating influence?
2. What sort of person is the abbot?  What is his role? What are his duties?  To put it more specifically, what approach to leadership do you see described here?
3. What forms of punishment exist in the monastery?  Do any of them surprise or even bother you?
4. What do you make of the admonition to absolute obedience?  What is its function in the spiritual life?  What about silence?  And what is your response to Benedict's attitude toward laughter and jesting?
5. Why do you suppose Benedict depicts the ownership of private property as a "wicked vice" for monks?
6. What is "murmuring" and what is the Rule's position regarding it?  Why do you suppose this is emphasized to the extent that it is?
7. What are the various kinds of work in which monks engage, and what are their role(s) in the life of the individual and community?  Consider manual labor, crafts, study, and most important of all, the Work of God. 

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