I think you’d find quite a home in Orthodoxy. As opposed to the Western versions of “christianity” the Orthodox are very respectful of other positions, and don’t push their views on others.

/end joke.

Here’s a link to an Anglican Benedictine website, and here’s one to a Lutheran Monastery in Michigan.

I think I’ve said it before here: There is just something about the internet in general and blogs in particular that brings out the worst in people. Or maybe it just brings out the worst people. I think that’s what alot of it is. Not to minimize your “lament” at all. That’s just my two cents.

“I still resent the apologists when my conversion is the goal.”

I get this a lot only in the other direction. Sometimes I just like to talk about scripture. And I have several aquaintances including Catholic layfolk, two Lutheran ministers, an Anglican priest and A United Church of Christ pastor I do this with on a semi-frequent basis. (WARNING – Generalization comment to follow). But when I engage my fellow Baptist, non denom, or pentacostal brother/sister – things always have to turn to what is wrong with Catholic theology -and anger or at least agitation on their part follows. Mind you this is not an apoligetic discussion or even a discussion on parts of scriture that we may differ on. This is – “oh your Catholic – Why do you worship idols…” or some other shlock. Makes me sad – just like to discuss scripture with some other spiritual soul steeped in scripture as well.

I have not become disillusioned about him. Well, maybe if I ever had illusions about him, I don’t have them now, if that’s what you mean. He was quite a fallible human being – you know, like all of us. He was very romantic about his faith in the early years, and as he grew, he evolved, and in a good way I think. We should all grow in such a way.

And there sort of are Protestant monks, and nuns, if you want to call Anglicans, Protestants. They may not like the term themselves, some of them, but for the sake of the question, yes, there are Anglican monasteries and convents. There is also a more recent crop of “new monastics” who are often connected with the emerging church phenomenon. That label is fading, but this new way of being a monastically oriented Christian “in the world” is growing I think. It grows in urban areas. It grows as a vision for a new kind of monastic community in rural areas. It even grows in the suburbs. Now, all these people aren’t Protestant, some are Catholic as well. I’d be one of them. Good stuff, I say – keep growing. Thomas Merton, pray for us.