Chapter 4 of the Rule entitled Tools for Good Works showers the reader with Scripture quotes found in the Gospels and Pauline epistles. Those quotes intercepted with Benedict’s own insights fall into the following general categories: Scriptural Commandments beginning with the Greatest which sum up the Law and the Prophets: Love God (whoever you conceive
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The Rule continues with addressing the issues of consultative way of steering the Community. Chapter 3 is dedicated to the ins and outs of summoning the Community for counsel and giving the household members a chance to have their say in matters that concern the welfare of all. Even the Abbot is not exempted from
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Chapter 2 of the Rules of Benedict outlines the qualities of the Abbot: As the one holding the place of Christ in the community, the Abbot must lead by word and example, mingling gentleness with sternness and tempering the rigor of the master with fatherly love. The RB makes it very clear that the Abbot
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The Rule of Benedict continues: It is better to keep silent than to speak of all these (the sarabites and the gyrovagues) and their disgraceful way of life. Let us pass them by and … proceed to draw up a plan for the strong kind, the cenobites. Benedict called the cenobites fortissimus genus, the strong
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In light of the Freshman Orientation month, a warm word of welcome to all of you reading MadisonKink for the first time, to all who are beginning to explore BDSM, and to all committed to making our journey in kink a jolly good fun. Although the following is a continuation of a topic addressed earlier,
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It is my conviction that kink is grounded in all things real. Many things that we consider kinky today were commonplace yesterday: 1950s’ household speaks for itself, corporal punishment was practiced universally and remains a standard disciplinary practice in some contemporary cultures, I just got stuck by four needles in the doctor’s office, various BDSM
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Be careful how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil: warns the Apostle. Be careful how you live. Make the most of the time. The first century Christians lived in constant anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. They believed that their
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[Editor's Note:  This month we are starting a new column which deals with religion.  If you're wondering why, see our reasoning here.] Many years ago, when I was just beginning my theological studies I was asked one afternoon to come to the Registrar’s office as soon as I could. When I arrived, I found the
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