Monasticism (2)

Monasticism is but another term for Asceticism. The ascetic, in course of time, forsook life and retreated into a monastery and therefore the way of life that took on a concrete form in him acquired the name Monasticism. The origin and nature of asceticism has been treated fully and critically in a previous article. Thus in this writing we are occupied with other phases of the subject. First its development. Monasticism passed through four stages of development. Its roots are traceable as far...