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Title: Fine as a historical document but that's it
Review: The rule of St. Benedict is an important historical document as it guided Western monasticism for close to 1500 years. Anyone who attempts to follow it today to the letter needs to have their head (and heart) examined, though. He advocates physical beatings and other cruelties, even of the young. His advice that each monk be provided with no more than a pound of bread as their sole food daily provides no more than 1200 calories-an amount certain to lead to malnutrition in many people.Yes, I understand that Benedict was laying down rules for large communities in another age and era. Now, if only those who think that we should use this as a guide TODAY would only accept that this is not the middle ages and the context NOW makes many ancient texts irelevant. Read this for spiritual reading?! To what purpose? You can spend your time more profitably with another book that does not require another volume of commentary to expain, and apologize for it.
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