Robert K. Atkin is a speculative fiction author. Passionate about theology, science fiction and fantasy, his stories will transport you to another time and place.
Featured Essays
What was medieval monasticism and what spiritual benefits did it offer to the medieval world?
Monasticism in Western Europe reached its zenith during the High Middle Ages of the late eleventh century and early twelfth century. Coming out of the ascetic tradition of the Desert Fathers at the end of the third century, monasticism grew to become a highly influential movement with centres of worship and learning throughout medieval Europe. In this paper I will describe the development of medieval monasticism and consider the spiritual benefits that it offered to men and women both inside and outside monastic communities. I will not provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits. Instead I will look at examples from the spiritual disciplines of prayer, study and manual work. I will conclude with a reflection on what spiritual benefit monasticism might offer the life of the church today.
In what ways do Jesus and his followers affirm and/or redefine the symbols or cardinal tenets of Jewish faith during his ministry?
Jewish faith in the first-century was defined by belief in one god (monotheism), Yahweh, whose presence was in the Temple, which was surrounded by the Land that had been promised to Israel. The five symbols: monotheism, election, Land, Torah and Temple, were “a common and a unifying core for second Temple Judaism.”
More Essays
- ‘An anti-Enlightenment movement’. Do you agree with this assessment of eighteenth-century evangelicalism?
- Does the language of ‘Father’ and ‘Son’ imply that there is a hierarchy within the Trinity?
- Critically assess the implications of the claim that ‘The Word became flesh’ in the work of Athanasius.
- Imperial Context
- Worship & Holiness
