About this episode

Geoff and David Clayton discuss the understanding of sin as disorder and the role of asceticism in early Christian monasticism.

In this episode on early Christian monasticism, Geoff and regular guest David Clayton explore how the Desert Fathers and Mothers understood sin as discorder (of all kinds) and how asceticism was a path toward freedom to love God and others. They discuss sin not merely as rule-breaking but as patterns that impair clear seeing, free choosing, and loving well. Asceticism is presented as training that frees the heart by reshaping habits, while emphasizing grace, mercy, and the hope to “begin agai...

People in this episode

Hosts: Geoff Holsclaw, Cyd Holsclaw

Guest: David Clayton

Topics covered

• early Christian monasticism
• sin as disorder
• asceticism
• freedom to love
• patterns of sin
• training the heart

Keywords

• sin
• asceticism
• Desert Fathers
• Christian monasticism
• freedom to love
• spiritual formation
• neuroscience

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Desert Fathers and Mothers

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