The good life

The good life is an ambiguous term for the life that one would like to live.

Religious approaches

There has been a pattern in the life of the Christian Church of monasticism or ascetism, wherein members of the body of Christ separated themselves to be consecrated to a more contemplative lifestyle, or decided to live in voluntary poverty in order to better meet the needs of the world.

Recent developments in this field have been made by what some call the new monasticism. Young men and women, both monogamous married couples and celibate singles, share their homes and lives, usually in the inner city as a means and method of growing in their faith and ministering to the marginalized and hurting people surrounding them.

Non-religious approaches

There have been many instances throughout history, especially American history, of individuals or groups of individuals attempting to return to a simpler state of existence, or, as Henry David Thoreau said, "to front the essential facts of life". Thoreau wrote his influential memoir "Walden" about his personal experience with simple living. A century later, Helen and Scott Nearing published a series of books on "the good life" detailing their alternative lifestyle.

ee also

*"La dolce vita" ("The Sweet Life") - Federico Fellini's 1960 film may be seen as an antonym of 'the good life' concept

References

* "Living Faithfully in a Fragmented World" by Jonathan R. Wilson
* "The Good Life" by Helen and Scott Nearing
* "Imitation of Christ" by Thomas à Kempis
* "School(s) for Conversion" edited by Rutba House
* "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claibourne
* "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" by Ronald J. Sider
* "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau
* "The Politics of Jesus" by John Howard Yoder

External links

*http://www.goodlife.org
*http://www.newmonasticism.org
*http://www.thesimpleway.org
*http://www.camdenhouse.org