Why read The Desert Fathers?

Book cover of The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Book description

The Desert Fathers were the first Christian monks, living in solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. In contrast to the formalised and official theology of the "founding fathers" of the church, the Desert Fathers were ordinary Christians who chose to renounce the world and live lives of…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Desert Fathers as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Miguel Farias

Author

Here we have fragments of the lives of female and male hermits living in the Egyptian desert, trying to live the Christian life away from the temptations of cities. Colourful depictions of their relationships, experiences with angels and demons, and the techniques used to move closer to God and conquer human frailty. These accounts are a superb antidote to today’s mindfulness which feels rather mind-numbing compared to these accounts of meditation.

From Miguel's list on The best books on religious experience.