Fraternal relations in monasteries : the laboratory of love / Mikaela Sundberg.

Pursuing ideals of love in a voluntary total institution -- Studying social relations in a total institution -- Entering and staying in monastic life -- Ideals of love in fraternal life -- Collective solidarity and ritual stratification : the role of singing during the Liturgy of the hours -- Stratified work in the context of equality ideals : ascetic responsibilization and power failures -- Different conditions for friendship and conversation among monks and nuns -- Surveillance and sanctions through performative regulation.

"This is a book about the tensions between Christian ideals of love and the concrete realities of everyday monastic life. Based on a study of Cistercian monasteries in France, it develops a novel conceptualization of fraternal relations and addresses how monks and nuns strive to accomplish such relationships within their communities. By focusing on the main interaction contexts of monasteries as a form of voluntary total institution, the book shows how attempts to generate collective solidarity, relate to other members as equals and avoid preferential relations conflict with practices of everyday life. Although fraternal ideals are similar for monks and nuns, the analysis reveals significant gender differences regarding the legitimacy of different forms of interaction and relationships as well as how to control them. The book appeals to readers with an interest in total institutions, sociology of religion, sociology of friendship, sociology of intimacy and also to scholars with an interest in theology of love and practical theology"-- Provided by publisher.