Why the notion of "intentional communities" sometimes gives the heebee geebees

"The Art of Community Northwest" as sponsored by the "Fellowship of Intentional Community."

Just check out a few of the sponsors, my favorite of which is the "International Puppydogs Movement" made up of four (yes, 4 total) gay and bisexual men who "like to lie (sometimes sleep) very close together, curled up like puppies" (No kids allowed, apparently so that rules my family out)

Also be sure to spend sometime at the "Institute of Noetic Sciences."

It's no wonder "Intentional Community" gets a bad wrap. But I'll tell you what, we are in desperate need for some real community these days...but I'm thinking the "International Puppydog Movement" isn't going to provide the answers.

Comments

Munkee said…
i'm not sure i like the idea of Christians walling themselves up in a ghetto of sorts to keep out all of the "naughty things". There was a group of Orthodox in our local area that did just this and ended up with some serious problems on there hands. They had the best of intentions, and yet people got hurt badly over it, the bishop had to step in...probably too late.

I like the idea that hookers and thieves were in close proximity with Christ...it's very uncomfortable and I think that's alright.
11:23 AM
fdj said…
Some would say, (not me, but some would) that by - for instance - not owning a TV is walling yourself off from the "real" world.

But that is neither here nor there, I think its not really about walling yourself off and isolating yourself - at least not as I would define an "intentional community"

In fact, you can strive for intentional community right now, right where you are. (Some places will be harder than others and indeed I would argue that some places are far more adept at nourishing a real community.)

As I expect I will discuss with Chance, above, much in our modern world is detrimental to real community, but I don't think this means we need to become Amish...however a healthy dose of their discernment could certainly be used...by that I mean that they are always judging the utlitiy of ANYTHING in the context of the good of the community.

I suspect, the reason Orthodox laypersons' Intentional Communities (such as you note) fail is that what they are really doing is running away to try and be like the monastics.
1:14 PM
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