The Benedict Option and the Veritatis Splendor Community: Are They the Same Thing? by David Larson

By David Larson, Crisis Magazine, March 26, 2021

David Larson is an editor and/or writer for a number of publications and has a masters in theological studies from Spring Hill College. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

Many Christians are thinking seriously about how to decouple from the popular culture and form versions of community and culture that will encourage the flourishing of their faith. To unthinkingly absorb mainstream entertainment, participate in public education, or patronize Big Tech’s latest offerings seems increasingly like madness considering their clear intentions to sideline us and our outdated views.

The incredible popularity of Rod Dreher’s 2017 book, The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation, shows just how ready traditional Christians are to take this more separatist path. Dreher’s call to create “thick communities” where Christians can live, worship, and educate their children received positive reviews from Catholic leaders like Archbishop Chaput and Bishop Barron, but was of course denounced as reactionary and bigoted by those on the Church’s Left, like America Magazine and Cardinal Cupich of Chicago.   ….

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