Counsels of perfection

Counsels of perfection

Counsels of perfection. Certain injunctions of Jesus taken in Christian tradition (in contrast to ‘commandments’) as a standard of perfection for only a few disciples (cf. Matthew 19. 21). They are specifically: poverty, the renunciation of property; chastity, abstinence from sexual relations; and obedience, the submission of the will in all things to a superior. These three form the basis for the monastic life.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Counsels of perfection." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Counsels of perfection." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Counselsofperfection.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Counsels of perfection." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Counselsofperfection.html

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Counsels of Perfection

Counsels of Perfection. Traditionally they are: poverty, or renunciation of private (sometimes also communal) property; chastity, or renunciation of marriage; and obedience to the lawful commands of superiors. Since the late Middle Ages they have been regarded as forming the basis of the (technically) religious life.

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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Counsels of Perfection." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Counsels of Perfection." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-CounselsofPerfection.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Counsels of Perfection." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-CounselsofPerfection.html

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