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Punk Monk: New Monasticism and the Ancient Art of Breathing
Fleeing the compromises of the 4th century church, the Desert Fathers founded monasticism. In reaction to a Christianity they scarcely recognized, these radicals fled to the Egyptian desert to model a different, radical style of discipleship, filled with sacrifice and continual prayer. Who are the new monks, the new punks, the new revolutionaries? The answer lies in an upsurge of 24-7 monastic communities around the world. Punk Monk combines a narrative journey through the beginnings of 24-7 Prayer Boiler Rooms with a discussion on the roots of monasticism, particularly its ethos and values, and how it can be applied in the third millennium. Drawing influences from the Franciscans, the Celts and the Moravians, the book highlights the counter-cultural and revolutionary force of monasticism and asks whether it is time for a new monastic movement. It also takes punk as a contemporary expression of monastic spirit and asks whether a "silent revolution" is coming.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2007
32 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Pete Greig
25 books376 followersPete Greig is the bewildered founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement which has spread into more than half the nations on earth.
He is also the Senior Pastor of Emmaus Rd, Guildford, Ambassador for the NGO Tearfund, and an Associate Tutor at St Mellitus Theological College, London.
His latest book, ‘How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People’ is a companion volume to The Prayer Course (www.prayercourse.org), which has been downloaded more than a million times. His previous title, ‘Dirty Glory’, was UK Christian Book of the year in 2017.
He preaches and teaches around the world and co-hosts two British festivals: Wildfires and the Big Church Day Out which attracts 30,000 people each year.
Pete’s passions include T.S. Eliot, Portsmouth F.C. and ‘Little Mo’, a 1964 Morris Minor convertible which he has lovingly restored by hand.
He is also the Senior Pastor of Emmaus Rd, Guildford, Ambassador for the NGO Tearfund, and an Associate Tutor at St Mellitus Theological College, London.
His latest book, ‘How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People’ is a companion volume to The Prayer Course (www.prayercourse.org), which has been downloaded more than a million times. His previous title, ‘Dirty Glory’, was UK Christian Book of the year in 2017.
He preaches and teaches around the world and co-hosts two British festivals: Wildfires and the Big Church Day Out which attracts 30,000 people each year.
Pete’s passions include T.S. Eliot, Portsmouth F.C. and ‘Little Mo’, a 1964 Morris Minor convertible which he has lovingly restored by hand.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 17, 2011
Punk Monk takes off where “Red Moon Rising” – the story of the 24-7 prayer movement leaves off. In particular the book talks about the beginnings of the prayer boiler rooms and then describes how they evolved. The book was well worth reading, and most of it was enjoyable or useful, and sometimes both at the same time. The creation of the book with two different authors was not seamless, and this was at times distracting from the theme. Yes, the theme itself was not ideal either; they could not quite decide. The authors told their story, outlined a version of their theological vision and provided a devotional or commentary on that vision. Both authors are real, and talk about both the good and the bad, and this is very much appreciated. Both write with humility, wanting us, the readers to be drawn to how awesome God is. The emphasis on the book on living out ones faith is a necessary corrective in our upside down world where many so-called Christians have absolutely no intention of following Jesus, having imagined that after saying a particular prayer they have purchased heaven insurance. The authors gently show how wrong this is, but more importantly just show the joy and fulfilment that comes from actively listening to and following Jesus. I hope that many people will purchase the book and pay attention to it.
December 27, 2019
This is a book that every aspiring Christian should read who has or is planning to have something to do with communities. If this book is taken seriously, it can change the contemporary Christian culture. These are not brave words. I truly believe that everything that is collected in this book is a game-changer. It says nothing new, though, but it shows how to adapt old Christian methods and customs that helped generations keep the faith.
I am going to pray for God to bring me likeminded people with whom I can make use of the ideas presented in this book. Anyone who reads my review, please contact me, I would like to talk about this book with someone.
I am going to pray for God to bring me likeminded people with whom I can make use of the ideas presented in this book. Anyone who reads my review, please contact me, I would like to talk about this book with someone.
July 22, 2009
This book is written about the 24/7 prayer movement's forays into New Monasticism. If you aren't familiar with the 24/7 prayer organization -- google it to find their web site. This book is the second about 24/7 prayer, and it tells an important story about revisiting what it means to be a church and to live radically different lives of prayer and service. The book includes some amazing stories from 24/7 locations around the world. It just has no sparkle. Here is this amazing story that is really kind of blah. I hate to say that, because I think it is a book that should be read.
July 20, 2020
I loved Red Moon Rising and they 24/7 prayer movement. I bought this book when it first came out. I thought the title was interesting and wanted to learn a style of ancient prayer. I couldn’t get through it at the time. It was not engaging and quite frankly boring. I decided to give it another try recently, year later. The same criticisms ring true to this day. The content is boring and I can’t make myself finish it. I’m 100 pages in and just want it to be over. It’s all a history of the their movement. Which is fine, just title it correctly. I realize this may be more of the publishers fault but I didn’t think I was signing up to read a detailed history of the movement. I want to learn how to pray from people who love to pray and it felt more like a “look how awesome God is because he did this and this and this!”
November 7, 2021
Monasticism is making a comeback, and the guys at 24-7 Prayer are leading the way. This book is informative, challenging, and joyful as it shares the authors vision and experiences in growing modern monastic communities in some challenging places!
October 15, 2019
amazing book!
if you want to understand more of the 24/7 prayer global movement but also be influenced to be part of it, this book is a MUST read! :)
if you want to understand more of the 24/7 prayer global movement but also be influenced to be part of it, this book is a MUST read! :)
May 26, 2024
Challenged my beliefs and allowed me to hear God's voice more clearly.
July 19, 2014
Another discovery from the Books Section the Samsung store application. Punk Monk sets out the story of the 24/7 and Boiler Room movements, a variation on the New Monasticism which is an important and interesting youth movement which emerged in the 2000s. It is a bit of a sequel, so that may account for some of my lukewarmness. I should note that Greig and his co-authors are good about giving background, so being a sequel isn't such a big problem.
On the whole, I enjoyed learning about this worthy movement. Like other New Monastic movements, there is an energy and commitment to a thoughtful and prayerful Christian life. The Boiler Rooms are set up in areas not usually associated with spiritual missions: economically depressed areas and, interestingly, resorts with a hedonistic reputation. The practice of 24/7 prayer evidently do great good and that is important.
What put me off a bit is the common problem with monasticism, in general: there is a bit of a sense that the life of the Boiler Rooms is authentic Christianity, while other approaches are less so. Anyone who glances at my reading list will know that I'm sympathetic to monasticism, but that sense of spiritual elitism was enough to put me off a bit. Perhaps, though, I'm reacting to the extremely optimistic passages on satisfied prayer requests which, occasionally, made me think of the line from Adrian Plass about a fictional Christian writer, 'Lamp-post' Lunchington (I think) that "the New Testament seems like an early and rathe rpoor rehearsal for Lunchington's life". I suspect my reaction says more about me, but I think I'd like to hear more of the struggle which is inevitable in such a prayer room and face unanswered prayer, which is rather more challenging to my mind.
Anyway, I know this is a bit of a lukewarm review, but perhaps I'm just not getting it.
On the whole, I enjoyed learning about this worthy movement. Like other New Monastic movements, there is an energy and commitment to a thoughtful and prayerful Christian life. The Boiler Rooms are set up in areas not usually associated with spiritual missions: economically depressed areas and, interestingly, resorts with a hedonistic reputation. The practice of 24/7 prayer evidently do great good and that is important.
What put me off a bit is the common problem with monasticism, in general: there is a bit of a sense that the life of the Boiler Rooms is authentic Christianity, while other approaches are less so. Anyone who glances at my reading list will know that I'm sympathetic to monasticism, but that sense of spiritual elitism was enough to put me off a bit. Perhaps, though, I'm reacting to the extremely optimistic passages on satisfied prayer requests which, occasionally, made me think of the line from Adrian Plass about a fictional Christian writer, 'Lamp-post' Lunchington (I think) that "the New Testament seems like an early and rathe rpoor rehearsal for Lunchington's life". I suspect my reaction says more about me, but I think I'd like to hear more of the struggle which is inevitable in such a prayer room and face unanswered prayer, which is rather more challenging to my mind.
Anyway, I know this is a bit of a lukewarm review, but perhaps I'm just not getting it.
Read
December 9, 2024I was interested in this book because I wanted to learn more about prayer. This is a kind of handbook on how to start your own "boiler room" (24/7 prayer center) or at least incorporate elements and principles into your own life. It is filled with neat stories and spiritual experiences that the two authors have had as they searched for and experimented with what worked for them in the UK. So it wasn't exactly what I was searching to read but I did like reading it.
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"Community is not community if we regard it merely as a laboratory for our own ideas or as a service provider for all our emotional needs. The picture of the hongi reminds us that community is reciprocal: We breathe together and we dream together, not imposing our ambitions on others, but allowing them to be blended, enhanced, and sometimes painfully subverted. As a result, communities are inevitably messier and and may appear to achieve less than teams focused on a streamlined, single vision." -- The Ancient Art of Breathing, pg 92.
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"Community is not community if we regard it merely as a laboratory for our own ideas or as a service provider for all our emotional needs. The picture of the hongi reminds us that community is reciprocal: We breathe together and we dream together, not imposing our ambitions on others, but allowing them to be blended, enhanced, and sometimes painfully subverted. As a result, communities are inevitably messier and and may appear to achieve less than teams focused on a streamlined, single vision." -- The Ancient Art of Breathing, pg 92.
March 22, 2010
Loved it! Pastor Gary asked the lead team to read this... as we start our new adventure at The Abbey. It's a fresh take on an old way of "doing/being" the church in a culture that needs something different, something not so traditional. Love this quote...“Pray like it all depends on God, and live like it all depends on us.” We need to stop just thinking about sharing our faith and praying for the people we come across but BE the answer to your own prayer by sharing your life with others and sharing Christ's love practically.
March 30, 2012
I loved Red Moon Rising when I read it a couple of years back. A fantastic, inspiring book.
I'm in a different place from where I was when I read Red Moon Rising and read this one as more curiosity than wanting practical application though I found the stories of boiler rooms, helping one's community and caring for all quite inspiring. And didn't make me want to roll my eyes like some other books I have read on related topics.
Passing this one on to my partner's Mum and I have another friend who wants to read this after her.
I'm in a different place from where I was when I read Red Moon Rising and read this one as more curiosity than wanting practical application though I found the stories of boiler rooms, helping one's community and caring for all quite inspiring. And didn't make me want to roll my eyes like some other books I have read on related topics.
Passing this one on to my partner's Mum and I have another friend who wants to read this after her.
May 4, 2008
I really looked forward to this book's release, both for the title and for the contents. I finished it on the plane ride home from a 24-7 mission week. I thought it did a really good job of breaking down the values of the boiler room and in tying together an ancient faith with the modern world.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in new monasticism, new expressions of church or those looking for meaning behind the values of church.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in new monasticism, new expressions of church or those looking for meaning behind the values of church.
April 1, 2012
Okay. I abandoned this book because I got lazy. Also I found that a lot of the authors' theological discoveries and wonderings are kind of old news for me.
But it was nicely written and you can't help but get caught up in their excitement as they embrace an adventure with God and a renewal of their faith.
Well worth the look, particularly for Christians feeling "stale" in their walk of faith.
But it was nicely written and you can't help but get caught up in their excitement as they embrace an adventure with God and a renewal of their faith.
Well worth the look, particularly for Christians feeling "stale" in their walk of faith.
August 25, 2014
This is an excellent book that looks at the New Monastic movement and how the Church can look at other avenues to meet the needs of the community that they inhabit. The thoughts of ancient monasticism are more relevant today with a post-modern society that seeks answers to questions that don't know they need to ask.
January 10, 2022
Another one I've devoured, and now feel I need to re-read slowly to give myself time to digest this wealth of information, ideas and challenges.
Re-read - There is just so much in this book, many challenges and encouragement and exciting stories. Just love it.
Re-read - There is just so much in this book, many challenges and encouragement and exciting stories. Just love it.
Read
April 25, 2010LOVED this book.
February 12, 2011
A refreshing read, with a challenge to be prepared to be both counter cultural and adhere to tradition. Strong emphasis on creativity as a means of worship and rediscovering a prayerful life.
September 2, 2011
Gotta love the Boiler Rooms and their Rhythms if how they do life.
November 13, 2014
This book is wonderful. It inspires you to want to pray more and critically think and journal about the issues and stories brought to life.
August 11, 2015
Boiler Rooms are a wonderful expression of discipleship but this book fails to be as engaging as its object. Punk Monk reads more as propaganda than testimony.
June 20, 2008
Amazing. Inspiring. Deepens my appreciation for my own life in a Boiler Room.
Read
February 20, 2016a good read on different types of prayers
April 23, 2017
The book caught my attention due to a chunk of its subtitle: "the ancient art of breathing". A friend explained that it has nothing to do with physical breath but the gist of it sounded interesting nevertheless, so I decided to give it a go anyway.
Before I continue with the review, a tangent (that happens to take a large slice of the review): One of my biggest complaints when it comes to internet search & social media tends to be that instead of attempting to broaden your perspectives, they very often shrink them. Maybe shrink is a wrong word... they bolster, strengthen, reinforce and therefore intensify the existing ones. No wonder that's the case. The algorithms are simply trying to cater to your needs and wishes as obediently as possible and views conflicting with our own seldom strike us as helpful, let alone at first sight. I wish there were search engines that would provide material from all (major?) existing perspectives, based on their veracity, accuracy, fidelity, quality, whatever. That way, when I would search for articles on global warming, I wouldn't only find the ones corroborating it but also the "good" ones attempting to refute the phenomenon. Sure, this clashes with my opinions - actually, it seems irreconcilable - but I am certain I could only benefit from reading at least a few of them.
This book is a perfect example of such "broadening" search result. On a religious scale, I would place myself somewhere between an agnostic and an atheist. I don't see a single reason why we need a god to be happy, healthy, caring gals and chaps with meaningful lives. As lately, I've really been digging yoga and Buddhism, I am the last person who would claim that our western, scientific approaches explain everything that matters, or suffice to live a full life. But I don't want to live in a certain way because a guy - the chauvinistic, often misogynistic tendencies of the scripture make me want to refuse it way more aggressively than I do - requires me to be that way. It makes so much more sense to arrive at certain conclusions yourself and then follow them. Because they make sense and they work. Not because someone told you so.
Anyway. This was a super interesting read, as it talks about something I had not heard about before. Praying 24-7, building modern monastic communities in the hearts of problematic districts in cities, going on missions and simply offering to pray for people. I love the goals and values: building and caring for community, helping the ones in need, giving a place to live to the ones at the fringes of society. I cringe at every mention of "Jesus tells us so and so". I like how humble it is, how eloquently the ideas are explained but I can't relate to the underlying religious motives. I really enjoyed the brief mentions of Celtic "thin places", New Zealand's welcome traditions and learning about Desert Fathers.
A few times, the authors quote from somewhere: "Live as though it all depends on us, and pray as though it all depends on Him." Every time I read it, what ran through my head was... ' the heck? I love the first part but why the second one!? And if you insist on a second bit, add something like "dream", "meditate", "sleep" or even "love", if you want to be get really heavy and deep. In any case, I don't buy it ever depends on anyone but you.
Before I continue with the review, a tangent (that happens to take a large slice of the review): One of my biggest complaints when it comes to internet search & social media tends to be that instead of attempting to broaden your perspectives, they very often shrink them. Maybe shrink is a wrong word... they bolster, strengthen, reinforce and therefore intensify the existing ones. No wonder that's the case. The algorithms are simply trying to cater to your needs and wishes as obediently as possible and views conflicting with our own seldom strike us as helpful, let alone at first sight. I wish there were search engines that would provide material from all (major?) existing perspectives, based on their veracity, accuracy, fidelity, quality, whatever. That way, when I would search for articles on global warming, I wouldn't only find the ones corroborating it but also the "good" ones attempting to refute the phenomenon. Sure, this clashes with my opinions - actually, it seems irreconcilable - but I am certain I could only benefit from reading at least a few of them.
This book is a perfect example of such "broadening" search result. On a religious scale, I would place myself somewhere between an agnostic and an atheist. I don't see a single reason why we need a god to be happy, healthy, caring gals and chaps with meaningful lives. As lately, I've really been digging yoga and Buddhism, I am the last person who would claim that our western, scientific approaches explain everything that matters, or suffice to live a full life. But I don't want to live in a certain way because a guy - the chauvinistic, often misogynistic tendencies of the scripture make me want to refuse it way more aggressively than I do - requires me to be that way. It makes so much more sense to arrive at certain conclusions yourself and then follow them. Because they make sense and they work. Not because someone told you so.
Anyway. This was a super interesting read, as it talks about something I had not heard about before. Praying 24-7, building modern monastic communities in the hearts of problematic districts in cities, going on missions and simply offering to pray for people. I love the goals and values: building and caring for community, helping the ones in need, giving a place to live to the ones at the fringes of society. I cringe at every mention of "Jesus tells us so and so". I like how humble it is, how eloquently the ideas are explained but I can't relate to the underlying religious motives. I really enjoyed the brief mentions of Celtic "thin places", New Zealand's welcome traditions and learning about Desert Fathers.
A few times, the authors quote from somewhere: "Live as though it all depends on us, and pray as though it all depends on Him." Every time I read it, what ran through my head was... ' the heck? I love the first part but why the second one!? And if you insist on a second bit, add something like "dream", "meditate", "sleep" or even "love", if you want to be get really heavy and deep. In any case, I don't buy it ever depends on anyone but you.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews