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The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love, and Terror in Algeria
"The inspiration for the major motion picture "Of Gods and Men"
A true story of Christian love set against political terrorism in contemporary Algeria.
In the spring of 1996, militants of the Armed Islamic Group, today affiliated with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, broke into a Trappist monastery in war-torn Algeria. Seven monks were taken hostage, pawns in a murky negotiation to free imprisoned terrorists. Two months later, the severed heads of the monks were found in a tree not far from Tibhirine; their bodies were never recovered.
The village of Tibhirine had sprung up around the monastery because it was a holy place, protected by the Virgin Mary, who is revered by Christians and Muslims alike. But after 1993, as the Algerian military government's war against Islamic terrorism widened, napalm, helicopters, and gunfire became regular accompaniments to their monastic routine.
The harmony between these Christian monks and the Muslim neighbors of Tibhirine contrasts with the fear and distrust among Algerians fighting over power and what it means to be a Muslim. Woven into the story of the kidnapping and the political disintegration of Algeria is a classic account of Christian martyrdom. But these monks were not martyrs to their faith, as preaching Christianity to Muslims is forbidden in Algeria, but rather martyrs to their love of their Muslim neighbors, whom they refuse to desert in their hour of need.
A true story of Christian love set against political terrorism in contemporary Algeria.
In the spring of 1996, militants of the Armed Islamic Group, today affiliated with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, broke into a Trappist monastery in war-torn Algeria. Seven monks were taken hostage, pawns in a murky negotiation to free imprisoned terrorists. Two months later, the severed heads of the monks were found in a tree not far from Tibhirine; their bodies were never recovered.
The village of Tibhirine had sprung up around the monastery because it was a holy place, protected by the Virgin Mary, who is revered by Christians and Muslims alike. But after 1993, as the Algerian military government's war against Islamic terrorism widened, napalm, helicopters, and gunfire became regular accompaniments to their monastic routine.
The harmony between these Christian monks and the Muslim neighbors of Tibhirine contrasts with the fear and distrust among Algerians fighting over power and what it means to be a Muslim. Woven into the story of the kidnapping and the political disintegration of Algeria is a classic account of Christian martyrdom. But these monks were not martyrs to their faith, as preaching Christianity to Muslims is forbidden in Algeria, but rather martyrs to their love of their Muslim neighbors, whom they refuse to desert in their hour of need.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
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July 24, 2011
Reading The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love, and Terror in Algeria by John Kiser can’t help but touch – and maybe even change – your heart.
It is the story of the seven French Trappist monks kidnapped in Algeria in March 1996 by unknown terrorists and eventually executed. Their bodies were never recovered. Only their heads lie buried at their monastery—mute testimony to their last hours.
And yet, this book is appropriately named as a book about “Faith” and “Love” which came before, and was stronger, and more enduring than the brief moments of terror which claimed the monk’s mortal lives but not their immortal souls.
Also, considering the present climate of terror in the Middle East where a few Islamic extremists are being driven to acts of terror against Christians—infidels—in the name of the Koran, or some other misguided effort to be ‘holy’, such a book takes on an almost mythic, prophetic quality. It needs to be read.
The monks who died—Christian, Luc, Michel, Christophe, Paul, Bruno, Célestin—along with the two (Amedée and Jean-Paul) who escaped the notice of their captors on the fateful night had continued to live at Tibhirine not out of some self-deluded desire to become pointless martyrs, but because they knew their presence in Algeria made a difference.
French-Algerian relations were anything but simple or peaceful even before 1996. They dated back to 19th century French colonialism and included a bitter struggle for independence from 1954 to 1962. This war for decolonization established guerrilla warfare, maquis (bush) fighting, terrorism against civilians, the use of torture on both sides, and counter-terrorism operations by the Army/government in such a way as to leave its mark on this country.
As Kiser describes in “The Monks of Tibhirine” and many today will be surprised to learn, the general Algerian population of the late 1980s found the killing of innocent Christians, especially professed religious priests and nuns particularly offensive. Dozens of imams (Islamic religious leaders) and countless innocent Algerian citizens were also assassinated, either for denouncing the terrorists or just because they happened to get in the way.
Not being familiar with French-Algerian relations or history, I found myself struggling to sort out the different groups. But one thing comes across very clear, there is great honor among the Algerian people and there was a profound and deep relationship between the monks and the local people among whom they lived.
The Cistercian monastery at Tibhirine dated back to 1938. The monks were not there to evangelize in any conventional sense of the word, i.e., they were not trying to ‘convert’ the locals to Christianity. They were only there to pray and work; part of that work was their service to their neighbors. One of the monks, an elderly monk named Luc, was a trained medic who saw upwards of 100 patients most days.
Reading this book was a moving experience for me. It reawakened me to “The Brotherhood of Mankind” and reminded me that under the Third Reich, all Germans weren’t Nazis, in the American ante-bellum South, all whites weren’t vicious slaveholders and all those who follow the teachings of the Koran are not terrorists.
I also highly recommend watching the movie, Of God’s and Men, which was inspired by the book. Now I want to read Kiser's other book, Commander of the Faithful.
It is the story of the seven French Trappist monks kidnapped in Algeria in March 1996 by unknown terrorists and eventually executed. Their bodies were never recovered. Only their heads lie buried at their monastery—mute testimony to their last hours.
And yet, this book is appropriately named as a book about “Faith” and “Love” which came before, and was stronger, and more enduring than the brief moments of terror which claimed the monk’s mortal lives but not their immortal souls.
Also, considering the present climate of terror in the Middle East where a few Islamic extremists are being driven to acts of terror against Christians—infidels—in the name of the Koran, or some other misguided effort to be ‘holy’, such a book takes on an almost mythic, prophetic quality. It needs to be read.
The monks who died—Christian, Luc, Michel, Christophe, Paul, Bruno, Célestin—along with the two (Amedée and Jean-Paul) who escaped the notice of their captors on the fateful night had continued to live at Tibhirine not out of some self-deluded desire to become pointless martyrs, but because they knew their presence in Algeria made a difference.
French-Algerian relations were anything but simple or peaceful even before 1996. They dated back to 19th century French colonialism and included a bitter struggle for independence from 1954 to 1962. This war for decolonization established guerrilla warfare, maquis (bush) fighting, terrorism against civilians, the use of torture on both sides, and counter-terrorism operations by the Army/government in such a way as to leave its mark on this country.
As Kiser describes in “The Monks of Tibhirine” and many today will be surprised to learn, the general Algerian population of the late 1980s found the killing of innocent Christians, especially professed religious priests and nuns particularly offensive. Dozens of imams (Islamic religious leaders) and countless innocent Algerian citizens were also assassinated, either for denouncing the terrorists or just because they happened to get in the way.
Not being familiar with French-Algerian relations or history, I found myself struggling to sort out the different groups. But one thing comes across very clear, there is great honor among the Algerian people and there was a profound and deep relationship between the monks and the local people among whom they lived.
The Cistercian monastery at Tibhirine dated back to 1938. The monks were not there to evangelize in any conventional sense of the word, i.e., they were not trying to ‘convert’ the locals to Christianity. They were only there to pray and work; part of that work was their service to their neighbors. One of the monks, an elderly monk named Luc, was a trained medic who saw upwards of 100 patients most days.
Reading this book was a moving experience for me. It reawakened me to “The Brotherhood of Mankind” and reminded me that under the Third Reich, all Germans weren’t Nazis, in the American ante-bellum South, all whites weren’t vicious slaveholders and all those who follow the teachings of the Koran are not terrorists.
I also highly recommend watching the movie, Of God’s and Men, which was inspired by the book. Now I want to read Kiser's other book, Commander of the Faithful.
November 23, 2015
I read this book after the recent Paris attacks. Kiser describes not only this Algerian Trappist community, but also provides a succinct background on Algerian history, ranging from its troubled relationship with France to civil strife in the 1980's and 1990's. Although the events of this book take place primarily in the 1980's and 1990's, this book is still timely because it delves into why so many Algerian youths were drawn to jihadist thinking. I found particularly moving Kiser's description of the community's superior, Christian, who embraced peace and love despite recognizing very real dangers posed by Islamist rebels. The book is a tragic but welcome antidote to today's political commentary, which pitches today's current events into an "us versus them" mentality.
July 1, 2016
Deeply hurtful book about a group of Trappist monks in a famous monastery in the mountains in Algeria, a Christian enclave in an overwhelmingly Muslim nation who cared for the people in their community and were greatly beloved, only to be swallowed up in the madness of Algeria's war against Islamist terrorists in the 1990s. Interesting back story of France's colonization of Algeria from 1830 until 1962, and the portrayal of a sensitive young French officer whose life is saved by a Muslim in the late 1950s and goes on to become a monk in the 1970s. The monastery community was small but their faith was large and stayed true throughout the "terror" of the 1990s.
April 26, 2016
Fascinating book on the kidnapping and murder of 7 Trappist monks in Algeria in 1996 by a terrorist group, the GIA. This group wanted all foreigners to leave Algeria; the monks felt their calling was among Muslims, not for converting them, but for dialogue and living among them, to point up the similarities between Islam and Christianity. Twice a year the monks would have what they called a "Ribat-es-Salaam" [Bond of Peace]: a Muslim-Christian dialogue. Prior Christian's life had been saved by a Muslim and after that, seeing the piety of the common people, he felt there was much in common between the two faiths.
An extensive, turgid section covered the social and political history of Algeria. The book explained how different radical groups arose and why people felt attracted to their ideology and terrorism. I enjoyed reading about founding of the Community, the lives of the monks, why they felt the call to be there so far from home, and also about Emir Abdelkader, an Algerian statesman, warrior and religious leader; the author uses the analogy of a cross between George Washington and Khalil Gibran. There's even a small town in the U.S. named after him: Elkader, Iowa. The prior's sermon on p. 218-220 is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read--the "five pillars that must be practiced each day to have peace": Patience, poverty; presence of God; ridding oneself of hatred in one's heart; prayer, and forgiveness. Forgiveness [ar-Rahman] is the first name of God among the 99 Names, and the last is Patience [Es Sabur].
An extensive, turgid section covered the social and political history of Algeria. The book explained how different radical groups arose and why people felt attracted to their ideology and terrorism. I enjoyed reading about founding of the Community, the lives of the monks, why they felt the call to be there so far from home, and also about Emir Abdelkader, an Algerian statesman, warrior and religious leader; the author uses the analogy of a cross between George Washington and Khalil Gibran. There's even a small town in the U.S. named after him: Elkader, Iowa. The prior's sermon on p. 218-220 is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read--the "five pillars that must be practiced each day to have peace": Patience, poverty; presence of God; ridding oneself of hatred in one's heart; prayer, and forgiveness. Forgiveness [ar-Rahman] is the first name of God among the 99 Names, and the last is Patience [Es Sabur].
February 6, 2012
This book raises so many questions for me. Questions of rhythm, faithfulness over the long haul, community without sentiment, the Lordship of Jesus at the heart of the gospel and the life of Jesus as the heart of the gospel, what interfaith dialogue requires, and more.
The movie 'Of Gods and Men', based on this event, is a worship experience led by the singing of the psalms and hymns that reflected the theological and personal examination of costly discipleship. The book is a different experience altogether, but has also led to worship and wrestling. As I work my way through this book, slowly, I wish I was reading it with someone else, to be informed/reformed in the process.
I'm also reading Lauren Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath at the same time. Very good for me to have her as a practical conversation partner, with some of these same questions in mind.
The movie 'Of Gods and Men', based on this event, is a worship experience led by the singing of the psalms and hymns that reflected the theological and personal examination of costly discipleship. The book is a different experience altogether, but has also led to worship and wrestling. As I work my way through this book, slowly, I wish I was reading it with someone else, to be informed/reformed in the process.
I'm also reading Lauren Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath at the same time. Very good for me to have her as a practical conversation partner, with some of these same questions in mind.
November 23, 2011
The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love, and Terror in Algeria This book is the basis for the movie Of Gods and Men. I finished it a few months ago and I am experimenting with goodreads (anyone else try this?). Anyway, in this book, compared to the movie, you learn a lot more about the political situation in Algeria and about the changing role of the Church post-Vatican II. If you saw the movie - you should read the book!
September 20, 2025
“And to you, too, my friend of the last moment, who will not know what you are doing. Yes, for
you, too, I wish this thank-you, this "A-Dieu", whose image is in you also, that we may meet in
heaven, like happy thieves, if it pleases God, our common Father. Amen! Inshallah!”
Algiers, 1st December 1993
Tibhirine, 1st January 1994
Christian +
you, too, I wish this thank-you, this "A-Dieu", whose image is in you also, that we may meet in
heaven, like happy thieves, if it pleases God, our common Father. Amen! Inshallah!”
Algiers, 1st December 1993
Tibhirine, 1st January 1994
Christian +
March 8, 2012
I read this book after watching the movie "Of Gods and Men" because I wanted to find out more about the story of the monks of Tibhirine. The book is very well researched but the author allows this to get in the way of the story. Kiser intertwines a deep dive into the political situation in Algeria with the story of the monks, but the two do not go well together. Kiser's awkward transitions don't make it any easier to keep track of things as he jumps between the history of the many Algerian political and religious groups and descriptions of everyday life at the monastery. Even the chapter describing the monks kidnapping by terrorists is dry and newspaperish. Maybe my expectations were set too high by the power of the film, but I can't help but say in this case the movie is better.
That being said, the story of the monks is truly remarkable and I only wish more of my Christian brothers and sisters would come to share the monks understanding of how to live out Jesus' teachings.
Read this book:
To get a much rounder picture of who the monks of Tibhirine were than what is presented in the film
To find a wealth of insightful excerpts from the monks thoughts and writings
To get an understanding of Algerian history and politics
Don't read this book:
Expecting a gripping novel-like story (despite what the blurb on the back says)
That being said, the story of the monks is truly remarkable and I only wish more of my Christian brothers and sisters would come to share the monks understanding of how to live out Jesus' teachings.
Read this book:
To get a much rounder picture of who the monks of Tibhirine were than what is presented in the film
To find a wealth of insightful excerpts from the monks thoughts and writings
To get an understanding of Algerian history and politics
Don't read this book:
Expecting a gripping novel-like story (despite what the blurb on the back says)
January 30, 2020
As with a good number of reviewers of this book, I first heard of this work because of the French film "Gods and Men," which I viewed last year during seminary for my Theology of Church course. Watching the film was world-changing, and this book is just as thought provoking. It's not an easy read; it's not a book you can just pick up and read cover-to-cover in one sitting. It's not particularly long (less than 400 pages, even with appendices), but it is dense and the research, history, and ideas presented are ones you have to mentally chew on.
Walking away from this story, I felt like I not only better understood the history of Algeria (which I knew almost nothing about previously), but also their changing understanding of who they are were/are as a country in the days post-colonialism and how those changes affected the perceived identities of the Trappist monks in Tibhirine.
When I studied the film in seminary, it was to discuss how the Church defines itself within community and among its own members. I dearly wish that the book had been required reading as well because I feel it gives me a concrete answer to that driving question than even the film does. When these monks died, they didn't die as martyrs for the faith; they died as 7 among thousands of Algerians. When the Trappist monks spoke of "their" community, they weren't referring to life in the monastery; they were talking about the entirety of Algeria. For the monks, there was no community separate from their Muslim brothers and sisters. Even though this tragic event happened almost 25 years ago, the message of the brothers to the Christian community is still relevant and still needs to be told as much as often as it can.
Like I said before, it's not a simple read. There's a lot of names, both French and Arab, and a lot of acronyms to keep separate. Thankfully, there is a nice glossary at the back that you can turn to remember the different Catholic and Islamic terminology, as well as some of the more common French and Algerian acronyms. There is also a list of important people and short biopics about each of them, and a brief time line of events. Just make sure that, whenever you read it, you give yourself a few days so that you absorb and think about what you read before you continue on to the next major section.
Walking away from this story, I felt like I not only better understood the history of Algeria (which I knew almost nothing about previously), but also their changing understanding of who they are were/are as a country in the days post-colonialism and how those changes affected the perceived identities of the Trappist monks in Tibhirine.
When I studied the film in seminary, it was to discuss how the Church defines itself within community and among its own members. I dearly wish that the book had been required reading as well because I feel it gives me a concrete answer to that driving question than even the film does. When these monks died, they didn't die as martyrs for the faith; they died as 7 among thousands of Algerians. When the Trappist monks spoke of "their" community, they weren't referring to life in the monastery; they were talking about the entirety of Algeria. For the monks, there was no community separate from their Muslim brothers and sisters. Even though this tragic event happened almost 25 years ago, the message of the brothers to the Christian community is still relevant and still needs to be told as much as often as it can.
Like I said before, it's not a simple read. There's a lot of names, both French and Arab, and a lot of acronyms to keep separate. Thankfully, there is a nice glossary at the back that you can turn to remember the different Catholic and Islamic terminology, as well as some of the more common French and Algerian acronyms. There is also a list of important people and short biopics about each of them, and a brief time line of events. Just make sure that, whenever you read it, you give yourself a few days so that you absorb and think about what you read before you continue on to the next major section.
April 3, 2022
This was a good book but it could have been better. It is really two, related books sitting somewhat uneasily between the same covers. The first is the story of Algeria, its struggle against French colonialism and its descent into bloody civil war by the early 1990s. The second is the story of the group of deeply compassionate Trappist monks of Tibhirine whose kidnapping and murder by terrorists in 1996 generated international outrage.
The two stories are told with real skill and the author demonstrates deep knowledge of a wide range of political and religious subjects. But while the stories are obviously related, they are not effectively integrated and the vast details of the first story tends to overwhelm the second. The reader can easily become bogged down trying to follow the complex, shifting divisions in Algeria’s warring factions and lose sight of the monks. A better strategy might have been to place more sustained focus on the community near the monastery and to explore the extraordinary ties that sprung up between the monks and the local people in more depth.
The story of the monks of Tibhirine is inspiring in countless ways and this book is a good start in attempting to understand it and convey it to a wide audience. I only hope that there will be other and perhaps better works on the topic to come.
The two stories are told with real skill and the author demonstrates deep knowledge of a wide range of political and religious subjects. But while the stories are obviously related, they are not effectively integrated and the vast details of the first story tends to overwhelm the second. The reader can easily become bogged down trying to follow the complex, shifting divisions in Algeria’s warring factions and lose sight of the monks. A better strategy might have been to place more sustained focus on the community near the monastery and to explore the extraordinary ties that sprung up between the monks and the local people in more depth.
The story of the monks of Tibhirine is inspiring in countless ways and this book is a good start in attempting to understand it and convey it to a wide audience. I only hope that there will be other and perhaps better works on the topic to come.
February 26, 2019
As I have grown deeper in my faith, it has become increasingly clear to me how the stories of martyrs so closely resemble the passion of our Lord. Kiser tells the story of the monks of Tibhirine, aliens in a foreign land, beautifully. From the a mere glance, there can't possibly be any beauty in story drowning in blood and violence, of families destroyed, sons and daughters tortured, and too much orphans. How could find anything worthwhile in a tale about the unjust legacy of colonization and its bitter fruits of terrorism and authoritarianism? But that is exactly what the Gospel is all about, and that is was is seen through the lives of these monks. It is the Gospel of solidarity, of charity, and of love in the face of the deepest pits of human evil, and it is that Gospel that is so worth dying for.
February 6, 2019
What a great book! I've seen the movie "Of Gods and Men", but this book filled in so many holes, and planted a veritable forest of context to the movie. I still very much like the movie, but I am so much more edified having read the details (historical, theological, political, cultural) provided in this book. At times the author takes a sweeping side story to explain an important character, but in general he is good about bringing it back to the main line of inquiry. Born and raised in Texas, I am just about as clueless about Algeria as they come, so I took my time to externally research names, places and events mentioned by the author.
All in all, this was a very rewarding read.
All in all, this was a very rewarding read.
December 19, 2021
I read this book after having seen the movie "Of Gods and men" which focuses on the same subject. The book is a more academic and historically situated consideration of the monks death. While the author does not call the martyrs for the faith, I would do so. Yet at the same time, the author helps situate the larger history of colonization and the history of Algeria into these events. This is a worth while book for anyone who wants to know a bit more about this specific event of history.
January 28, 2024
The title contains all that I found in this book: faith, love and terror in Algeria. Faith and love shine even brighter through terror.
I loved this book, I loved the story and I am thankful to the author for the thorough research and great narrations.
It talks to the deepest side of the reader, about the deepest side of humanity. Both the heroic and the miserable.
GREAT read...
I loved this book, I loved the story and I am thankful to the author for the thorough research and great narrations.
It talks to the deepest side of the reader, about the deepest side of humanity. Both the heroic and the miserable.
GREAT read...
October 19, 2019
I believe there is a good story here
Unfortunately I just couldn't get into the story. I wanted to like it but it just wasn't written in a way that engaged me and kept me reading. I gave up.
Unfortunately I just couldn't get into the story. I wanted to like it but it just wasn't written in a way that engaged me and kept me reading. I gave up.
August 1, 2018
A difficult read
Thé book. had far more détails than were needed. One hundred pages could have been eliminated and thé story could still gave been told.
Thé book. had far more détails than were needed. One hundred pages could have been eliminated and thé story could still gave been told.
August 3, 2023
6.5/10
April 3, 2020
I had seen the film "Of Gods and Men" about the murder in 1996 of seven monks in Algeria, and wanted to know more about their inspiring story of dedication and courage. I found this here - as well as a lot of information about the political situation and terrorist movements in Algeria - which, I must admit, I tended to skip over.
June 7, 2020
Ever since I saw the movie Of Gods and Men, I have been very taken with the story of the seven Trappist monks who were kidnapped, then killed, in Algeria. The movie gave an inside look at their process of community discernment - deciding whether to stay or go as the level of violence, particularly against Catholics, escalated - juxtaposed with scenes of their chanting the psalms of the DIvine Office.
The book How Far to Follow?: The Martyrs of Atlas, which I was immersed in last fall, was valuable for its extensive quotes from writings of two of the monks, the prior Christian de Cherge (whose magnificent testament, in which he refers to his unknown future killer as his "brother," is inspiring and extraordinarily challenging) and Cristophe. Thus it plunges the reader into the monks' commitment to follow Christ, to imitate Him ever more closely and to enter into His dying/rising. As a Christian, I found it one of the most challenging books I have ever read.
I think I should have read this book first. Although it does give insight into the character of each of the monks (the seven as well as the two who survived) it is more of a factual recounting of events, and less a meditation on their meaning. Even so, it drew me in completely and provided a better context for the monks' lives. I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about these remarkable men.
I must note a couple of weaknesses in the book. It was not organized particularly well. The story of the monks is told more or less chronologically, but it is interspersed with a history of Algeria from the coming of the French till about 2001. The transitions from one narrative to the other can be a bit jarring, the political machinations become a bit hard to follow, and the author's decision to end the book with a long section on an early 20th century Algerian patriot, mystic and hero was puzzling, to say the least. It seemed as if the author realized he had failed to write about him earlier and decided to add him in there. [NB: In my second read, I appreciated this section a bit more.]
The author helpfully includes a glossary of monastic, Algerian and Islamic terms which is very helpful. He also has a "Dramatis Personae" section which gives brief accounts of the lives of the monks of the Tibhirine community and certain Algerian political figures. But the book refers to multiple Algerian leaders and the basis for the author's selection of these few is unclear. It would have helped me immensely to have brief identifications of many persons, political leaders, terrorist leaders, religious figures or associates of the monks, who pop in and out of the story.
That said, the author did a wonderful job of putting the monks' story in context. Many mysteries remain regarding the final two months of their lives; but it is the years that preceded them that are truly the heart and soul of their story.
The book How Far to Follow?: The Martyrs of Atlas, which I was immersed in last fall, was valuable for its extensive quotes from writings of two of the monks, the prior Christian de Cherge (whose magnificent testament, in which he refers to his unknown future killer as his "brother," is inspiring and extraordinarily challenging) and Cristophe. Thus it plunges the reader into the monks' commitment to follow Christ, to imitate Him ever more closely and to enter into His dying/rising. As a Christian, I found it one of the most challenging books I have ever read.
I think I should have read this book first. Although it does give insight into the character of each of the monks (the seven as well as the two who survived) it is more of a factual recounting of events, and less a meditation on their meaning. Even so, it drew me in completely and provided a better context for the monks' lives. I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about these remarkable men.
I must note a couple of weaknesses in the book. It was not organized particularly well. The story of the monks is told more or less chronologically, but it is interspersed with a history of Algeria from the coming of the French till about 2001. The transitions from one narrative to the other can be a bit jarring, the political machinations become a bit hard to follow, and the author's decision to end the book with a long section on an early 20th century Algerian patriot, mystic and hero was puzzling, to say the least. It seemed as if the author realized he had failed to write about him earlier and decided to add him in there. [NB: In my second read, I appreciated this section a bit more.]
The author helpfully includes a glossary of monastic, Algerian and Islamic terms which is very helpful. He also has a "Dramatis Personae" section which gives brief accounts of the lives of the monks of the Tibhirine community and certain Algerian political figures. But the book refers to multiple Algerian leaders and the basis for the author's selection of these few is unclear. It would have helped me immensely to have brief identifications of many persons, political leaders, terrorist leaders, religious figures or associates of the monks, who pop in and out of the story.
That said, the author did a wonderful job of putting the monks' story in context. Many mysteries remain regarding the final two months of their lives; but it is the years that preceded them that are truly the heart and soul of their story.
May 7, 2011
We picked this book to read for April for the St. Anastasia Book Club mostly because I had just seen the movie "Of Gods and Men," which was excellent. The book is great for giving additional information to support the movie. It spends a lot of time speaking of the political atmosphere in Algeria, of the various factions and of the religious aspect to the conflict. This made for some dry reading, but it was useful, if you were looking for a comprehensive understanding of the situation the monks were in.
Personally, I wasn't as interested in that part so much as the lives of the monks themselves. While the majority of the attention seemed to be on Christian, the elected prior, each of the monks was revealed in the book. By the end, you really knew them: their personalities, likes, struggles, and a little bit of what Tibhirine and the Islamic community around them meant to them.
Throughout the book were passages which are worthy of copying down and praying with. The lives of these monks teach us so much about community, love, living the faith, dealing with people with different viewpoints with love, and courage.
The book was well-written in that it showed these men as real people: not paragons of virtue, but men with strengths and faults. I think it is precisely in the accurateness of their presentation that we can come to identify with them and learn from them. They did not present an unattainable ideal, but a very human response to the world around them. An excerpt written by Paul, one of the monks, states this beautifully, "A monk is simply a sinner who joins a community of sinners who are confident in God's mercy and who strive to recognize their weaknesses in the presence of their brothers."
Personally, I wasn't as interested in that part so much as the lives of the monks themselves. While the majority of the attention seemed to be on Christian, the elected prior, each of the monks was revealed in the book. By the end, you really knew them: their personalities, likes, struggles, and a little bit of what Tibhirine and the Islamic community around them meant to them.
Throughout the book were passages which are worthy of copying down and praying with. The lives of these monks teach us so much about community, love, living the faith, dealing with people with different viewpoints with love, and courage.
The book was well-written in that it showed these men as real people: not paragons of virtue, but men with strengths and faults. I think it is precisely in the accurateness of their presentation that we can come to identify with them and learn from them. They did not present an unattainable ideal, but a very human response to the world around them. An excerpt written by Paul, one of the monks, states this beautifully, "A monk is simply a sinner who joins a community of sinners who are confident in God's mercy and who strive to recognize their weaknesses in the presence of their brothers."
May 8, 2012
Dalam satu wawancara Kiser, menawarkan sebuah jawab: kisah para padri "sebuah kisah cinta". Kata "cinta", love, dalam bahasa bahasa Indonesia bisa berarti "kasih", dan agaknya itulah kaitan dan getar hati yang dalam yang membuat kesembilan rahib tak pergi dari Tibhirine.
Barangkali ini kisah cinta yang paling dalam dan mencemaskan, dimulai dengan tujuh kepala manusia yang ditemukan di tepi jalan di dekat Medea, Aljazair, 90 kilometer dari ibu kota. Di antaranya dibungkus plastik dan tergantung di pohon-pohon. Akhir Mei 1996.
Dua bulan sebelumnya, lewat tengah malam, sekitar 20 orang bersenjata memasuki Notre Dame de l'Atlas, sebuah biara Trappis. Mereka bangunkan penghuninya, lalu dengan paksa mereka angkut orang-orang tua itu dalam sebuah konvoi mobil yang segera pergi. Dari sembilan biarawan, hanya dua yang luput.
Kemudian diketahui, para rahib warga negara Prancis itu diculik "Grup Islam Bersenjata" sebagai sandera. Grup itu menuntut agar pemimpin mereka yang ditangkap pasukan pemerintah Aljazair dibebaskan. Kalau tidak, para sandera akan mati.
Dan rupanya tak ada perundingan. Ketujuh biarawan itu pun disembelih, 21 Mei 1996.
Perang akhirnya juga memusnahkan para rahib Trappis di Tibhirine yang khusyuk berdoa, rajin bertani, dan rukun bertetangga itu: Perang Saudara Aljazair sejak 1991, ketika kaum "Islamis" melawan pemerintah yang menindas mereka dengan gerilya yang garang dan ganas. Kebrutalan kedua pihak akhirnya menjalar; grup-grup "Islamis" itu sendiri malah baku bunuh. Pembantaian kian sering. Sampai dengan tahun 2000, 150 ribu orang tewas.
Mengapa, dalam ketakutan, para rohaniwan itu tak mau meninggalkan bukit itu, bahkan menolak perlindungan pasukan pemerintah?
Tujuh tahun kemudian diterbitkan buku karya John Kiser!(Goenawan Mohamad, Caping, 2012).
Barangkali ini kisah cinta yang paling dalam dan mencemaskan, dimulai dengan tujuh kepala manusia yang ditemukan di tepi jalan di dekat Medea, Aljazair, 90 kilometer dari ibu kota. Di antaranya dibungkus plastik dan tergantung di pohon-pohon. Akhir Mei 1996.
Dua bulan sebelumnya, lewat tengah malam, sekitar 20 orang bersenjata memasuki Notre Dame de l'Atlas, sebuah biara Trappis. Mereka bangunkan penghuninya, lalu dengan paksa mereka angkut orang-orang tua itu dalam sebuah konvoi mobil yang segera pergi. Dari sembilan biarawan, hanya dua yang luput.
Kemudian diketahui, para rahib warga negara Prancis itu diculik "Grup Islam Bersenjata" sebagai sandera. Grup itu menuntut agar pemimpin mereka yang ditangkap pasukan pemerintah Aljazair dibebaskan. Kalau tidak, para sandera akan mati.
Dan rupanya tak ada perundingan. Ketujuh biarawan itu pun disembelih, 21 Mei 1996.
Perang akhirnya juga memusnahkan para rahib Trappis di Tibhirine yang khusyuk berdoa, rajin bertani, dan rukun bertetangga itu: Perang Saudara Aljazair sejak 1991, ketika kaum "Islamis" melawan pemerintah yang menindas mereka dengan gerilya yang garang dan ganas. Kebrutalan kedua pihak akhirnya menjalar; grup-grup "Islamis" itu sendiri malah baku bunuh. Pembantaian kian sering. Sampai dengan tahun 2000, 150 ribu orang tewas.
Mengapa, dalam ketakutan, para rohaniwan itu tak mau meninggalkan bukit itu, bahkan menolak perlindungan pasukan pemerintah?
Tujuh tahun kemudian diterbitkan buku karya John Kiser!(Goenawan Mohamad, Caping, 2012).
March 7, 2008
A thorough and thoughtful narrative of a community of Trappist monks in Algeria who were massacred by radical Islamic terrorists. How can Christians and Muslims exist peaceably side by side? We must make genuine efforts to simply be respectful first of all, and gradually try to understand one another while correcting misunderstandings. Each of the monks' characters is well-developed, and each had a real sense of the importance of their work in that place, despite the dangers. Some of the religious and spiritual ideas presented truly challenged me, and enhanced my understanding of Islam. Some modern Algerian history is presented here, as well as a glimpse into the roots of Islamic terrorism, and the fear that surrounds it among religious orders in the Muslim world and even in communities of ordinary people. The book contains an excellent glossary, some useful footnotes, and a timeline.
"Without a belief in God's presence in all his creatures, no matter how dim the spark might seem, men lose their humanity. They become mere labels, and abstractions, which are easier to kill -- Arab, European, Muslim, Christian, terrorist, racist, facist, and beast... If you love only those who love you, what have you accomplished?"
"Without a belief in God's presence in all his creatures, no matter how dim the spark might seem, men lose their humanity. They become mere labels, and abstractions, which are easier to kill -- Arab, European, Muslim, Christian, terrorist, racist, facist, and beast... If you love only those who love you, what have you accomplished?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2013
In writing about Argo, I said it was probably not the best idea to read a book after seeing the film derived from it, but in the case of Kiser's The Monks of Tibhirine, the film (Of Gods and Men) gave me a basis for Kiser's intriguing and distressing telling of the events. The book is a stunning work of journalistic investigation where the final piece of the ending will likely never be known. The story of the monks and their ultimate fate is entangled with the decision of the late 1970's secular but still Islamic government and military of Algeria to cancel the results of a national democratic election that was about to bring to power an avowed Islamist party. The resulting civil war racked the country for several decades and it was within that context that the monks of the title attempted to continue their way of living intertwined with their Muslim neighbors. As with the subsequent film (which is not based on Kiser's book), the focus is less on the fate of the monks, but on why they each elected to remain in Algeria despite the clear and growing dangers to them from both the army and Islamist terror groups.
December 1, 2011
Loved: The story of Christian and the other monks. I wish the author had focused primarily on these exemplary men. It seems they were all prolific writers of personal correspondence and journals and I would have loved to get to know each of them better via these mediums. Perhaps the author did not have access...
Didn't like so much: The in depth historical information. Algerian history is very complicated, especially the period this book covered. While knowing some of this history was vital to the overall story I believe the author focused far too much on it. One thing that would have improved this was an appendix in the back outlining the different political groups and parties. I had a hard time keeping the FLN, FIS, AIS etc. straight...
There were parts of this book that I feel every American should read, especially American journalists. The parts that focused on Islam as a way of life, and some of the basic thinking of Muslims and on how the fundamentalism as led to the monks' deaths occurs.
Didn't like so much: The in depth historical information. Algerian history is very complicated, especially the period this book covered. While knowing some of this history was vital to the overall story I believe the author focused far too much on it. One thing that would have improved this was an appendix in the back outlining the different political groups and parties. I had a hard time keeping the FLN, FIS, AIS etc. straight...
There were parts of this book that I feel every American should read, especially American journalists. The parts that focused on Islam as a way of life, and some of the basic thinking of Muslims and on how the fundamentalism as led to the monks' deaths occurs.
October 31, 2011
If you saw the French film "Of Gods and Men" and are curious about the life and death of the seven kidnapped French monks in Algeria, this is the book. Regardless, it's an excellent in-depth look at the Cistercian or Trappist order, a historical/political overview of Algeria during and post-French colonial rule, and an altogether fascinating read on spirituality, the faith and love of these committed monks of their Muslim neighbors, and it is deeply engaging and beautifully constructed. The political power struggles are presented in perhaps excruciating detail. The writer is a serious journalist and historian - you may feel like you get a lot more than you bargained for when you embark on this book. A good thing. More of us here in the Western world, with our very limited understanding of Islam, should read serious works like John Kiser's The Monks of Tibhirine. Peace. Yes, that. But let's not forget love.
March 20, 2012
Last year, I saw the outstanding French film "Of Gods and Men." It was the story of the 1996 kidnapping and murder of seven Trappist monks in Algeria. I thought this film was one of the best movies I had seen in a long time and it prompted me to purchase and read this book, upon which the movie was based. I really liked the book but the book and movie were very different. The movie focused almost exclusively on the monks and the process they went through when deciding to stay in Algeria despite the serious threat they faced. This book takes a much broader look at the situation in Algeria, including the history of French colonialism, the role of the small Christian community there, and the different varieties of Islam present in the country. I think it does this in a pretty balanced way.
I liked the book very much but I liked the film even better. I'd recommend either to anyone with an interest in history, theology, or the politics of North Africa.
I liked the book very much but I liked the film even better. I'd recommend either to anyone with an interest in history, theology, or the politics of North Africa.
December 30, 2013
The tale of the monks of Tibhirine is moving, beautiful, and quite sad. The core of the story is how the monks bravely remain in Algeria despite an all out war against foreigners by a despotic right wing fundamental religious group. You know from the beginning that the monks will loose their lives in this struggle.
What remains with the reader afterwards is the individual transformation that each monk seems to go through in sacrificing their own needs in order to live for love, for their community, and for God.
Much of the book is the political history of Algeria and at times is overly dry. However the biographical details of the monks and their community was absolutely worth the wait.
This is the type of book that transcends religious differences and gives an insight into that which unifies all religion.
What remains with the reader afterwards is the individual transformation that each monk seems to go through in sacrificing their own needs in order to live for love, for their community, and for God.
Much of the book is the political history of Algeria and at times is overly dry. However the biographical details of the monks and their community was absolutely worth the wait.
This is the type of book that transcends religious differences and gives an insight into that which unifies all religion.
March 4, 2008
This book is apparently intended to be a novelistically-written exploration of the causes and meditation on the meaning of the slaughter by terrorists of this group of monks during Algeria's civil war. In actuality, however, it manages the difficult feat of being simultaneously confusing, boring, and shallow - ultimately highly unsatisfying. I give it more than a star because the author clearly did a lot of research on this and because I learned a few things. I also feel a little bad because I was reading it side by side with Piper's book on missions, and it would have been difficult for a book written on such a subject from this worldview to feel anything but shallow and trivial in comparison.
July 14, 2011
This book was a very detailed account and was made into the movie "Of Gods and Men." The movie was an excellent depiction of the lives of these monks who lived in Algeria among the local Muslims. An inspiring story. It has a lot of background information about the history and political climate of the region which made it a difficult read in the first half as my knowledge of the area and culture is so limited.
I was glad I saw the movie before reading the book as it helped me to understand what happened. Usually I prefer to read a book first as they are most often better than the movie adaption.
I was glad I saw the movie before reading the book as it helped me to understand what happened. Usually I prefer to read a book first as they are most often better than the movie adaption.
August 10, 2011
This is the movie trailer to the movie that was inspired by this book.
Link:my link text I liked the movie much better than the book.
The monks were such wonderful characters, but the author did not do them justice by putting their story into a very didactic book. he included too many informational sections within the book noting all the different political groups at odds with one-another. He also seemed to have a very liberal view of religion, to the detriment of the monks beautiful mission to love. He seemed to be too inclusive about the Islamic beliefs. Still I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the parts about the monks.
Link:my link text I liked the movie much better than the book.
The monks were such wonderful characters, but the author did not do them justice by putting their story into a very didactic book. he included too many informational sections within the book noting all the different political groups at odds with one-another. He also seemed to have a very liberal view of religion, to the detriment of the monks beautiful mission to love. He seemed to be too inclusive about the Islamic beliefs. Still I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the parts about the monks.
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