Comments on: Minimalist Living & Spirituality

By: Dave DeFer

Dave DeFer — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:41:33 +0000

Christianity was deeply rooted in simplicity before the great divide between the Liberal and Fundamentalist Churches.
John in one of his letters summarizing what he had learned from his life as Jesus best friend wrote
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 john 2 15 and following
From a Christian perspective Richard Fosters classic, A Celebration of the Disciplines has a great chapter on the discipline of simplicity.
Celebration of Discipline. Copyright 1978 by Richard J. Foster.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:31:11 +0000

Yes, for me its also Zen, Franciscan & Benedictine paths unified. Also I love hearing God in silence & seeing God in nature.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:25:28 +0000

Precious Mother Teresa once spoke about how we can spend so much of our time taking care of our things that we don’t have much left for God and others. She is a beautiful example of living a minimalist life out of a heart full of love.

I greatly enjoyed reading your inspiring e-book and what came to my mind when you shared that funny story about the thief was just what Jesus said in Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

Thank you and God bless you for helping people like me break free from the god of consumerism.

By: Graham Guest

Graham Guest — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:47:13 +0000

This quote from Fen-yang nicely brings together the themes of religion and minimalism: “When you are deluded and full of doubt, even a thousand books of scripture are not enough. When you have realized understanding, even one word is too much.”

By: CuttingConsumptioninTX

CuttingConsumptioninTX — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:56:45 +0000

Many good posts regarding Christianity and minimalism. As a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am convinced that I should find my comfort in Him, and not how much stuff I can shove into my apartment. In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul speaks of contentment. To me, stripping down my “stuff” is heavily rooted in being content. Paul had clothes on his back, and food to eat, and he was content. So many people today have an abundance, and lack any sense of being content.

By: Emily from Philly

Emily from Philly — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Karl and Miss Minimalist,

I am in the middle of Daisetz Suzuki’s book “Zen and Japanese Culture.” Truly a great read and very helpful for this Westerner to try to understand what Zen is through aspects of Japanese culture like swordplay, haiku, tea, and so on. It’s a dense and delightful read, albeit slightly dated. Do check it out.

By: dave peters

dave peters — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:00:43 +0000

a min life is a focussed life.

By: miss minimalist

miss minimalist — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:46:09 +0000

That’s fascinating, Cat’s Meow — I’d like to do some reading on Christianity and simplicity.

By: Cat's Meow

Cat's Meow — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:53:47 +0000

I have read a lot on religion and self realization, buddhism and hinduism –
and have come back to Christianity. I was raised a Christian but went on to search that something that was missing.. I think I have found it. Christianity is definitely advocating simplicity, inner contemplation, and living in the present moment. I wish these things were brought up more. I think I got lost somewhere in “sin and judgement” and only now have found the sanctity and beauty of life on Earth, and even mysticism in Christian tradition. I feel like I no longer have to look for it in the trendy Eastern religious traditions.

By: miss minimalist

miss minimalist — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:51:38 +0000

Thanks for sharing this, Paul! I read a passage from the Tao every morning, and this is one of my favorites.