Faith Communities Saint Benedict

More recendy, it has been proposed that the Rule can provide a foundation for the creation of an ethically and spiritually credible civihsation in Europe [22]. Among the important factors leading to this latter suggestion are that the Rule provides a rich basis for the creation of community and in particular is concerned with how attention to material and practical matters can create the conditions for ethical and spiritual flourishing. 

It was noted in Chap. 1 that the Royal Academy of Engineering s Statement of Ethical Principles, in common with other modem professional ethical codes, is concerned with what should be done. This is also a concern of the Rule, but the 

The Rule also gives insights into a distinctive type of obedience, or in more modern terms organisation and hierarchy. This is particularly evident in a type of authority that has been described as not representative in the modern sense, but at least systematically attentive to the diversity of character and experience within the community [22]. Thus, considerable power is vested in the head of the monastery, the abbot, but this is balanced by the requirement for the abbot to consult extensively, showing care and concern for each person in the community and, above all, discernment. All take part in the consultation process, even the youngest members of the community, for the knowledge and ability of all is valued. 

A further very pertinent insight of the Rule, implicit rather than explicit, is what may be termed Benedictine Peace . Importantly, Benedictine Peace does not involve a grand programme of action, but rather concerns each person seeking to create peace in his or her immediate community, a culture of peace arising from personal inner peace The Benedictine ideal of the human being is not that of one 

This brewery was succeeding in a market that was conventionally highly competitive, very dependent on marketing and very changeable. However, there were great contrasts between the business characteristics of this brewery and conventional corporate practice (CCP). Some of these may be summarised in the following way  

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