Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Monasteries Get Wired

No vocal cords needed to sell truffles or recruit brethren on the net

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 28, 2007 5:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Buddhist monks in Burma aren't the only religious brethren getting the word out on the internet these days: many American monasteries are so wired they not only correspond via email and sell-hand-crafted products over the internet, they use it to recruit new brothers. One web site, VocationsPlacement.org, matches religious communities with individuals drawn to the contemplative life, Reuters reports.

A Kentucky monastery reports having located seven monks through the service; once inside they are allowed to surf the web every afternoon from 1 to 5. The site’s founder says monks are especially keen on email, which they find less intrusive than the telephone. "There are certain orders and more contemplative houses that won't even talk with a woman, but they'll answer an e-mail."

KRTS RELIG-NC-MONKS 3 MB
KRTS RELIG-NC-MONKS 3 MB   (KRT Photos)
Abbot Of Shaolin Temple
Abbot Of Shaolin Temple   (Getty Images)
Myanmar At A Glance
Myanmar At A Glance   (Getty Images)
Les Tulkus ou les enfants rcarn Deux rois ans aprleur mort, les grands lamas se rcarnent dans le corps d'un enfant. La recherche de cet enfant se fonde soit sur les indications prses la (PAR86046)
Les Tulkus ou les enfants rcarn Deux rois ans aprleur mort, les grands lamas se rcarnent dans le corps d'un enfant. La recherche de cet enfant se fonde soit sur les indications prses la (PAR86046)   (Magnum Photos)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Monks Seek to Recruit High-Flying Execs

Man Charged With Threatening Obama in Web Poem

Young Burmese Monks Ready to Take Up Arms

Burma's Monks Forge Secret Relief Network

Burma's Pens Mightier Than Censors


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne