Abstract
Using the methods of historical research (close textual analysis with attention to larger political and social contexts), this paper examines case studies of intergenerational interactions in medieval monasteries. Monastic communities were often explicitly intergenerational, based on senior/junior hierarchies and relationships of both caregiving and mentoring. The paper identifies common themes in how monastic sources constructed ideals of intergenerational justice and solidarity, how they defined proper roles for their older and younger members, and how they cautioned against intergenerational resentments or impropriety. The distance and difference of the medieval past stand in sharp contrast to the 21st century: These ideals, roles, and cautions have changed over time, but older forms of intergenerational community continue to offer resources for thinking about intergenerational challenges today.
Presenters
Amelia KennedyAssistant Professor, History, Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Aging, Intergenerational Solidarity and the Polycrisis
KEYWORDS
Intergenerational Solidarity, History, Religion, Community
