Religious Orders

Groups of men and women (almost always separated by gender) who have chosen to live within the confines of the vows they have taken that were established by the leader of that religion. For example, Buddhist monks and nuns have chosen to sequester themselves in like-minded communities for the purpose of devoting themselves to the teachings of Buddha. Within Christianity, religious orders are found primarily in the Roman Catholic Church but can also be a part of the Episcopal Church, Eastern Orthodox, and other liturgical branches. In Catholicism, there are three main types of religious orders: monastic (monks, nuns, and hermits), mendicant (friars), and what are called canons (regular priests living in a community and following an order — usually Augustinian — yet active in a particular parish). Religious orders within the Catholic Church include the Benedictines, the Dominicans, the Franciscans, the Jesuits, the Trappists, and about 35 other groups. Religious orders also exist in many of the world's other religions. The three most common vows taken by those in religious orders are the vow of poverty (relinquishment of all personal possessions), the vow of obedience (surrender of all authority), and the vow of chastity (forsaking all sexual relations). When people "take the vow", they are committing the rest of their lives or a specific number of years to the religious order. Most religious orders adhere to strict daily schedules that revolve around personal meditations, prayers and often humanitarian work. They strive for a minimalist existence in order to devote body, soul, and spirit to the religious ideals they have chosen.