Athiest Becomes Anglican Nun

[Ahimsa]

Sue Elwyn was born of communist atheist parents in Peekskill, New York, and grew up in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, New York City, Boston, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois. She attended Washington University in St.Louis, Missouri, but became ill in her senior year and had to leave. She later finished her B.A. at Hunter College in New York City. All she knew of church was a remembrance of attending Easter services once or twice in her early years. She had read Narnia, by C.S.Lewis, and thought “Could it be true?” She was told that it was all fairy tales…
The certain knowledge that God is there looking over us was the basis of her faith. The twelve-step program led her to meditation and anthroposophy*, *and from there to Christianity and baptism. Although her parents were atheists, they attended her baptism in 1990. One Sunday she went to a service at the Christian Community, a Christian sect heavily influenced by Rudolf Steiner, and while there received a vision of first century Palestine.

In her vision of early Palestine, Sue Elwyn saw a boy born to Palestinian peasants. She observed him as he grew to early manhood, and witnessed his baptism, his ministry, his Passion and crucifixion. After the resurrection she watched him moving among the rolling hills of the landscape from the first to the twentieth century. It took Sue several years to sort out all the things that were happening. The words of Carl Jung came to her: “That which is not divine is demonic.”

 

[Will_B]

Sounds like she converted to Christianity prior to becoming a Nun… The title of this post had me wondering… The Episcopal Church in the USA has clergy that do not believe in the Trinity, so an Atheist becoming a Nun would not suprise me in ECUSA… However, conversion prior to entering into the Sisterhood / Convent is a proper step. >> It’s even done in the Catholic Church.

 

[Dominic_Korozya]

Ahimsa:
This is nice, I remember wanting to join a convant once.

 

[spn82756]

Sounds like she converted to Christianity prior to becoming a Nun… The title of this post had me wondering… The Episcopal Church in the USA has clergy that do not believe in the Trinity, so an Atheist becoming a Nun would not suprise me in ECUSA… However, conversion prior to entering into the Sisterhood / Convent is a proper step. >> It’s even done in the Catholic Church.

Wow…you’re just a little critical. I believe that’s a form of ad hominem (sp) attack…kind of in reverse. Since you disagree with the ECUSA…that means that an Episcopal Nun who converted from atheism is weird? And to say that it’s even done in the CC means what?

 

[MercyMia]

Good for her! Awesome that the great writer C.S Lewis was an influence on her especially since we know his introduction to God came via Tolkein’s passion for the Catholic faith.

 

[Will_B]

Wow…you’re just a little critical. I believe that’s a form of ad hominem (sp) attack…kind of in reverse. Since you disagree with the ECUSA…that means that an Episcopal Nun who converted from atheism is weird? And to say that it’s even done in the CC means what?

Please read what I said…

1. The title of the post is misleading.
2. The lady converted to Christianity prior to joining the convent… This is good and proper.
3. With the misleading title, I had assumed that an Atheist become a Nun (not what you read in the post, but do read in the title)…
4. ECUSA does have priest and bishops that do not believe in the Trinity.
5. Yes… The Catholic church does have Nuns that have converted… However, they are no longer Atheist.

 

[Sam_777]

An excellent path for her life…

 

[cookydon3]

In general, when a woman enters a convent she first undergoes an initial period of testing the life, known as postulancy, for a period of six months to a year. If she, and the order, determine that she may have a vocation to the life, she receives the habit of the order (usually with some modification to distinguish her from professed nuns) and undertakes the novitiate, a period (that lasts one to two years) of living the life of a nun without yet taking vows. Upon completion of this period she may take her initial, temporary vows. Temporary vows last one to three years, typically, and will be professed for not less than three years and not more than six. Finally, she will petition to make her “perpetual profession”, taking permanent, solemn vows.

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[GKC]

Good for her! Awesome that the great writer C.S Lewis was an influence on her especially since we know his introduction to God came via Tolkein’s passion for the Catholic faith.

Tolkien’s argument for historic Christianity, in his talks with Lewis, were certainly one of the factors in Lewis’ return to the faith, but there were others, on the road. Chesterton, MacDonald,Dyson, and Barfield, for example.

GKC

 

[Sufjon]

Ahimsa:
Hi Ahisma: I was wondering if you could direct me to which work of Jung’s where he said
“That which is not divine is demonic.” It has been some years since I read his work, and I just can’t recall that. My memory may not be all that sharp though. I do recall him saying that the unconscious isn’t only evil by nature, but that it’s is also the source of good. In other words, I think he saw the potential for the manifestation of each in the unconscious, so I’m confused because this quote looks like he says something is either one or the other. I had always thought he saw both to exist together.

Anyway, I am just looking for some clarification on that. Thanks!

Your friend
Sufjon