Who wants to be a nun?

I was reading in the Montreal newspaper the other day how enrollment at convents has been increasing in the past few years. There has been particular increase in the number of women in their early 20s wanting to become nuns. The article stated that it was because "women of this age are looking for something more".

The article really painted a good picture of convent life. The women live in a tight-knit community with mentorship and encouragement. Each day they rise early to spend time with God, and spend the rest of the day doing chores, playing sports, studying or helping younger women with their struggles.

I've also heard other opinions. Click here for the full article.

"A friend of mine has a brother who is a member of a cult. I did some research for her. In the process, I learned about mind control. As I studied mind control, I was shocked to realize that I had been subjected to it when I was in the convent. (But my superiors probably didn't see it as mind control. They were just following tradition.)
My personal identity was taken away. My name was changed. It was a constant reminder that my identity and my life were no longer my own. In theory, it was supposed to mean that I belonged to Jesus. In reality, it meant that I belonged to the Catholic Church.

I wore a habit (like everybody else). I was called "Sister" (like everybody else). I was not allowed to express my own opinions. I was told what to do and what to think. My time was not my own. We lived by a schedule determined by other people. Personal discretionary time was rare.

We were largely cut off from our families and friends. Unless there was an emergency, we could only phone our family (very briefly) on special occasions such as Christmas. Our outgoing mail was read by our superiors, and so was our incoming mail. When we wrote letters, we never knew whether or not people would actually receive them. We never knew if mail had been sent to us but not given to us.

Talking was restricted. We were not allowed to have personal friendships. We weren't even allowed to have affection for animals

The Bible tells us to put on the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:5) However, my studies were intended to make me put on the mind of the Catholic Church and to put on the mind of the founder of our religious order. To some extent I even put on the mind of our mother superior.

We were not supposed to question orders which were given to us by our superiors. One time my work assignment involved something that was physically dangerous, but it could have been made much safer. I had been so trained not to question orders that I never said a word about it. But I prayed for God to protect me. He did. I got sick and a senior sister had to do my job. She saw the danger and immediately took steps to make things safer. God was faithful. But I should not have been put in that position.

We were told that we should be emotionally detached, that we should only express love in a detached way. We were taught that human attachments interfere with closeness to God..." -Mary Ann Collins, a former Catholic nun (2002)


Some people have the impression that when you become a Christian this is what your life will inevitably look like. Brainwashing is a favourite idea of my mom's. She thinks that's what my faith, and more specifically, Campus for Christ, does. Fortunately for me, and for the rest of my Christian community, we have volunteered to be a part of this faith. We're not going to let the church oppress our thoughts, questions and concerns. We're not going to change our names, or conform to one mold. We'll show our devotion to God because we want to, not because we don't want to be punished, or because we want to make ourselves look good.

We believe what we do based on personal conviction. Christians agree on the essentials: that God loves us and has a plan for our lives, that we are separated from Him because of our moral failure, but God sent his son, Jesus, as a sacrifice, and through accepting Him we are reconciled to God. These things, and most of my strong opinions on faith, stem from the Bible. It's a pretty clear-cut instruction manual for life.

I believe what I do wholeheartedly. I love God and I hold what values I do because I believe this "religion" to be the most scientific, logical and real.

There's no need to worry that I'm going to become a nun...