Up First from NPR Life in a Christian Commune
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Sep 14, 2025 In this enlightening discussion, Kate Riley, author of the novel Ruth, shares her transformative year in a Christian commune. She dives into the tension between individuality and communal life, revealing how her experiences shaped her identity. Riley reflects on the simplicity of living without personal possessions and the emotional costs of balancing personal desires with collective duties. Through her journey, she offers insights into the challenges and joys of communal living, sparking a conversation about self-discovery and genuine connection.
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Peace Church Communal Structure
- The community Riley describes follows the peace church tradition with consensus decision-making and shared possessions.
- They reject infant baptism and emphasize adult choice in faith and communal negotiation over hierarchy.
Curiosity Inside Closed Communities
- Ruth (the novel's protagonist) is curious and questions rules, mirroring Riley's own inquisitive nature.
- Riley wrote Ruth to explore how curiosity feels when you lack broad access to information and still wonder about everything.
Leaving College For A Commune
- Kate Riley dropped out of college and lived about a year in a Christian commune to experience an alternative moral life firsthand.
- She says those months were some of the happiest of her life and shaped her view of identity beyond consumer choices.
