Eight years ago, Dr. Robert Nash, associate professor of religion at Shorter College, turned his signature teaching style into a powerful tool for faith communication. From the first day of class, students are given pieces of rope and asked to tie them around their wrists as a symbol of their bondage to Christ. Nash's students only wear the rope bracelets in class. Students begin each class by reading the Rule of St. Benedict.
Monks observe prayer in the mid-morning, at noon, in the afternoon, and in the evening.
Their day revolves around prayer. For monks in a monastery, prayer is a most sacred thing. Observing it is absolute. In the midst of each class, students witness the history of mother church unfolding before their eyes. He then appoints five deans who take charge of small groups of monks.