Communal Living

Communal living has some interesting advantages. Housing , energy and transportation costs are reduced, and it is often easier to live materially simple lives.  People living communally seek this simplicity for several reasons: the spiritual freedom from having fewer things to be attached to, more time for prayer and meditation, sharing of chores, intentional manual labor, financial freedom, and the ability to live in solidarity with the poor.  Let's not forget the most obvious reasons people live communally: for a deeper and more intentional community with other people, encouraging each other, learning from each other, and focusing more time and effort on relationships than on possessions.  There are also challenges that come with living communally, but most people who voluntarily live communally will tell you that the challenges are minor compared with the advantages.