Why are there Nuns



I don't think there is any other branch of the Jewish/Christian thread that has anything like nuns. Where did the concept come from? People in the faith have their own version of history. The economist looks for an explanation that has self-interest and a source of money. 

A book and movie about local Catholics in Ireland explained how a parish supported itself. Besides local tithing, the parish operated a residence for young Catholic women who were unmarried but pregnant. The nuns who worked there were recruited from local families. It was strongly suggested to local parents who had several children they send one of their daughters to the local convent to be employed at the facility for unwed pregnant women. It was clear to some of the women who spent time there these nuns were not happy being there. Some tried to transfer out. 

The facility took in laundry for money. Who did the laundry work? The young pregnant women, of course. After the babies were born, the mothers took care of them for a while but then the facility took the babies from distraught mothers and offered them for adoption. A hefty fee was changed the adoptive parents. In those cases, nuns were recruited to help finance the priests who ran the diocese. 

As we know nuns were often teachers in Catholic schools. Their low pay helped recruit students who were the indoctrinated in the faith. The hope, of course, was Catholic students would become Catholic adults. The teachers were a part of the economics of the faith just like the facility for unwed mothers.

The link points out that young Catholic women in the past had two alternatives. One was to marry and become the wife in a household run by a male. The other was to become a nun in a religion run by men. 

It is not a surprise there is a shortage of both nuns and priests.

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