Retreat Retreat Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation Category="Christianity"Category="Religious faiths, traditions, and movements"The term retreat has several related meanings, all of which have in common the notion of safety or temporarily removing oneself from one's usual environment.

As used by religious groups

A retreat is generally a time of solitude, Prayer, or Meditation conducted in a remote location, either privately, or at a retreat centre such as a Monastery. Regular retreats are considered essential in Buddhism, and they are also popular in many Christian churches, including evangelical Protestants, Roman Catholics and Anglicans.

Depending on the religion's particular understanding and emphasis, a retreat may be a solitary event, or a group gathering. Some retreats are held in Silence, and on others there may be a great deal of conversation, depending on the understanding and accepted practices of the host facility and/or the participant(s).

Online resources

Further reading

Stafford Whiteaker, The Good Retreat Guide, ISBN 1844132285

Other uses of the term

To retreat is to run away or back off from danger. It is normally used in a military sense. See Withdrawal (military).