The monastic movement was led in Christianity in the Middle Age to react against the abuses of the Vatican at this time and go back to a more sincere practice of faith. Monks, at this time, were the greatest erudites of society and kept a great deal of knowledge. This movement, which led partly to Protestantism, had a lot of influence in the evolution of the Western world which may be underestimated. This movement contributed to foster a sane emulation in Christianity that contributed to lead to Renaissance and the rise of modern capitalism.
Protestantism has a lot to do with monastic order. Luther was a monk before he rebelled against the Vatican. He got a very demanding education from the monastery he belonged to and was very accustomed to libraries. His behaviour was as well partly inspired from the monks : the simplicity promoted by Protestantism is inspired from the monastic orders, even if Protestantism allows marriage and to have a family for the Pastors. The common grounds between the Protestants and the monks are numerous.
First the monks were studying the most the Antique intellectual legacy. For instance Thomas de Aquinas was the first for centuries to comment Aristotle and use his theory to study theology. The link he made between philosophy and theology became a basis to emancipate many fields, including sciences, from theology. He also benefited from his education he made in monasteries, which were the most advanced places of study at his time. To the same extend Luther used his education in monasteries, and extended the return to Antique sources from these place to all the population.
In the life framework the Protestants value simplicity in the behaviour and lifestyle. It is a reason why, in many Protestant countries, there were less riots than in Catholic ones because there was a culture of austerity and simplicity in all the classes of the population. This simplicity is seen in the clothes of the Pastors or the decoration of the Temples. Of course it is a great loss for artworks, which have created a great deal of masterpieces in Catholic Churches. However Protestant Temple can be seen as heirs of monasteries.
Third the relative freedom of “ideologies” in monasteries led to the freedom to create movements in Protestantism. If the Catholic Church is often looking for unity to keep a stable system, the Protestant value more diversity. To the same extend monastic movements like the Dominicans, the Franciscans, the Benedictans or the Cistercians stem from different ideologies and interpretations of the Bible. Moreover movements like the Dominicans were during a long time considered as the sources of great intellectual movements. The novel the name of the Rose of Umberto Eco, who is describing with great erudition the world of Monasteries, show how knowledge was kept during centuries during the Middle Age in these places, where barbary and the law of lords of war prevailed in the Western world.
These factors show that monastic movements and Protestantism have a lot in common. It can also be seen the Protestants are among the heirs of Catholic monks. In the time of the omnipresence of internet, the screens and the growing influence of artificial intelligence, the world of monasteries and the way Protestants used their legacy can give responses to this situation.
The observer 