ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Forced Monasticism

Forced monasticism is when people are made to become monks or nuns against their will. Monks and nuns are people who dedicate their lives to religious work and live in special places called monasteries or convents. They give up things like having a family, getting married, and doing normal jobs in order to focus on their religious studies and prayers.

Now imagine that you are a kid and really love playing with your toys, going to school, and being with your friends. But suddenly, someone comes and tells you that you must leave everything behind and go live in a special place where you have to pray all day and don't get to see your family or friends anymore. That would probably make you very sad and you might not want to do it, right?

Well, that's how forced monasticism works. Instead of choosing to become a monk or nun because you feel it's the right path for you, someone else makes the decision for you, and you have no say in the matter. This can happen for various reasons, such as if a ruler or powerful person forces people to become monks or nuns.

In the past, some people believed that forcing others to become monks or nuns was a way to show how religious or powerful they were. They thought that by making others give up their normal lives and become monks or nuns, they were somehow doing something good.

However, it's important to remember that everyone should have the freedom to choose their own path in life. Being a monk or a nun is a personal choice, and it should be up to each individual to decide if they want to dedicate their lives to religious work or not. Forced monasticism takes away this choice and can make people feel trapped and unhappy.

Fortunately, these days, forced monasticism is not as common as it used to be. Society has recognized that it's important to respect people's freedom of choice and allow them to decide what they want to do with their lives. Remember, it's always better when people have the freedom to make their own decisions and follow their own dreams.