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The Monastery

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Where to watch: TLC)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Merry monks meet miserable men. Teens and up.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Monks lead a chaste, disciplined life. Visitors are flawed, but most are seeking to better themselves. One character is obnoxious and disrespectful, but his behavior is constantly corrected by others.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Photo of an Iraq war vet with his leg seriously injured. Some discussion of warfare. One scene of target practice with a gun.

  • Sex:

    Veiled discussion of sex. One person asks a monk if he really believes the Virgin Mary never had sex.

  • Language:

    Some bleeped curse words.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Social drinking. Some binge drinking (discussed, not seen). Lots of talk about addiction. One character smokes.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Monastery

Parents need to know that this reality show focuses on religion and spiritual questing. Participants constantly discuss God, Catholicism, Alcoholics Anonymous, atheism, and other religious topics. One character is struggling as a reformed drug and alcohol addict, and he speaks frequently and in detail about his past exploits and his recovery efforts. A gory photo of one participant right after his leg was shot off in Iraq is shown. The monks, as well as the civilians, drink socially several times over the course of the show. A couple of the participants steal alcohol and binge-drink multiple times.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about monastic life. What's the purpose of living in such a regimented way? Do teens think they could handle 40 days at the monastery? What would be the most difficult aspect -- getting up at 4 am? Being quiet all the time? Going to church for most of the day? Why would someone choose to become a monk? One of the monks left the monastery for a while but realized worldly things didn't make him happy. Do parents or teens ever feel disappointed by something that they expect to make them happy -- a new car, new clothes, a new movie? When do they feel happiest?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    llarson
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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