Atheism and monasticism?

[Astonished]

It's an interesting idea, admittedly, this is coming from a man who, when he learned about how J.D. Salinger lived alone on a mountain somewhere near in New Hampshire, considered it something to aspire to. Then again, I don't see a point in connecting such a goal with atheism. I think the most obvious ways to sell such a lifestyle is becoming a famous author or a mountain man like in Jeremiah Johnson. But, then again, the mountain man lifestyle seems to have largely been replaced by the survivalists who justify their lifestyle with extreme paranoia and remarkably little love for the land they live off of.

I have personally always viewed monasticism an extension of the academic life. More of a moment to internalize something so you can strengthen a desirable quality about your nature. I also want to confess I grew up watching a lot of wu xia films so Chinese cinema and its portrayal of Buddhist monasticism heavily skewed my opinions as well. 

I should also clarify that I do not wish to connect it to atheism I merely wish to address if it is beneficial to atheists. All known monasticism has religious context and I am curious if it could benefit the secular somehow and also society. Would man become wiser through internalizing himself and perhaps strengthen his character?

I always viewed it as a life where I could open hundreds of books and study the great works of Plato and one day write my own collection of philosophical literature that could progress society into something more spiritually advanced. In particular is that I want man to let go of gods and develop into a rational creature that can appreciate the world without supernal meaning. To worship nature instead of petty sky daddies and hold a love of the world instead of a hatred toward infidels.

Actually that does help. Here I was thinking you were a total troll making a completely backward insinuation about atheists in some very obtuse way. I think Succubus might have come to a similar conclusion.

I don't think that kind of isolation really works in a modern, practical sense. Being a social species it just seems counter-intuitive on its face, but one would really have to wonder what specific objective they'd be attempting to achieve via this mechanism. Still having to go about one's routine, cooking, cleaning and all, with no help (although you could probably let your hygiene go a bit with no company to complain about the smell) would probably be distracting if you were really intent to focus on whatever it is you're all alone for (not really sold on meditation) but if all you're wanting to do is catch up on some reading or write something with no distractions by searching within, I can see why it might be a better environment on a short-term basis. I just dislike calling it 'monastic', that seems like a loaded term.

I don't see why one couldn't just unplug their phone and pretend they're not home to do this so no one distracts them. Or is having to go somewhere else away from home, or to a specific type of place part of what makes this process viable?