Check this out (hat tip: NRO's The Corner) from The Telegraph (UK).

Five men, ranging from an atheist in the pornography trade to a former Protestant paramilitary, have found their lives unexpectedly transformed in the latest incarnation of reality television - the monastery.

I'm not one for the "reality" TV schmaltz (or TV, for that matter) but I might be able to watch this. Too bad the story in the Telegraph spills the beans on the outcome. I won't divulge it all, but check this out:

Although participants were not required to vote each other out, they faced the challenge of living together in a community and following a disciplined regime of work and prayer. By the end, the atheist, Tony Burke, 29, became a believer and gave up his job producing trailers for a sex chat line after having what he described as a "religious experience".

...

At the end of one of these sessions, Mr Burke, his voicing breaking with emotion, confessed his feelings in a video-diary entry. "I didn't want this to happen," he said.

"But something touched me, something spoke to me very deeply. It was a religious experience.

"When I woke up this morning, I didn't believe in this but, as I speak to you now, I do. Whatever it is, I believe in it."

The participants, none of whom was a Roman Catholic, shared meals with the monks, worked in the grounds and joined in the daily office, from early morning Matins to Compline. They were also obliged to follow the monks' rules of silence, obedience and humility.

I can only hope that Mr Burke is plugged into a local church fellowship, and that he's able (and motivated) to put words and a framework around "it". He's got a tough row to hoe, I'd imagine. But if he is sincere and truly believes that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior, he is forgiven. And he's a brother. Say a prayer for Mr Burke this morning. 

Update (2005-05-04): I received an email message from Mr Burke. He'd like to send his thanks to those who have been praying for him.