Gregor Mendel joined a monastery to further his education and pursue his interest in science. He wanted to study mathematics and natural sciences, which were not easily accessible to him outside of a religious institution. Mendel's time at the monastery provided him with the resources and opportunity to conduct his groundbreaking experiments on pea plants.
Mendel's work on genetics would probably not have happened outside of a monastery. Such a massive, years-long study required a setting where the experimenter(s) could concentrate on a pretty esoteric field, without any need to produce anything of "value" over the years. Someone trying to support himself or a family while doing these experiments would probably have gone hungry after a year or so; and it is unlikely that any patron or government would have supported this work, as it did not seem to have any "payback." In a monastery, however, Mendel could do this work without distraction or need to "produce" anything. It is important to remember that, although Mendel revolutionized biology with his work, neither he -- nor anybody else -- realized this fact at the time. It appears he did these tests due to simple curiosity.
In Washington, D.C.
There is no benefit to anybody.
They receive the sacrament of Holy Orders when they join the convent or monastery.
Free-rider
Catholic women and men join religious orders to devote themselves to God and to building the Kingdom of God here and now.
I don’t know
Buddhists live all around the world. If a person becomes a Buddhist they are not required to move to a "Buddhist only" country or a monastery.
Yes
The fact that the subsidiary was based in Palo Alto, California, and I had endured six winters in Boston also may have had something to do with my decision [to join the company]" (PaperAge Magazine, March 2001).
They were not invited. Countries are not invited to join. Countries must apply to join. So it was the Czech Republic's decision to apply and once their application was approved, they were able to join. They joined in May 2004.