I guess I don't understand the issue here because I did a good play through and was level 8 by the final fight of chapter one. I think the original poster is just missing things to do. I don't consider killing the silent monks to be evil but merciful by the way they are soulless husks just standing around might as well end them so they don't kill others though I do think since they are enemies by default that they should attack you on sight anyway.
