Modern de facto Paganism often caves to the passions, but in ancient times it was not always so. Stoic wisdom is not theology, but is often good psychology in harmony with Christian ideals. The Magi also brought their gifts.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honorable, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatesover is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. — Phil. 4:8
The wealthiest person is not one with the most, but the one who needs the least.
Peter Maurin said the same.
“Philosophy is indeed one’s greatest possession, and is most precious in the sight of God, to whom it alone leads us and to whom it unites us, and they in truth are holy men who have applied themselves to philosophy” St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 2
“Regardless of their sometimes ambiguous concepts of God, the Roman Stoic philosophers did acknowledge Him, but on the basis of reason alone, because they had not met Christ. Nonetheless, they did deduce from God’s existence our need to live lives of virtue, honor, tranquility, and self-control–and they developed effective techniques to help us achieve this.
“Musonius Rufus the teacher, Epictetus the slave, Seneca the adviser to emperors, and Marcus Aurelius, the emperor himself, produced a practical technology we can use to integrate Christian ethics into our own daily practice. As Kevin Vost so wonderfully illustrates in his new book, The Porch and the Cross, the Stoics can help us learn–and remember–what is up to us, and what is up to God alone.
Good philosophy is important good psychology. It is a porch. Nothing that is true is in competition with the fullness of Truth (Jn. 1:1-14)
“In medieval times, Christian monks copied the Stoics’ handbooks, and scholastic theologians mined their works for gems of natural moral wisdom. In the 1960s, cognitive psychotherapists turned to the Stoics to discover methods to conquer depression and anxiety. And there is still today much that Christians can learn (or relearn) from these “teachers on the porch” of antiquity.
“Kevin Vost has done his readers a tremendous service once again! The Porch and the Cross is suffused with wisdom that is relevant, timely, and brilliantly articulated. Read and be inspired.”–KEVIN LOWRY, author of Faith at Work
“The complementarity of reason and faith is beautifully evidenced in this gem of a book. The Porch and the Cross offers a fascinating and insightful glimpse into the love of wisdom and the wisdom of the cross!”–FR. DONALD CALLOWAY, MIC, author of No Turning Back
“Just as did St. Thomas Aquinas in the past, Kevin Vost does a superb job of showing us how human reason, in the form of Stoic philosophy, supports Christian revelation. This excellent reminder is providential in our day, where so many people desperately need to reconnect with the Western intellectual tradition.”–SCOTT M. SULLIVAN, President and CEO, Classical Theist Productions
“The Porch and the Cross takes the reader back to the Stoic thinkers as a complement to natural law and Christian faith.”–KENNETH J. HOWELL, Theologian in Residence, The Coming Home Network (from the Foreword)
“Kevin Vost, in his uniquely personable writing style, does a remarkable job bringing to life the instructions of men who lived nearly 2000 years ago!”–JARED ZIMMERER, author of Man Up! (from the Preface)
Do Marcus Aurelius and St. Thomas More connect?
+ What can and cannot be controlled
+ Learning about yourself from conflict with others
+ Do I have everything I need?
Christianity and Stoicism?
Catholic Exchange
APRIL 19, 2016
Shane Kapler
Christianity has long held that our Faith is a reasonable one. From the recognition of God’s existence to the right use of our sexuality, human reason powerfully reaffirms our deepest convictions as Catholics. Not only do we Christians need to be able to present our beliefs in a logical way, but as our society descends further into secularism it behooves us to be able to show how the traditional understanding of morality and family life are not simply “antiquated religious notions,” but are demonstrably true to any person willing to employ their reason in living according to nature. This is where philosophy, and Stoic philosophy in particular, has always been of value to Christians. As St. Justin Martyr explained in the second century, “In moral philosophy the Stoics have established right principles, and the poets too have expounded such, because the seed of the Word was implanted in the whole human race” (Second Apology VIII, 1). And that brings me to the new book from my friend Dr. Kevin Vost, The Porch and the Cross:
Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Modern Christian Living. I am incredibly gratified that Angelico Press recognized it as an ideal complement to my work of biblical exegesis/apologetics, The Epistle to the Hebrews and the Seven Core Beliefs of Catholics.
In The Porch and the Cross, Dr. Vost introduces us to the lives, teachings, and legacies of four of the most influential Stoic philosophers – Musonius Rufus, Epictetus, Seneca, and the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. (Amazingly, two were historical contemporaries of the Lord Jesus; we even read of Seneca’s brother, Gallio, in Acts 18:12-27!) Unless you are already steeped in the Stoics, I have no doubt that, like me, you will be amazedat what you discover in this book.
Allow me to follow Dr. Vost’s lead and begin with Musonius Rufus. The man was a first-century “pro-life” activist! Not only did he publicly protest the gladiatorial games in Athens, but he also extolled the ancient laws prohibiting abortion and contraception. He taught that marriage was the natural union of one man and one woman, entered into for the beauty of life-long companionship and the welcoming of new lives (hopefully, many new lives) into the world. Parents, and not an amorphous state, bore the responsibility for educating their children –and that applied equally to sons and daughters (since both possessed the same powers of reason).
Dr. Vost then presents us with pride of the Stoics, Epictetus – the slave (his very name means “acquired”) who gained his freedom and rose to prominence as a professional philosopher. Epictetus taught that happiness, no matter one’s state in life, lay in interior freedom. It is what we say to ourselves, and not our circumstances, that determine our emotions and actions; and it is our moral purpose that distinguishes us from animals. He addressed practical means of growing in virtue and combating what we Christians would come to call the seven deadly sins. Is it any wonder that his Handbook was adapted for use in Christian monasteries? Further, Epictetus’ insights served as the basis for psychotherapists Albert Ellis’s rational-emotive therapy and Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy.
I realize that I have two Stoics yet to discuss: Of Seneca let me simply note that his maxims were especially loved by the early Dominicans and that St. Thomas Aquinas made copious use of them when extolling the virtues in his Summa Theologica. (Is there a stronger endorsement?) Dr. Vost’s chapters covering Marcus Aurelius are truly inspirational – a Roman emporer who embraced simplicity, sexual purity, and was convinced that all human beings, no matter their station in life, possessed dignity. Listen to him for yourself:
“[M]y philosophy means keeping that vital spark within you free from damage and degradation, using it to transcend pain and pleasure, doing everything with a purpose, avoiding lies and hypocrisy, not relying on another person’s actions or failings. To accept everything that comes and everything that is given, as coming from the same spiritual source” (Meditations, II, 17). It is the grace of Christ that makes it possible for us to do just that!
The Stoics had their short comings, but Christians have always recognized them as powerful cultural allies in explicating a morality rooted in the natural law and the inculcation of virtue. Dr. Kevin Vost’s The Porch and the Cross: Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Modern Christian Living (Angelico Press, 2016) is a much needed reminder that Christianity, and especially Catholic Christianity, has always valued its Jewish and Gentile heritage: We embrace Revelation and philosophy, faith and reason – all in the service of Christ, Truth incarnate.
By Shane Kapler
Shane Kapler lives in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is the author of works such as The Biblical Roots of Marian Consecration, The Epistle to the Hebrews and the Seven Core Beliefs of Catholics, and Marrying the Rosary to the Divine Mercy Chaplet. He is online at ExplainingChristianity.com
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