Category: Practical Theology

The Philosophical Diary as a Spiritual Journal

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates spoke these words at his trial, and the Stoics took them as a fundamental command. To live well, a man must pay attention to how he lives. He cannot drift. He must audit his own soul. The primary tool the Stoics used for this audit was the… Continue reading The Philosophical Diary as a Spiritual Journal

The Enchiridion and the Pilgrim’s Handbook: Epictetus’s Rules for Life, Refined by Grace

We have spent the last few articles wrestling with giants—rejecting the cold theology of the Stoics, grappling with the tragedy of Seneca, and staring down the temptation of self-sufficiency. But Stoicism was never meant to remain in the ivory tower. It was designed for the street fight of daily life. To end our practical exploration,… Continue reading The Enchiridion and the Pilgrim’s Handbook: Epictetus’s Rules for Life, Refined by Grace

The Problem of Suicide: A Point of No Return

We have arrived at the most somber chapter of our “Non-Negotiable Rejections.” We have dismantled the Stoic’s impersonal God, his prideful self-sufficiency, and his small goal of tranquility. We have insisted that evil is real and must be fought with hope, not resignation. But now we must confront the final, logical conclusion of the Stoic… Continue reading The Problem of Suicide: A Point of No Return

Things Indifferent? Paul, Adiaphora, and the Christian Conscience

In our study so far, we have established the theological warrant for engaging with Stoicism: the doctrine of Common Grace. We have argued that we should “plunder the Egyptians,” taking the gold of pagan insight and refining it in the fire of Scripture. We saw the Apostle Paul model this generally on Mars Hill in… Continue reading Things Indifferent? Paul, Adiaphora, and the Christian Conscience

An Iron Faith for an Age of Anxiety

We are living in a brittle age. I have observed, as I am sure you have, that our cultural moment is defined by a pervasive and paralyzing anxiety. It is an age of therapy-speak and trigger warnings, of safe spaces and emotional support animals, where the language of fragility has supplanted the language of fortitude.… Continue reading An Iron Faith for an Age of Anxiety