Is stoicism anti religion. Anti-depressants don't give you super powers or anything.

Is stoicism anti religion Occasionally, Jewish sources such as Josephus and the talmudic dialogues about *Antoninus Pius try to outdo the Stoicism of the Stoics (IV Macc. However, Stoicism does share some similarities with religious teachings, particularly in its emphasis on moral and ethical principles. Differences:. Antinatalism isn’t inherently utilitarian, but it does seem to be relying on the idea that pleasure=good and pain=bad, and that there’s no morally praiseworthy reason to create pleasure if it didn’t need to happen in the first place. See also Harold B. The Stoics advised us to accommodate ourselves to the way things are in part by working on our desires. I've read a number of books on the subject, but I think it's the sort of topic that would benefit most from the practical insights of its practitioners. Its principles have seamlessly blended with Christian teachings, resulting in a unique amalgamation of Jun 9, 2023 · In some cases, this pseudo-religion has taken on a brutal and self-aggrandizing nature. " After 4 years of taking meds, I can affirm that she was right. Is Stoicism a Religion? At its core, Stoicism is not a religion, but a Bridging Philosophy and Faith Stoicism, founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium, is often considered a purely secular philosophy rooted in reason, virtue, and logic. Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered around the teachings, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, revered as the Son of God or the Messiah. In it, I take Taleb's via negativa concept along with Epictetus's statement about judgement and apply that to effective beliefs for life. 9. Christianity, on the other hand, is a religion that originated in Judea in the 1st century AD. Humanity is a part of Nature. STOICISM AND ANTI-STOICISM IN QOHELETH by JOHN G. Cheers to your happiness! I think there are religious Stoics but they are separate things. Stoicism does not posit a beginning or end to the Universe. There is no expectation of immortality, so a soul is not expected to experience eternal delight or traumatic aggression forever. That means that the Stoic god is an anti-monster. But is it possible to extract a form of Stoicism without the metaphysical elements? Most people see Stoicism and Christianity as polar opposites, but the belief systems do overlap in several ways. Jones, ‘Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic Ethic, and Adam Smith’, Journal of Business Ethics 95, no. It is a branch of the Jewish race. Originating in Check out this snarky ALLRIOT lineup of atheist and anti-religion t-shirts. There is a problem if a religion does more harm than good though. Many adhere to stoicism, but as a philosophy, it in not as strict in the sense that one must fully accept everything it's encompasses. Make new friends, take care of other people you know etc. 4 (2000): 49–72. It gives us knowledge of logic and controlling emotions. [11] Additionally, she wrote, This is the voice not of philosophy, but of religion. GAMMIE The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104 It is a distinct pleasure to submit this comparative and linguistic study to a volume in honor of Shlomo Dov Goitein whose scholarly work did so much to illumine the life of Jewish communities in the Arab world. To introduce his book, Thorsteinsson notes that from the earliest period of Christian history, Stoicism and Christianity were thought by many to have striking You are right, Stoicism can be confused with Nihilism. One last note, Stoicism is absolutely not reactionary or "jaded". I don't know of a component of Stoicism that is religious, so I don't think I'm not agreeing with anything. [82] [83] Goebbels wrote on 29 December 1939: [84] The Führer is deeply religious, though completely anti-Christian. And since there are so many differences between Stoicism and religion, Irvine argues that the two can never truly coexist. From my perspective it isn't there at all. As St. Those arguments make specific, testament claims about what parts of the human mind exist and what the consequence of using them in a particular way is. Stoicism is not a practice of moral relativism or of individualism. Indeed, Epicureans’ only social involvement was in the fight against religion and superstition, which they regarded as a principal cause of human unhappiness. It doesn’t demand adherence to an all-or-nothing view of God, or project a sense of self-righteous certainty about matters that are beyond our control (or understanding I'm learning about stoic philosophy and I find weird that you guys follow every word of the great stoics like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus. 11) warned against regarding, as he put it, our forerunners as masters, rather than just teachers. The Stoic ideas supported Roman values of duty and resilience, making it popular among politicians and soldiers. I think it's best to treat Modern Stoicism as secular; a Stoic can take or leave the supernatural aspects, and Stoicism is compatible with both atheism and theism. Many of you emailed and asked to learn more about the connections between Christianity and Stoicism, and we reached out to Joseph Dodson, an Associate Professor of […] That is why there is debate among contemporary followers of Stoicism. Jesus Christ Hello all, Before anything, I wanted to clarify that I know Stoicism is not a religion, and it won’t be, and I’m not nostalgic about being religious. Those people would probably live better lives if they were educated in stoicism (supposing they are capable of that). While it shares some aspects with religious thought, such as discussing divine order, it does not involve worship, rituals, or a belief in deities. I'd been interested to stoicism for years now, I never imagine that some religious principles conflict with being stoic. This is the complete opposite of stoicism. The relationship between Stoicism and religion is a complex one, as Stoicism does not neatly fit into the traditional definitions of what constitutes a religion. ) or to portray Pharisaic Judaism as an up-to-date Stoicism. While other commentators have argued either that the main influence on Smith was Stoicism or that it was religion, the two influences have not been explicitly linked. d. One of the reasons for which I decided to ask these questions, on this sub is because I do not see why a stoic would not be an anti-natalist, since acknowledging the harm or hardship of life and trying to remain rational, is one of the bases of this philosophy (in my understanding, ofc). Theological/Religious Arguments in Plutarch’s Anti-Stoic Polemics soteriology What is interesting in Plutarch’s attacks on Stoicism in the field of religion Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium, has profoundly influenced various thinkers throughout history, including notable Christian figures. Reply reply More replies Stoic Self-Empowerment. The word " anti-stoicism " has been freely used in Stoicism offers its modern-day devotees a sort of New Atheism “lite”, seemingly untainted by the clashes that define contemporary religious (or anti-religious) thought. How do modern scholars define religion? This is not a simple task. Jan 1, 2001 · Stoicism and anti-Stoicism in the seventeenth century Christopher Brooke To identify as a Stoic around the year 1600 was to embrace one of the most vibrant currents in late Renaissance humanism. Those who assent to the traditional Stoic concepts of a conscious and providential cosmos, ALL religion is worship of either Nature or Humanity. Stoicism has contributed significantly to shaping religious doctrines and ethical frameworks from early Christianity to Eastern philosophies like Buddhism. " Everything Stoicism had to say became common property in Late Antiquity, and what was of value was absorbed into the Neoplatonic synthesis. Stoicism is often misunderstood as a religion, but it is a philosophical approach to life that has endured for centuries. The Greek polis gave From my observation most stoic CHARACTERs are anti social, “sigma males” James Bond, Bruce Wayne, John wick, Geralt of Rivia, I can go on and on. The deafening silence on this topic leaves most people unaware of the deep religious piety of the Stoics. The degree to which the Stoics influenced various Christian authors is the subject of debate (see Christianity and Graeco-Roman Paganism), but it is clear that many theological positions were developed in contexts in which the Stoics were widely read, and that numerous Christian authors read the Stoics directly. Stoicism considers all existence as cyclical, the cosmos as eternally self-creating and self-destroying (see also Eternal return). 2 The Stoics’ reception in early Christianity. This thesis uses the expertise of Edward Arnold and Gilbert Murray to make a direct case for Stoicism as being a religion. To help me explore this, I spoke with Stoic expert and author Massimo Pigliucci, and after an hour’s conversation, I’ve written about the hidden religious beliefs that underpin ancient Stoicism. And one aspect of a good life lived by ancient Stoics was resistance against ignorance or amathia. Overview of Stoic Philosophy The founders of Stoicism were Zeno of Citium, Cleanthes Your question is kinda like asking "can I learn and practice cooking and then completely ruin a steak without being a hypocrite" - you're looking at it the wrong way. One can be a Buddhist Christian, why not a stoic? What you put your faith in does not matter. I don't think he'd claim to be a stoic. But there are problems with Stoicism, both in its modern and ancient forms. We are a community committed to learning about and applying philosophical Stoic… As nouns the difference between stoicism and religion is that stoicism is a school of philosophy during the roman empire that emphasized reason as a means of understanding the natural state of things, or logos, and as a means of freeing oneself from emotional distress while religion is Yet it seems evident that we should favor systems that lead to humans having more pleasant lives, but then that seems to be conceding that there are goods other than virtue. I’m also a Christian and in my experience stoicism follows a lot of the same teachings and can actually be easier to understand. As Sellars points out, Stoicism does exhibit “complex philosophical theories in ontology (theory of what exists), epistemology (theory of knowledge) and ethics,” but its main focus always returns to how we should live our everyday lives calmly and Religion and Stoicism are compatible. At […] Stoicism in all these adaptations has sometimes been regarded as an aid to the clarification of earlier Jewish beliefs. Jun 25, 2018 · [Stoicism] was a religion first, a philosophy only second. However, it is not ‘philosophy’ in general that he confronts with Oct 11, 2023 · No, Stoicism is not a religion. God is not a personal being to be sacrificed or prayed to, but a divine principle to be lived in accordance with. enlarged into an exhaustive anti-stoicism. They believed that Greco-Roman mythology consist of largely fictional stories that do, however, carry objective moral truths. ) Thank you Nov 27, 2021 · Too many modern Stoics seem to think otherwise and treat Stoicism almost as a religion. In Islam we follow every word of the prophet (PBUH). I tend to use stoicism as supplemental material and defer to the Bible if ever the two diverge. How is the influence of Stoicism on Christianity perceived in religious practice? The influence of Stoicism on Christianity is seen in its emphasis on Nov 1, 2000 · This article explores the influence of Stoicism and religion on Adam Smith. ” by Epictetus First of all, Stoicism is a philosophy. By: Stephen Hanselman [1] If You Want a Smooth Flow of Life, Live According to Nature At the core of Stoic teaching is the founder Zeno’s idea that a smooth flow of life (euroia biou) comes from “living in agreement with nature. It is a philosophy of life that focuses on ethics, virtue and the pursuit of wisdom. In Stoicism, God is not a personal being who intervenes in the world through miracles or answers to prayer. We are a community committed to learning about and applying philosophical Stoic principles and techniques. Often overlooked are Stoicism’s religious over tones. Jan 1, 2024 · Understanding Fate in Stoic Philosophy In Stoic philosophy, fate is seen as an immutable force that governs the universe. 607K subscribers in the Stoicism community. is a substantive contribution in what is a rapidly expanding field of scholarship comparing the NT and Hellenistic moral philosophy. But as a fun thought experiment, I’m curious to know how you would formulate a godless “religion” with rituals, holidays and stuff out of the Stoic philosophy, pretty much like Buddhism. Further, a boatload of Stoic thought made its way, directly and in many ways, into Christianity. It can borrow from religious values and serve as a neutral foundation where shared values like compassion, justice, and empathy become the unifying principles, allowing people to find meaning without relying on dogma or supernatural stories. The Neostoic doctrines that were being elaborated in diverse centres of intellectual production offered a set of personal therapies for troubled times, a political teaching to strengthen the civil Jan 18, 2024 · The religious nature of Stoicism provides a meaningful and reasonable alternative to organized religion for those seeking a spiritual path. Stoics are free to choose. And no, a religion is specifically the belief and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or Gods. And all this idiotic drama will probably make the quality of discussions pretty low. None of the writings of the three earliest leaders of Stoicism has survived intact; we have only fragments and Anti-Stoicism: How to Ensure a Life of Misery, Poverty and Fragility This is my most profound article yet. Without the need, there is no god to appeal to. Texts. Marcus Aurelius brings up the possibility that if there is a good and he is good like he suspects, it wouldn't be entirely out of the question for this god to let those who have good souls live on in some form. Anti-depressants don't give you super powers or anything. Stoics, instead, honor the natural laws that orchestrate the universe – the invisible symphony of reason – embodied in the concept of Logos. Runar Thorsteinsson’s book comparing Christianity and Stoicism in Rome in the first two centuries a. Stoicism is about living a good life. Jul 29, 2024 · Stoicism can help us endure the impossible, but most of us do not live inside a torture chamber. No one gives a fuck if its the best or not, its just a philosophy that works. I wonder what Epictetus would say of this new philosophy. But, as you touched on, he seems to embody that shared virtue of bearing suffering well that comes from stoicism and Christianity. While Seneca may not be actually "anti-abs" it's important to note that high level athletics and stoicism are not mutually exclusive. Stoicism and anti-Natalism seem to rely on different axioms that contradict each other. Our interpretation of Smith “Stoicism”, or lack of it, offers a consistent reading of Interestingly, however, a few people would prefer a Stoic god to sit on the fence and bridge divides between religions. With Athens no longer the centre of worldly attraction, its claim to urbanity and cultural prominence passed on to other cities—to Rome, to Alexandria, and to Pergamum. This article by Chris Fisher, probably the leading advocate of traditional Stoicism right now, argues exactly that: That there is a deep religious side to Stoicism. Jan 20, 2023 · Among them are the Aristotelian commentator Alexander of Aphrodisias (late 2nd c. Therefore, the Stoics did not believe in petitionary prayer. Be just, live morally and rationally. Apr 19, 2016 · This is where philosophy, and Stoic philosophy in particular, has always been of value to Christians. They believed that everything in the world had a purpose and that people should accept their fate and not be ruled by their emotions. While other commentators have argued either that the main influence on Smith was Stoicism or that it was religion, the Abstract: "The broad contours of Augustine's critique of Stoic virtue theory in De civitate dei 19. In another entry, Goebbels wrote that Hitler was "deeply religious but entirely anti-Christian". Stoics also ponder if the soul lives on after death, it isn't unique to religion. According to Anti-Stoicism, overcoming victimhood is a risky affair; it requires both courage and luck. Can these two seemingly distinct belief systems coexist […] May 19, 2018 · Peterson’s is one of the most anti-Stoic accounts of life I can imagine. Aug 30, 2010 · Beyond its philosophical dimension, Roman Stoicism should be categorized as a religion. 65 CE) was often read by African American activists and abolitionists in the nineteenth century. A friend told me, "Anti-depressants won't change who you are. I'm pretty dang sure that Stoicism informed a reasonable amount of the moral thinking of a lot of western religion also. Stoicism: A Philosophical Way of Life, Not a Religion. This philosophical system emphasizes virtues like wisdom and temperance, fostering resilience and inner peace. To the Stoics, Nature, Logos, and God are the same thing. Nov 26, 2024 · Ancient Stoicism, then, seems to look a lot like a religion — with the usual three elements included. While Stoicism has had a major impact on western thought and history (not to mention Christianity,) the impact of Christianity on western civilization and the world at large is practically unparalleled. Stoic God is not a personal anthropomorphized omni-god, and Stoic God is not posited as being irreconcilable with Graeco-Roman polytheism. Correct if I'm wrong. make the point—Stoicism has an essential religious nature. 1 (2010): 92; Ryan Patrick Hanley, Adam Smith and the Character of Virtue (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), 151–2; Jerry Stoicism does not have a concept of salvation because there is no concept of a divine offense that requires redemption. I don't mean to suggest that Stoics haven't thought about that issue at all, but that is a common line of sort-of anti-Stoic thought. It does not involve specific theological beliefs or religious practices. While more differences than similarities exist between the two, we shouldn’t let that preclude us from considering what both schools of thought offer as answers to that perennial question: how should we live? Feb 19, 2024 · When comparing stoicism to traditional religious practices, several fundamental distinctions come to light. ” It was the second leader of the Stoics, Zeno’s student Cleanthes, who added the last part, “with nature” (te phusei; or […] Nov 1, 2000 · This article explores the influence of Stoicism and religion on Adam Smith. The Jewish and Thus, a Stoic’s tranquility remains undisturbed by favorable or unfavorable external occurrences. CE) who authored anti-Stoic tracts such as On Stoic Self-Contradictions and Against the Stoics on Dec 10, 2024 · A secular framework doesn’t have to be anti-religion. Stoicism says that human beings have a nature, and they’re happiest when they act in accordance with their nature, meaning: Be sociable, be active in the community and talk to other people, maintain good relationships. 1. Stoicism is not some sort of religion with specific rules you must follow. Deity Worship: Unlike most religions, Stoicism does not involve the worship of a deity. Posted by u/cyanocobalamin - No votes and 8 comments Sep 22, 2020 · In Stoic Philosophy and Social Theory (2020), Will Johncock defends the interest of bringing the two subjects closer together. The Stoics believed that everything that occurs is determined by fate, and that trying to resist or change fate is ultimately futile. Many people introduced to Stoicism by twenty-first-century popularizers are surprised by the religious nature of the philosophy. But in life it seems many people who I’ve met that follow the philosophy, get so tired of being right about people that they don’t even try. recently, I'd been listening to "daily stoic' podcast, I must say I'm hook up to it. Instead if you actually followed Stoicism, you'd understand why taking revenge is pointless. The Stoics maintained, quite controversially among ancient ethical thought, that the only thing that always contributes to happiness, as its necessary and sufficient condition, is virtue. Feb 6, 2023 · Stoicism is having a cultural moment, with bestselling books and podcasts taking this ancient philosophy to a new audience. In the past, most people would have found this unnerving. Today, stoicism still remains relevant and gives us the Feb 6, 2024 · Adam Ferguson’s changing views on the relationship between religion, human nature and society contained an increasingly strong deistic or Stoic element. Instead, God is a universal, rational force that maintains the order of the cosmos. And through New Stoicism, Modern Stoicism and the like Atheism is trying, against all logic, to claim that Stoicism can still be Stoicism without its pantheistic and theistic origins. [12] Likewise, the classical scholar Gilbert Murray wrote, In this thought-provoking video, we delve deep into the influence of stoicism and religion, exposing the underlying issues that often go unnoticed. Philosophy of religion: I find it quite a troubling cultural phenomenon as many of those so-called "stoics" have links to far-right movements and mostly use stoicism to argue for masculine self-improvement (and, in fact, much more, anti-feminism is the common base there) but there's also a a middle-of-the-road bunch of pop self-help suppress-anger focus-on-yourself Oct 24, 2013 · The Stoics . Just yesterday I google if Stoics are Atheist, thankfully they're not (or are they). This is one of the many strengths of stoicism, as it allows knowledge for improvement, and fluidity in beliefs. Clarke, ‘Adam Smith, Stoicism and Religion in the 18th Century’, History of the Human Sciences 13, no. 4 finds a fascinating analogue in Theodor Adorno's theory of immanent critique: Augustine ‘enters’ into Stoic virtue theory and criticises it from its own postulates, illustrating the striking implausibility of Stoic orthodoxy when lived out On religion: its a means of coping with a lot of lifes problems. The ancient Stoics did not in any way oppose organised religion, but they adopted an allegorical understanding of it. In this article I attempt to make such a link, arguing that Smith can be seen as belonging to the strand of Christian Stoicism chiefly associated with Mar 24, 2023 · Even though Stoicism was not a religion, it had a significant influence on many people’s moral and spiritual values, including those of the early Christians. Stoicism does not value faith over rational problem solving. One reason for this change in the public zeitgeist is the additional layer of ancient Greek philosophy, namely Stoicism. Rightly so. Beyond its philosophical dimension, Roman Stoicism should be categorized as a religion. Because of this, they're very insecure about it, ergo once again the author's hate-on for stoicism. Mar 8, 2018 · Stoicism says – Live well, because in the end, what difference does it make? Christianity says – Live well, because in the end, it makes all the difference. If anything, they'll reduce all the excess 'noise' that is keeping you from being yourself right now. Traditional Stoics want to retain that religious element - modern Stoics want to set it aside. Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady are two examples of people who have publicly praised Meditations and incorporated it's principles into their own lives. The Relationship Between Stoicism and Religion. There are countless of disciplined Stoics who fight for justice or what they believe is right. Insight into Christianity Christian Faith and Beliefs. Sep 1, 2010 · This is done under the headings of five broader themes which include questions of similarities and differences with respect to Christian and Stoic views about (a) a particular way of life as proper worship of the deity, (b) certain individuals (like Jesus and Socrates) as paradigms for the proper way of living, (c) the importance of mutual love Stoicism died out, as the popular saying goes, "because everyone became a Stoic. Often overlooked are Stoicism's religious over tones. While Stoicism does have a concept of the divine, it differs from many theistic religions. were also determinists; they believed that everything that happened was caused by the universal divine logos that pervaded and controlled all nature and human life. It focuses on personal ethics informed by logic and reason, emphasizing virtue as the highest good. Thinking Modern Stoicism: From Christians to atheists, everyone can learn from these ancient Greeks The start of stoicism in ancient Greece comes with wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Especially intriguing is that modern Does Stoicism have all the components of a religion? That is not a question we can answer because religion is a modern concept. The world we live in, though unjust, is hardly unchangeable, and we should want to do more than Apr 15, 1996 · Stoicism was one of the new philosophical movements of the Hellenistic period. Christianity and Stoicism: Macfie 1976, 10) or ‘neo-stoic’ (Muller 1993) or even that it was inclined towards a ‘mitigated Stoicism’ (Vivenza 2001, 59)6 but rather that Smith’s approbation of Stoic self-command was confined to savage societies and not to commercial societies. By the first century AD, Stoicism was a main philosophy among the Roman upper class. Oct 30, 2023 · Stoicism shares some concepts with religion, but it is fundamentally a philosophy centered on how to live well. Using Stoic philosophy to deal with racism is not a new concept. Damian Cox - unknown. He views Christianity as a symptom of decay. Apr 28, 2023 · Is Stoicism a Religion? Answering the Question . Stoicism, in it's original form, certainly had a number of beliefs that would be considered religious in nature. Sep 16, 2023 · stoicism and religion Stoicism, a philosophy with its roots in ancient Greece, has garnered immense popularity in recent years due to its timeless wisdom and practical approach to life’s challenges. The actual religious trappings (rituals, temples, and the like) are all pretty arbitrary, as different countries worshipped different gods in different ways, and anything that would contradict the Stoic principles would be immediately ruled out, so Zeus and Hera fighting like cats is taken as a metaphor or analogy for some bits of wisdom from May 2, 2024 · Stoicism is a philosophical movement that originated in ancient Greece and Rome, and it has continued to influence thinkers and practitioners throughout history. While it posits the existence of a rational order (Logos), this is not personalized or deified in the way gods are in religious contexts. 560K subscribers in the Stoicism community. May 22, 2024 · Feel free to write your questions, queries, and doubts on is stoicism a religion, in the comments below, and do not forget to follow TheFreedomSage on Twitter. Sources: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, The Works of Epictetus. The ancient stoics had a fair bit to say on theological matters, (the Logos and all that) so I suppose that if someone were to go along with their religious ideas Stoicism would be their religion. Stoics are Anti-Ignorant Likewise, atheism is a positively cultish religion to the Objectivists. Aug 30, 2010 · The academic community considers Stoicism to be a philosophical school that reached its peak in Rome during the first few centuries of the Common Era. How do modern scholars define religion? Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - 18 votes and 34 comments. I'm new to this Mar 21, 2015 · It is Atheism that is conducting its own ‘inquisition’ by attacking any and every religious teaching, and not offering a ‘live and let live’ attitude. This article aims to examine the Christianity and Stoicism and the influence of Roman stoics on Christianity. I use Le Fils to argue that the Anti-Stoic approach to overcoming victimhood is both more realistic and more valuable than the Stoic approach 563K subscribers in the Stoicism community. This type of philosophy encourages us to accept the challenges of life without complaint. Nov 29, 2024 · A “pick-and-choose Stoicism” is not the same one Epictetus laid out. It focuses on ethics, logic, and living in harmony with nature rather than spiritual rites. Stoicism is a complicated, sophisticated system of thought. LEARN MORE Feb 17, 2013 · Hence, Epicureanism’s profoundly anti-religious, and eventually anti-Christian, character. The Stoic religion worships the totality of Nature, and is therefore the truest The religious impulse is a wish fulfillment fantasy. What religion aligns with the stoics today? Some stoic texts speak of “God(s)” but do not align with the Judaeo-Christian theology. Traditionally, Stoicism is not incompatible with religion, but I think rejection of religion is a natural extension of Stoicism. I found religion through Stoicism. CE) who criticizes the Stoics in On Mixture and On Fate and contrasts their views piecemeal with those of Aristotle in other works; the Platonist Plutarch (1st-2nd c. Despite the fact that some of the ancient Stoics themselves, for instance Seneca (in Letter XXXIII. I'm mean, the Catholic church has always considered Senneca an Honorary Christian. However, its impact on religious thought is profound and longstanding. Faith seems unreasonable because people with faith have high confidence in things that are poorly justified. Anti-stoicism did not become a formative point of view which could preclude the absorp-tion of other phases of the stoic teaching. Conversely, the only thing that necessitates misery and is “bad” or “evil” is the corruption of reason, namely vice. Stoicism is not a religion in the traditional sense, as it does not involve faith in a higher power or a specific set of spiritual beliefs. Can these two seemingly distinct belief systems coexist […] May 27, 2024 · Introduction: Is Stoicism A Religion? Have you ever stumbled upon the term “Stoicism” and wondered if it’s a religion? Perhaps you’ve heard about famous Stoic figures like Marcus Aurelius Is a stoic supposed to not kill themselves if they have a life ending disease that is withering them away? mansourrrrr “If you have assumed a character above your strength, you have both acted in this matter in an unbecoming way, and you have neglected that which you might have fulfilled. The ancient Stoics all had beliefs about the world that look like "religion" to us, although when you lived at a time of such comparative ignorance what was "ignorance" to us was "a best get at physics" to many of the classic Stoics, which makes asking a question like "was x religious" across a timespan of thousands of years and many extinct Stoicism is derived from virtue ethics, in that it seeks to identify the highest virtue, and work towards it, thus it is the practicing stoics virtues themselves that matter, not the motivation or effect of the actions the stoic takes. Stoics doesn’t say that explicitly (so far as I know), but it’s implied within the philosophical materialist worldview, to which Stoicism is inherently attached. A lot of modern day main stream Stoics, such as Ryan Holiday, state that people should believe in some form of higher power, maybe not God or god(s) but at least something like Fate. One of the key differences is the absence of belief in a deity within stoicism. Some individuals may Ever since first reading Nassim Taleb's Antifragile, I've become very interested in Stoicism and its applications to daily life. com Nov 4, 2024 · Stoicism was popular and had an impact on Roman society during the time of Jesus and the early church. The second purpose for this compilation is to give students and practitioners of Stoicism a place to begin their own research into the religious nature of Stoicism. That being said, Stoic ethics doesn't derive from Stoic metaphysics except in really loose ways, ways that certainly aren't strong enough to claim that one cannot separate the two. While Stoicism shares some… Stoicism would be applied by working to get the girl with their own work tools. Jan 2, 2025 · Is Stoicism a Religion: The Philosophical Angle Stoicism isn't about worship or divine commandments; it's more like a roadmap for living well based on reason. The stoics themselves say 'love the Gods' suggesting, to me, at least a real utility for religious belief in the Stoic practice. In terms of religion, it is essential to be cognizant that Stoicism does not advocate a personal deity or prescribe rituals for worship — characteristics integral to most religious systems. Just as i take my refuge in stoicism, others take theirs in christianity or buddhism or whatever their religion may be. Stoicism is primarily considered a philosophy rather than a religion. This seems to be a response to being a religious person, or at least having religious foundations, existing in the anti-religious arena of academia. Mar 25, 2022 · The Stoics so overflow in both psychological and ethical insights that a modern re-emergence in interest in the practice of Stoicism has throughout the world. I’m curious as to what religion both stoics like yourselves follow and the stoics that wrote the texts we read today (Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, etc. Jul 19, 2021 · In what ways does stoic philosophy agree with Christian thought? In what ways does stoic philosophy contradict Chri Is stoicism compatible with Christianity? I wouldn't say that stoicism is a religion simply due to stoic physics. The Stoics understood "God" in a henotheistic light, meaning that there were many gods (the ones identified in the Graeco-Roman pantheon, for example) that all existed within Nature, which is equivalent to Stoicism - Ancient Philosophy, Virtue, Reason: With the death of Aristotle (322 bce) and that of Alexander the Great (323 bce), the greatness of the life and thought of the Greek city-state (polis) ended. 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 This is exactly why, stoicism is the perfect anti-religion. [32] According to the Stoics, the logos was the active reason or anima mundi pervading and animating the entire Universe. I find it like following a religion. It was conceived as material and In this article, we will explore the relationship between Stoicism and religion, discussing whether Stoicism can coexist with religious faith, how it approaches the concept of divinity, and what Stoic principles can offer to people of different religious backgrounds. Join us a It's just that stoics work to recognize when they no longer have a choice in the matter due to external forces. Stoicism’s Surge in Popularity Dec 8, 2015 · NOTE: An updated version of this blog post and an accompanying Stoicism On Fire podcast episode is available here. Stoicism does not have a formal system of belief or worship, nor does it have a centralized hierarchy or organized institutions like The need for Stoics to be flexible when it comes to assimilating certain religious beliefs and cultural matters is also stated by Epictetus in chapter 31 of the Enchiridion. You said that stoicism and christianity differ in that stoicism says to rely on yourself for whatever you can do and have thur ready to the universe, but replace the word universe with God, and there's no difference. The name derives from the porch (stoa poikilê) in the Agora at Athens decorated with mural paintings, where the members of the school congregated, and their lectures were held. This thesis uses the expertise of Mar 21, 2024 · Religion and philosophy may be essential for some people struggling with coping: religious philosophy or philosophic religion. Stoicism from its earliest beginnings was religious… It must not however be concluded that Stoicism was a religion only and not a philosophy. Stoicism heavily emphasizes reason. Its roots This thing is basically anti-stoicism. But if you don't agree with the stoic idea of god, Stoa would be your philosophy, not religion, (it could be both) that's just my POV anyway. But public perception is changing. Yes, being anti-god is a religious stance, because it requires faith. Living virtuously is the end goal after all. While there were certainly religious aspects to ancient Stoicism, it was by no means a religion, at least not in the conventional sense. He argued that the religious propensities of human nature direct us towards theistic belief but, equally, Last Christmas we wrote about the overlap between Seneca and Jesus—how both of them were born the same year and how many of their teachings are similar in nature. Cosmological Ethics in the Timaeus and Early Stoicism. The Stoic Philosophy and Virtue Ethics. Aug 12, 2010 · The academic community considers Stoicism to be a philosophical school that reached its peak in Rome during the first few centuries of the Common Era. Sometimes the words of Epictetus hit me in a different way and are still in line with a biblical message. If the wish is fulfilled, the god is vindicated. I think the main issue is the common misunderstanding of Stoicism as being about detachment, but that is a naive over simplification, it often talks about morals, and connects them to the natural world and what it means to be a human being; what is good for humanity is morally good, so the true good is one of civic duty (paraphrasing Stoics believe(d, as few modern stoics share these beliefs) in a fundamentally good, rationally ordered universe. 2K votes, 85 comments. The human being needs something. Jun 21, 2023 · For the Stoics, God exists in our material world, and virtue is seen as the highest good and the key to eudaimonia (happiness, flourishing). Overcoming victimhood: Stoicism, anti-stoicism and Le Fils. Feb 12, 2019 · 4 Peter H. Enjoy free shipping over $80, you cheeky rebel! STOICISM; GIFT GUIDE; MULTIPACKS; Feb 27, 2023 · Commodus lived the anti-Stoic life, pursuing lust, narcissism, and self-indulgence. The Stoics that wrote the documents we read were all religious. Seneca’s book Letters from a Stoic (c. See full list on dailystoic. Many great thinkers throughout history influenced by this philosophy. It grew only as it was prompted by the general desire of men to assume individually their moral responsibilities. This seems particularly interesting at a time when Stoicism, the insights of which are reflected in effective therapeutic Stoicism - Modern Philosophy, Resilience, Mindfulness: If the influence of Stoic doctrines during the Middle Ages was largely restricted to the resolution of problems of social and political significance, it remained for the Renaissance, in its passion for the rediscovery of Greek and Roman antiquity, to provide a basis for the rebirth of Stoic views in logic, epistemology, and metaphysics, as How Stoicism Relates to Religious Views of God. If a person "follows Stoicism as a religion" they're not following it at all - Stoic philosophy is a series of arguments for reality that you evaluate against reality. The thesis argues that the increasing philosophical interest in Marxus Aurelius's Stoicism in the second half of the seventeenth cenutry in part owes to its relative immunity from the central arguments of the Augustinian anti-Stoic critique; and shows how the controversies surrounding Spinoza's philosophy at the end of the century helped to Sep 9, 2022 · In many ways, Stoicism is simpler than Christianity in that it is a practical philosophy rather than an entire major world religion. . Mar 28, 2024 · Stoics believed that the key to happiness and peace was to live in accordance with nature. Stoicism is not about allowing those who exhort false or harmful thought to do so freely or without resistance. This is complete codswallop, I can only assume you haven't actually read a great deal of Stoic philosophy. The first free black American community in NYC, founded in 1825, was called Seneca Village. While it’s often seen as a secular philosophy, it’s worth exploring the relationship between Stoicism and religion. It is absolutely impossible to validate in any objective way. The distinction between philosophy and religion is a modern thing as well. yzgvb bwpak vvhdtyl kicdwd zraibj xhyry rqcq qjojuso vparg gay