Stoicism and Christianity 

I personally liked the old setup better. This feels kinda ‚unintimate‘ in a newsroom bad green screen kinda way

I Wasn't going to church for a while ,and when i was away, i indulged in stoicism alot especially meditations by marcus aurelius,it helped navigate life for a while. but there was something else missing,not sure what to name but the word "Relief" comes to mind and start of this year ,2024 i started going back to church, Catholic actually even though i have never been one , and guys the amount of peace i have is as they say beyond understanding which gives me great relief. I am not leaving philosophy anytime soon but am most reliant on the bible going foward. Thank you for this discussion.

The main difference: Stoicism, the word didn't become flesh but for us Christians our Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word gave eternal life to those who believed in Him.

Even as a Protestant I still enjoy listening and learning from bishop B,

This discussion reminds me of a time in college when I was struggling with doubt. I prayed in frustration, saying to God, "I don't think I even understand what faith is!" This was one of the few times in my life that I prayed and felt like I got a very direct and clear answer. I felt like God immediately responded via an impression/thought in my mind with, "Faith is knowing that no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay." That phrase is like a simple mathematical equation that can be unpacked and shown to reveal all sorts of truths. As it's phrased, it has a sort of stoic character. It seems to suggest the acceptance of what is, and the simultaneous trust that God is working it all out for good. Even in the midst of my confusion and suffering, God is there, working it all out for my good. My role is to cultivate an awareness of that. In essence, it's trusting God.

Stoicism isn't just about accepting things the way they are. But in reacting to things emotionally, we are not necessarily working towards doing good. If we want to change things for the good, sometimes we have to detach ourselves a little, take a look at circumstances and causes and see how we can actually influence a situation.

I been studying stoicism since the lockdowns started, and I saw the parallels with cristianity. Thanks for this video, it will help me with both.

I like the Old format much better than this new one. The new format has lost the intimacy. This new format feels sterile. I enjoyed the discussion immensely! Thank you. :)

Stoicism is a secular guide on how to control the lower appetites of emotion, hunger, lust, gluttony.

I dig Word on Fire trying to stay ahead on the studio and being in the media. However, that particular background is pretty boring and is much less intimate of an experience than Bishop Barron talking from the library. Plenty of big youtubers use green screens but theirs are more unique to their aesthetic. That one feels very generic vatican news-ish

I am man in his early 30s who is atheist and exploring philosophical and religious wisdom. I have found significant wisdom in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius that I don't feel I have found in other searches through religious or philosophical works. I was raised Catholic, attended Catholic school from K-8 grade and look fondly back at that time. I felt this discussion was talking directly to me and I appreciate the honest acknowledgement of why people like me are searching for wisdom in these traditions.

I miss the intimate library. Sorry. This is so sterile looking.

One of the problems with Stoicism is that prayer has no place in life. There is no faith that any appeal can be put forth to change the circumstances in this world, and it follows that Stoicism lacks the Hope that’s only available in Christianity, a gift from the Spirit Himself.

Stoicism is a gateway-philosophy to Christianity.

"This is what you deserve. You could be good today, but you choose tomorrow"- Marcus Aurelius

Yes I have been taught that we are all one body in Christ! I have grown up Catholic, came to God as a Protestant and have been turned back by the Lord to Catholicism understanding the Truth God had given me by being grounded in His entire Holy Word.

my sponsor in AA started with Stoic wisdom then by turning my life into integrity I begin accruing virtuous qualities my life naturally moved into a hunger for spirituality....today I am a Christian-Stoic and God is the capstone of my life....

This does feel a bit sterile. Great episode as always, however. Glad you guys are looking to improve things, but keep the homely feel if you're able, in my opinion. God bless you all.

It seems to me stoicism is still just as compatible with the concept of prayer. If you desire to do everything you can to influence an outcome, and prayer is something you can do to influence an outcome, then you can desire to pray regardless of what the outcome ends up being. You will still be content in whatever the outcome was, because you know you did everything in your control (choosing to pray) to influence the outcome, but the ultimate outcome is out of your control.

Around 7:43 Bishop Barron mentions the connection between Buddhism and Stoicism. Just after the connection between Christianity and Stoicism is mentioned. And its funny to me because I went from being interested in Buddhism, to Stoicism, and then Christianity. Though not ways to salvation, Buddhism and Stoicism helped me look at life in a different way that made me more open to the gospel. If i hadnt run into them i would still be stubbornly against anything mystical. Too hard headed...or stone hearted to accept Christ.

Ex pagan stoic to Catholic almost in a way guided me to Jesus 🙏

Being a Stoic doesn’t mean being apathetic or not moving to action. If we can change or effect a situation we should involve ourselves. I can work with the world around me and I should make it better and in doing that my goodness should reach beyond my own reach. Catholicism and stoicism can move together.

I'm living a desert castaway experience for the sin of aging. And now my Christian faith is largely practiced alone because of the sentence of aging. It appears Stoic concepts could help me navigate another day mostly alone. Thank you for mentioning "stop expecting something else" and "The Porch and the Cross" as a beginning read.

One of the main focuses of Stoicism is Justice. Stoics do not tolerate injustice, they are not apathetic against it.

I miss the library as well. The knowledge and love of books is a significant part of Bishop Barron’s teachings.

Bishop Barron should do a Stoicism/Christianity book sort of like The Enchiridion by Epictetus. A short manual of Stoic and Catholic ethical advice with daily practices/habits/meditations.

I think it is a mark of an intelligent mind to glean truths, wherever they come from and practice them to live a righteous life. I do not pretend to know them mind of God but when I do this I feel him smile upon me. He delights in my free thinking because it’s just the way he designed me. To me learning and enjoying Gods love is a fluid thing, always growing and changing. It’s not stiff and adhered to rules. One must just be open to what is true and righteous. It requires a level of honesty most are not ready or willing to have.

Great chat, I’ve been reading The Daily Stoic book for about 3 years now, it’s really helped give me a framework to live by. I’m in the “not religious but open to suggestions” camp. Happy to take my direction from many sources, hence the reason I’m subscribed here. Another vote for making the background less sterile, the old set up had character.

Thank you Bishop this has been long overdue. I hope you get to talk about the life of st. Francis as a stoic would be interesting

I sensed that trend of stoicism in social media and I felt very appealed by it but did not find much information in the web about its relation to catholicism. This video has been very enlightening. Thank you for sharing your wisdom Bishop Barron.

Stoicism with the attitude of “it doesn’t matter, who cares” sounds more like nihilism to me. I love his interpretation of how stoicism and Christianity can be used in concert.

I really admire the way you teach us Bp Barron. Let me be your online student. Thank you so much

Some people are focusing on what they don't like about the new studio, but I'd like to say congratulations on the new format ! I like the visual focus on Bishop Barron when he's speaking, the split screen when both Bishop Barron and Brandon are speaking and I love that if I lose track of the subject (which often happens) I can read the question that he's answering on the bottom of the screen. Also, the sound is really good. The subject of this episode was great as always. Great job everyone at WoF. God bless you all.

Great content as always. Love the new lighting, but I'm going to echo a lot of responses and say the backdrops really give this an evening news feel in a bad way. If you're committed to the green screen, I'd recommend warm earth tones. Heck, even a backdrop of those awesome old timey maps would be better than the corporate training video look. Otherwise, I always look forward to Bishop Barron's insights and I can overlook the superficial to enjoy the teaching here.

THought provocative as always - thank you, Bishop Barron!

I’m a Christian Mystic and I really appreciate Bishop Barron.

Waiting this for so long .. God bless you Bishop Barron

Thank you Bishop Barron!! for making me sound smart in front of her family...

I like the new “clean” look of the background. It makes the speakers “pop” so to speak.

Stoicism is a form of moral discipline. Logos and and Logoi!! Porch and the Cross, not selling yet on Kindle.

This is pretty awesome! I googled, "What Bishop Barron says about stoicism." 😊 I've been coming across a lot of quotes from the stoics. Another instance when online technology serves a very worthy purpose. While I listened I thought about the Serenity prayer( to accept the things I cannot change). An elderly Franciscan priest at The Cross in The Woods Shrine in Michigan talked to me about this prayer at every confession. So I can heed the advice in the Stoics quotes. Unlike the New Age cult stoicism doesn't lure the follower into a self-centered world view.

So cool. I practice stoicism but I'm listening in on what Bishop Barron has to say...

Thanks for nailing the point of demarcation Bishop Barron. As always simply refreshing to listen to you.

I miss the old background :(

Thank you for an enlightening discussion

I know it's off topic but I came across this paragraph from a book on Padre Pio's sayings called, Have a Good Day that I just thought I'd randomly share. "Reflect upon and keep before your mental gaze the great humility of the Mother of God, our Mother. The more she was filled with heavenly gifts, the more deeply she humbled herself."

Its been 3 years but i need to come back to this.

The zen practice always helped me and so is my faith. Thanks for discussing the overlapping concepts and how we can borrow from stoicism without losing our belief.

Thank you for this very informative and interesting video. May God bless you both!!

I prefer this background. Because it is clean my mind can focus 100% on what is being said.

From how I’ve been reading Meditations by Marcus A., Stoicism doesn’t deny religion, if at all I find it a great way to amalgamate my two, I am a die hard catholic, but my examples for how I read it is like when Marcus talks about Zeus, I say the of Christ(Hagios works for me, maybe cause both are originally Greek) and when it talks about nature I think of Gods design, when Marcus invokes the memory of men from the past I remember the numerous great Saints we have in the church.

Bring back the map of middle Earth!

Should be good. Thinking about their use of the word Logos in the light of John 1 and 1:16-17.

I have just now been able to watch this in the new situation. I don't particularly like it as it loses some the 'intimacy' of the previous setup. There are also technical problems which I presume are solvable. These include lack of clear focus (in the film sense!), 'muddy' sound and the syncing for Bishop Barron was very slightly off. Content is as usual excellent. I learn every time!

I like the message that when we align our logos to the environment we have peace.

Can't say I like the new background, and I honestly hope you guys revert back to the old studios. One thing that is pretty cool, though, is the graphic of Bishop Barron's Coat of Arms. I would say definitely keep that!

So cool to see another Arkansan get on a biggish religious channel! Andrew seems like a cool dude

Nooo, noooooo. Old version is better. This is too impersonal. I miss the books and maps. Especially the middle earth one.

I applaud your improved production quality. I do want to point out that Bishop Barron's audio and video are out of sync, by about a frame or so. Please fix that.

I found this channel and i love it! May god bless you from Brazil!

Awesome stuff guys! Always love the content! Hey can someone please ask the Bishop to review “The Chosen” as soon as possible 🤣😂 I want to hear his thoughts so bad!!

I wish Bishop Barron would have a discussion with Ryan Reeves

The old studio was so warm and inviting. I loved the library feel. This new look lacks character

Excelent show. Thank you for it. I just want to add something: as I see it and as far as I understand it, stoic resignation to fate does not mean to be passive in front of those things we can change. If we can do something to change anything that's bad, a stoic would counsel us to do it. Stoic resignation is more like a kind of acceptance of those things we can do nothing to change and, in this point, I don't think it contradicts the christian position on this matter. As christians, we need this kind of acceptance, even while we pray for God to change our fate. The two things are not excludent.

I like the content of this one, Your Excellency. However, I much preferred the library. I could almost picture you in a comfy chair, with your Roman collar, and a smoking pipe giving us a, as always, solid message about our faith and culture!

We are living in era of the cult of SELF.

Wow! Was surprised to see the new background. Great detail using Bishop Barron’s episcopal coat of arms. Still great content. Congratulations on the new sets. 🙏🏽

I like the program, but I liked the old format more.Thanks

The new setup won't keep me from watching, but I do like the old setup better. It was nice seeing the books, the maps, etc.

I miss trying to read the book titles on the shelves behind Bishop Barron as he talks.

Aprecciate the talk as always. Honestly the library background had it's touch. Nevertheless any attempt to improve should be welcome among the viewers. Congratz.

16:15 to 16:30 That right there is “The obstacle is the way.”

Loved it !!! Thank you 🙏

Good and timely content 🙏🙏🙏not so good background

Bishop Barron, I wish you would have touched a bit on the Stoic goal of "becoming [like] God", which Seneca talks about all throughout his letters on ethics. Aside from later Neo-Platonism, the Stoic goal of becoming [like] God seems extremely similar to the Christian goal of deification or theosis. They don't use the term sanctification, but more than any other non-Christian philosophy they have something like sanctification as their main ethical ideal. It would have been interesting to dig a bit deeper into how the deification of a Christian saint is different than the Stoic sage.

Hello to all! I am happy because there's a Catholic discussion regarding stoicism. I am very interested in stoicism and I learned their practices. I have a question. As catholics, is it okay for us to do meditation such as the stoic one: view from above. I've read that by performing this meditation, we put things in their proper perspective.

Thanks PADRE ❤

I have to agree with many commenters on the new look. The previous background was much more personal and intimate, not to mention more interesting. The new background looks like any another show. Wonderful episode as usual nonetheless.

I feel like this is an overly simplified take on Stoicism that ignores certain aspects of the Philosophy as a practice. Stoicism did not promote a passive indifference to anything, they promoted a need to understand the good or the bad within and without and either ascent or deny. Cato was a Stoic that fought in a Rebellion against tyranny and injustice. Marcus Aurelius led the Roman Army on campaign for many many years in an effort to defend the Empire. Epictetus was known as a very spiritual Stoic who wrote Discourses on keeping constant blessings to God and praising the Divine (Singular) above all else and not taking credit. This is about, as you say, unleashing passions that are in harmony with the good while staving off the passions which are not. At the same time, knowing there are base things that have to be dealt with in order to overcome and grow. This is where discomfort practice comes in, in order to maintain courage and reason despite hardship. That some hardship is necessary in order for things to go where they need to go, so there is no point in whining about it. The Stoics practiced a way of viewing the worst possible outcomes in order to realize that things that happen, when they happen, are much worse in our imaginings than in reality. This video is rife with oversimplification and can promote misunderstanding, if you will forgive my directness. They did not say that one should not fight to overcome hardship, adversity, or injustice, but that one should reframe one’s perspective in order to gain ‘proper footing’ necessary to do so. In some instances the hardship cannot be overcome and is relegated to the will of God in order to embolden others and teach lessons. So the self sacrifice, itself, becomes a stand against injustice or baring a hardship with courage becomes an example of how to drive ahead. Some Stoics died or were banished for speaking out and even rising up, taking up arms. Jesus, the ultimate in Stoic examples, died on the cross for others... Martyrs in the Church died. They accepted their fate as the will of God. These are Stoic examples within the Church. Greek Philosophers, the majority, were also once Soldiers and war, along with warrior practices, were considered part of Philosophical training. Catholics have this in the Jesuit practices of St Ignacious. Yes, place Catholicism as the foremost, but in context there are very few differences.

Congrats on the studio!

The concept of the ‘bad Buddha’, obstacles that present over and over until we learn how to control our reactivity to them, is also close to stoicism.

Wonderful! I love it!

Stoicism was a first step for me toward the Truth of Christianity. The concept of the Logos in Stoicism fascinated me, but the true meaning and reality of the Logos is the Incarnate Logos of God, Jesus Christ. I would suggest reading St. Justin Martyr on the Logos in his 1st & 2nd Apology. He was providentially martyred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Also, I'd recommend the discussion on the stoics in Book 19 of St. Augustine's City of God.

thank you, that was enlightening.

16:36. Bishop Barron quoting St. Escriva. 😁

The new sets seem like CNN. It's not a "conversation" anymore, it's a broadcast. The best set is the one the Bishop uses in his single-person videos with the bookshelves in the background.

Stoicism matches Christianity on many points, but it does not answer the question of what happens AFTER we die and how that should impact how we live.

Well made video, definitely clarifying.

For the background, you could have a nice image that changes very gradually relating to what you are discussing. The blue background seems cold and too modern.

I have to admit, I never imagined how many opportunities toward sanctification have come into my life!

great topic selection

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please do a program on Scotus and William of Occam

Fascinating talk. Bishop Barron has a relatively good understanding of Stoicism, though I disagree that Stoics advocate passive acceptance of the world rather than actively trying to work for justice. Stoics (ancient & modern) do advocate action to change the world-but with the reserve clause that one might not succeed.

An interesting footnote, the Gotham television show made a point to identify Thomas Wayne as a stoic.

In Stoicism the pursuit of Virtue is the only good and leads to Eudaimonia (Happiness), Disciplining of passions and desires is not the tenet that leads to happiness, but lack of disciplining passions and desires will lead to misery or evil.

Interestingly, Stoicism has been hugely important in US military training. It has been so for decades. Stoicism does not tell you simply to evade or accept suffering, like Eastern philosophies, but to go through it bearing in mind your dearest values, and taking your determination and goals to heart, having learned to separate your emotions or inclinations from what is right or true, or ought to be done. For the stoic mind, it is your freedom or autonomy to decide what to do that cannot be hijacked. However, in contrast to Christianity, certainly it does not give you a metaphysical explanation on why things are like they are, like Saint Paul does, for instance. That is, it does not give you a metaphysical foundation for your purpose. For this reason, it is possible to be an stoic and a Christian. Otherwise one would be a little too masochistic.

Brandon, sorry to be nitpicking but here in Silicon Valley we pronounce Silicon as in Sili “con”-vention, not as Sili”con”-ference. Having work here as an engineer for 35 years, one has to be stoic when all the talk is how much money one makes, hoe much stocks do you get, how much one’s house price is in million $, how your children’s schools fare in score and in which elite colleges they go to. In addition, the majority of high tech engineers are from India who are predominantly Hindus and China/Taiwan who are non-Christians. Latinos, Filipinos, Vietnamese make up the majority of Catholics and other Christian denominations. Our church which is in the center of SV is blessed with Indian and Sri-Lankan Catholics

In the political realm, detachment from the system leads to apathy and resignation, a call to heroic action against wickedness leads to political activism, detachmnent from the system and call to action together leads to anarchism

Looks fantastic. No more maps and books though...It's the end of an era.