When we hide, there's a spiritual formation going on. Your spirit of courage is getting drained as that because to hide, you have to practice hiding. Tomidity is habit forming. And then so, so even if in this dream scenario, you can inherit the ship after the pirates have left, your own courage has been drained from you by a long, formational experience of hiding. The problem with the team lesser evil argument is it actually frankly doesn't work without corrupting you. I have never in my life met somebody who can sustain feeling as if they're evil of any degree. That's what really grieves me about a lot of what happened on the right. They began
“Founding friend” David French returns to tackle the tough question that every Republican of good faith should be asking. They explain why this particular question of “Should I stay or should I go?” is highly relevant for everyone, regardless of political affiliation. The conversation explores the ways that political calculations inescapably are spiritual in nature, and the two have a fun time unpacking this reality via the “pirate ship” metaphor. Listeners will especially be helped by how David and Curtis explain the three main options - Leave, Stand, or Hide - facing anyone who feels caught in a deeply dysfunctional institution.
For those who want to connect with other “Leavers,” share your thoughts with others on the Good Faith “lifeboat” in the comments section for this episode (you only need to become a member by subscribing here - it’s free).
For those who want to make a “Stand” for the soul of the evangelical church, learn more about The After Party project.
For those interested in the mindset of “Hiders, read Anne Applebaum’s excellent analysis of the psychological rationalization practiced within the GOP (The Atlantic).