Start with Small Steps 226 - Can a Christian Be a Stoic?
100 - Can a Christian Be Stoic?
In this episode, I explore a question that has shaped much of my spiritual journey: can a Christian embrace Stoicism? I share how I discovered Stoicism at a young age and how its principles helped me build resilience during difficult times. Later, when I became a Christian, I had to ask whether those Stoic values still had a place in my life—and what I found was both challenging and enlightening.
Virtue and Character in Both Paths
Both Stoicism and Christianity call us to a life of integrity—emphasizing values like courage, wisdom, justice, and self-control. I talk about how these overlapping principles shaped the way I approach daily life, relationships, and spiritual growth. Even though the motivations are different—Stoicism is about inner peace, Christianity is about serving God—the virtues themselves resonate in both.
Emotions: Controlled or Embraced?
One of the biggest contrasts is how emotions are treated. Stoicism promotes emotional restraint. Christianity invites emotional honesty. I reflect on the emotional lives of Jesus and biblical figures like David and Hannah, and what that says about God’s design for our emotional nature.
Suffering and Resilience
Both philosophies prepare us to face hardship. I talk about how Stoicism taught me to endure, but Christianity taught me that suffering has a purpose. One builds strength through discipline; the other brings hope through surrender. Together, they have helped me become more resilient—not just tough, but spiritually anchored.
Where Stoicism Can Fall Short
I also share moments where Stoicism made me overly self-reliant. Sometimes I default to solving problems instead of praying through them. That’s where my faith checks me. Christianity invites me to lean on God, not just on grit and planning.
💡 Takeaways:
Stoicism gave me tools—clarity, discipline, emotional balance. Christianity gave me relationship—grace, hope, and divine love. I don’t have to abandon one to honor the other. Instead, I’ve learned how to thoughtfully integrate what builds virtue while staying grounded in faith. It’s not about blending the two into a new belief system, but about recognizing where timeless wisdom can sharpen spiritual truth.
Whether you’ve ever wrestled with Stoicism and Christianity or are just curious about how ancient philosophy fits into modern faith, this episode is an invitation to reflect, discern, and grow.
https://startwithsmallsteps.com/226-stoicism-and-christianity/
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