Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

UU Collective

Home
New Visions
The Olympics of a Reflective Life

The Olympics of a Reflective Life

Last updated on: June 4, 2015 at 6:32 am by David Breeden

The Olympics of a Reflective Life 2015-06-04T06:32:04-06:00 David Breeden

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Nose On Your Face

I often find it best to start out by stating the obvious, and this is what I think is obvious, anyway, about those of us who choose our philosophy or religious tradition: We pick one (or pick elements of various ones) because we find those suggested practices and commitments useful in constructing the formula for a good life.

I think I’ve got that right.

As a consequence, having pre-chosen a lifestance, we are better able to deal with life’s inevitable highs and lows. We have a method!

As for me, a particular style of Christianity was chosen for me at birth due to the circumstances and geography of my birth.

My experience of life, however, led me to question the meaning, methods, and efficacy of the style of Christianity that my birth had chosen for me.

First I questioned that form of Christianity, then I questioned Christianity itself. For me, Christianity did not offer answers to the questions that I felt were getting asked as I lived my life.

So, for those lucky enough to get a choice, the criteria for choosing a new philosophy or religion (or, gosh help us, a “spirituality”) would appear to be something that makes sense and creates meaning and purpose in our lives.

Warning: Gladiators Eat Dust

As a Humanist, I’m partial to that earlier humanistic philosophy, Stoicism, and for my money, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus (died 135 CE) said it best in Chapter 29 of his Enchiridion, or “Manual.”

In all things, think about
what comes before
and what comes after.

Then, act. Otherwise,
you will start with a bang
and then begin to whimper.

Who doesn’t want to be
an Olympic champion?

But give some thought to
what comes before the glory
and what comes after.

If you want all of it—
the rules,
the diet,
the exercise—
go for it. Make your
trainer your boss.

Want to be a gladiator?
You might get slammed;
you might eat dust;
you might get beaten.

Think about it.

If you still want it,
go for it. But first,
consider—or you will look
like the kids who play at
wrestler or gladiator.

Consider or, like an ape,
you will mimic what you see,
then wander to the next thing.

Consider. Go for what
you want with zeal.

Want to be a philosopher?
It’s not all about the talking.

Consider: what do you want?
Want to be a wrestler?
Do you have the back for it, the legs?

We all have different strengths.
Stoics don’t gorge,
don’t get angry, don’t get drunk.
They follow a middle way.

Consider all this, then,
go ahead, if you want.
But be consistent.

Either act with integrity
or look like a child at play.

Cultivate your reason;
cultivate your body.
Work on your inside and
your outside.

Do some thinking about it.
Or be one of the mob. (author’s translation)

Epictetus gets at that central problem with potential: we can want in several different directions and end up playing lots of parts but never achieving anything.

The mere fact that many human beings alive today have the choice of which religions and philosophies to follow can lead to lots of sampling and very little savoring. We must remember the point of religions and philosophies: to aid us in achieving meaning and purpose, “the good life.”

What was true in the Rome of Epictetus is true today: you can’t be an Olympic wrestler, gladiator, and philosopher, except in virtual reality. In this we reality, we all must choose where our priorities lie. Religions and philosophies offer sets of practices and commitments that—ideally, anyway—help with those choices.

After thanking your lucky stars for the freedom the choose, do some thinking about it. As Epictetus would say.

Consider. Go for what
you want with zeal.

Previous Post

May 28, 2015

Religion American Style (and the Church of Crazy)

Next Post

June 9, 2015 Anti-racism is essential for social change movements

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #9/11 Abortion Class community conflict Digital Life Diversity Divorce Environmental issues Evangelism Faith Development Foregiveness Garden glbt Gratitude Grief Healing health care Holidays Hospitality Interfaith LGBT Issues Military Service Mortality Orlando Parenting Peace Politics Power Prayer Racism Relationships Religion Scripture Senior citizens Sermons simplicity Social Justice Spirituality Sports Sustainability Uncategorized Unitarian Universalist Values Women's Issues World Community Worship

Select a Month August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: According to Romans, if God is for us, no one can be against us.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE