Episode 71: Stoic Objectivity and Amor Fati

In this episode Christopher and Riley draw upon the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, Byron Katie upack the stoic concepts of Amor Fati (love of fate, consent to destiny) and Objectivity as a means of better understanding Christ and our duties as disciples.  The evidence surrounds us; life is filled with adversity, or as a Buddhist might say, “life is suffering”.  Thermodynamics further affirms the inevitable death and dissolution of all matter.  Recognizing and accepting this inevitability can liberate us from despair in our darkest moments of sadness, anger, and grief.  Most of the circumstances that confront us conjure up impressions, judgments, and emotions (collectively: phantasia) within us, but are ultimately beyond our control.  The stoics viewed these circumstances objectively as largely deterministic in nature, but recognized the space between stimulus and response where we are given the choice to freely act as our best self, ethically, and for the benefit of others.  Christ is the archetypal model for this way of living and serving.  As he approached his impending torture and crucifixion, he accepted, not without distress but nevertheless freely, the circumstances which would lead to his death, as the most starkly persuasive example of service and love that can be expressed.  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13