The Porch and the Cross: Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Modern Christian Living

Regardless of their sometimes ambiguous concepts of God, the Roman Stoic philosophers did acknowledge Him, but on the basis of reason alone, because they had not met Christ. Nonetheless, they did deduce from God’s existence our need to live lives of virtue, honor, tranquility, and self-control--and they developed effective techniques to help us achieve this. Musonius Rufus the teacher, Epictetus the slave, Seneca the adviser to emperors, and Marcus Aurelius, the emperor himself, produced a practical technology we can use to integrate Christian ethics into our own daily practice. As Kevin Vost so wonderfully illustrates in his new book, The Porch and the Cross, the Stoics can help us learn--and remember--what is up to us, and what is up to God alone.In medieval times, Christian monks copied the Stoics’ handbooks, and scholastic theologians mined their works for gems of natural moral wisdom. In the 1960s, cognitive psychotherapists turned to the Stoics to discover methods to conquer depression and anxiety. And there is still today much that Christians can learn from these “teachers on the porch” of antiquity.“Kevin Vost has done his readers a tremendous service once again! The Porch and the Cross is suffused with wisdom that is relevant, timely, and brilliantly articulated. Read and be inspired.”--KEVIN LOWRY, author of Faith at Work“The complementarity of reason and faith is beautifully evidenced in this gem of a book. The Porch and the Cross offers a fascinating and insightful glimpse into the love of wisdom and the wisdom of the cross!”--FR. DONALD CALLOWAY, MIC, author of No Turning Back“Just as did St. Thomas Aquinas in the past, Kevin Vost does a superb job of showing us how human reason, in the form of Stoic philosophy, supports Christian revelation. This excellent reminder is providential in our day, where so many people desperately need to reconnect with the Western intellectual tradition.”--SCOTT M. SULLIVAN, President and CEO, Classical Theist Productions“The Porch and the Cross takes the reader back to the Stoic thinkers as a complement to natural law and Christian faith.”--KENNETH J. HOWELL, Theologian in Residence, The Coming Home Network (from the Foreword)“Kevin Vost, in his uniquely personable writing style, does a remarkable job bringing to life the instructions of men who lived nearly 2000 years ago!”--JARED ZIMMERER, author of Man Up! (from the Preface) Read more