Confessions of a Sunday Stoic

Dear Reader,

Growing up steeped in the Evangelical church culture of the 1980s, I often heard—and occasionally used—the derogatory term Sunday Christian. It was a behind-the-back label applied to those who attended church regularly (or semi-regularly) but were perceived as living un-Christian lives the rest of the week. The issue wasn’t just their imperfection; it was the apparent lack of remorse that drew mild, sometimes moderate, disdain. True Christians practiced their faith daily. Sunday Christians were seen as lacking full commitment.

If this is the background that led directly to my adoption of the name Sunday Stoic—and it is—the natural question is: why? I am certainly not advocating a half-hearted, insincere approach to Stoicism, quite the contrary. Whether you are new to Stoicism or, like me, have been at it for a while, one thing is clear: the best way to benefit from any philosophy is to live it moment by moment, day by day—to be, in other words, a Daily Stoic.

Unfortunately for me, Daily Stoic is not an authentic self-description, thus Sunday Stoic is an acknowledgment not just that my Stoic practice is imperfect (whose isn’t?), but that I often fail to practice it at all. For weeks, months, even years on end, I forget the lessons I’ve learned, falling into old habits of anger, anxiety and despair.

Somewhat surprisingly, however, I keep coming back to Stoicism and that leads to my main point for today:  more than an admission of shortcomings, Sunday Stoic is an affirmation of values I hold dear.

First, the term Sunday Stoic captures a certain approach to truth—one that is honest, open, and above all, non-dogmatic. I am constitutionally unable to throw all my philosophical marbles into one basket. Instead, I explore multiple perspectives, uncertain which will serve me best in a given season of life. In this sense, I could just as easily call myself a Sunday Buddhist or—yes— a Sunday Christian, although Sunday Episcopalian would be more precise. I once saw this discomfort with being all-in on any one philosophy, religion, or way of life as weakness; I no longer do.

Sunday Stoic is also an expression of humility. Stoicism is often associated with pride and self-sufficiency, but I see no reason why humility, properly defined, shouldn’t be an equally central virtue—a true Stoic knows they are on a journey towards a destination that will never be reached.

Less seriously but still important, I find Sunday Stoic a suitable selection for self-identification and an affirming example of alliteration. 

Fourth and finally, Sunday Stoic represents an aspirational goal: as a lifelong procrastinator, it would be a major triumph to consistently publish my thoughts on a weekly basis—Sundays to be precise.

There you have it.  Now you know the whence and wherefore of the name Sunday Stoic.

Until next time,

Russell

[i] Daily Stoic is the name of the website created by Ryan Holiday, the bestselling author of several books, including “The Obstacle is the Way.”  You can check it out at www.dailystoic.com.