I’ve been thinking recently about the similarities and differences between Stoicism and Christianity (in researching a future writing project).
For the uninitiated, Stoicism was the most popular philosophical tradition in the Roman Empire in the first couple centuries of our era. Its teachings shaped much of the intellectual milieu of the world into which Christianity emerged – it is also, incidentally, experiencing something of a renaissance in our own day, particularly among young men.
There are many striking overlaps between Jesus’ and the apostles’ teaching and that of the Stoics, and some of the church fathers explicitly sought to highlight these similarities. There are also some important differences, one of the most notable of which relates to one’s attitude toward death and dying. In the ancient world, both Christians and Stoics were known for their steadiness and courage in the face of death, but the reasons for their courage are quite distinct – almost opposite – to one another.
This difference is powerfully illustrated in an interview that was published this week between conservative NYT columnist Ross Douthat and former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse. A few months ago, Sasse announced that he had received a terminal diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. If you’d like some more context, the first couple minutes of the video below (which also contains the entire interview) give a quick overview of who Sasse is and what’s he’s facing at present.
In the early parts of this conversation, Senator Sasse demonstrates an admirable (and stoic-adjacent) attitude of acceptance towards death. Here, as in other interviews, he notes that he “had already received a death sentence” before his cancer diagnosis. For the Stoic and for Sasse, finding out that you will die younger than expected is no evil. And Fate had predetermined when that day was going to be. You were always going to die; there was nothing you could do to stop it; so, it’s no use feeling sorry for yourself when that day comes.
Sasse is also a thoughtful and theological astute Christian in the Presbyterian tradition. And later in the interview, his attitudes toward death take on a decidedly Christian flavor. Sasse says in no uncertain terms that “death is something that we should hate.” Here he decisively parts ways with the Stoics, who argued that death was no evil since it is part of our “nature” as humans to die.
For the Stoic, death is something inevitable, the great equalizer, a thing to be accepted, not feared. The key to overcoming the fear of death is 1) coming to terms with its inevitability, 2) acknowledging that you are powerless to avoid it, and 3) realizing that Death itself is not an evil to be avoided at all costs.
As Epictetus writes:
“I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.”
But the Christian says no. Death is evil. As Sasse recently put it elsewhere, “Death is a wicked thief. And the bastard pursues us all.” Death is the great Enemy. The last Enemy (1 Cor 15:26).
Orthodox theologian Alexander Schmemann puts the contrast this way:
“In essence Christianity is not concerned about coming to terms with death, but rather having victory over it.”
The Christian has the audacity to believe that death can be defeated – indeed, that it has been defeated.
The Stoic says to Death, “You have power over me as has been given to you by nature, but you do not have the power to make me afraid.”
The Christian says to Death, “I do not fear you because you have no power over me. Your ‘victory’ is no victory at all. You have lost your sting because my Lord has already defeated you.”
Indeed, the Christian taunts death. As John Donne penned in his most famous sonnet:
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
and finally:
Death, thou shalt die.
Senator Sasse is giving us an example of how to die well. Stoic acceptance of one’s death is certainly impressive, even inspiring. But the Christian’s audacity to believe that Death has been killed by Jesus is something else entirely. On the surface, the courage with which the Stoic and the Christian can face death might look quite similar. But the philosophical and theological substructure supporting that courage could not be more different.
When asked how he processed his diagnosis, Sasse replies with profundity and charm:
Death is terrible. We should never sugarcoat it. It is not how things are meant to be. But it is great that death can be called the final enemy. It’s an enemy, but it’s a final enemy, and there will then be no more tears.
I believe in the Resurrection, and I believe in a restoration of this world. So, I did not feel great fear about my death… I didn’t want to be a pansy ass in the final moments.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention! I will be thinking about this for days.