In my previous entry, I wrote about my philosophical stumbling toward being open to God, my current ignostic-panentheist fusion position, and my response to those who ask if I believe in God, which is an unapologetic yes.
In the field of “apologetics,” a defense of religious doctrine through reason, many arguments unfold from a God-open yes. Once in dialogue with my mentor in Orthodox Christian teachings, when I was inquiring into the religion's doctrine, he half-jokingly said: “Just do not ask me about the problem of evil.”
Like many other thoughtful Christians, the problem of evil is the most difficult philosophical challenge he wrestles with. The “problem” presents the following questions: If God is so good and powerful, why is there so much suffering in the world? And why does he allow people to cause suffering for its own sake, aka do evil?
There are many responses to this problem—the one that resonates the most for me: “soul-making.” Philosopher and theologian John Hick has the following proposal: suffering and evil exist for spiritual development. Here is his argument presented as a syllogism:
Premise 1: God’s purpose is to develop human souls.
Premise 2: The development of human souls requires suffering.
Conclusion: Therefore, suffering must exist for God’s purpose to be fulfilled.
I appreciate the argument because regardless of its soundness, living "as if" this is true provides a certain steeliness when confronted with the inevitability of suffering and those who consciously cause it. Suffering can break down one's pride, maturing the soul and providing humble strength. A belief in soul-making can give meaning when life becomes exceptionally challenging.
Soul-making feels like a wise position when “on the defense,” aka when suffering happens without its seeking. What about when one is “on the offense”? There is a suffering that has a distinct quality when following one’s deepest calling, insisting they provide their God-given gift to the world. This kind of suffering has a burning quality, a pushing forward that welds the body and soul together.
Mythologist Joseph Campbell famously advised "following your bliss" as a heuristic for life guidance. He later rephrased this to "following your blisters." Both are correct; bliss-following leads to heat blistering, or more poetically, "soul-burning." I like this phrase for its aesthetic quality and the preemptive disposition it gives my body.
If I am going to “go all the way,” fulfill my destiny, and create my masterpiece, I cannot foolishly expect only a blissful ride. I have to be ready to feel the heat, use all the discernment I have earned not to be permanently burned, using it to burn away my foolishness instead.
The final online and public event at The Stoa is happening tomorrow:
Breathing into Presence. June 28th @ 12:00 PM ET. RSVP here.
It will be two hours, featuring past hosts at The Stoa…
We’ll start with a presentation, followed by a breath exercise from Steve Beattie, leading into a Collective Presencing session led by Ria Baeck. It will conclude with a Rebecca Fox ritual.
I also presented at
’s conference on Sunday about the “wisdom commons.” You can watch the presentation below if you plan to attend the session tomorrow and want a theoretical download on what The Stoa is about and where it is going.If you’d like to be a part of “midwifing a wisdom commons,” philosophical experiments oriented towards this midwifery will happen on the Less Foolish Substack, accessible for paid members.