The Stoic HANDBOOK - College of Stoic Philosophers

value our reason above all, because that is our special gift from Nature,
but our creator is also in the eyes and ears and nose and taste buds and
kinesthetic sense – as well as in the mind.
Q. Do Stoics believe in God?
A. Yes, in a manner of speaking, but we do not all believe in God in the
same way. All Stoics are pantheists, because Nature is our god, literally,
but you can be an atheist or a deist or an agnostic and still be a Stoic in
good standing. The key to what kind of Stoic you are depends on whether
you believe that the intelligence and processes of Nature are conscious or
unconscious. Is Nature conscious or unconscious? Human beings were
created by Nature and have consciousness. Are we the only ones, or is
our creator also conscious?
The early Stoics believed that Nature was both providential and
conscious. These were the deists, but when Stoicism was adopted in
ancient Rome there were a few who believed that Nature was
unconscious. These were the first Stoic atheists. Today we have Stoics
who are deists, atheists, and agnostics. Such diversity is perfectly
acceptable. The Stoic community has a large tent, and we are tolerant of
disagreement within it.
Q. Do Stoics believe in life after death?
A. We do not believe in any one certain answer to this question. If you're
looking for certainty, there are two ways you can go about it. The first
and most reliable way is for you to die, then you will know for sure. The
second way, one that you may consider less drastic, is to join a religious
group that promises eternal life. Unfortunately, this is a promise that they
cannot prove. If you have faith in a religion, such as the Christians or
Muslims, then they will tell you what to believe about life after death. If
you demand evidence, reason, or proof, then nothing is certain.
We can neither empirically prove nor disprove life in any form beyond
the grave. No one can. Religions that tell you otherwise are asking you to
have faith in myths, legends, and wishful thinking. Our philosophy never
requires such faith. Stoics are more comfortable with disagreement than
with faith, and we have always disagreed about this matter. Regarding
life after death we're mostly agnostic. However, we all do agree on one
thing: if you live according to Nature in this life, then it's highly unlikely
you'll have anything to worry about in the next – if there is one.
Q. What is the Stoic attitude toward homosexuality and racial and
gender issues?
A. This is one of my favorite questions because of our tradition and
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