A lively conversation on cynicism

On Thursday I was on Morning Air to talk about this topic I’ve had in mind, as to whether cynicism is a sin. As discussed, it’s not a sin in the traditional sense, but it is a “spiritual danger” that leads you into things that could be sins, or at the very least, negative attitudes - acedia (spiritual laziness), arrogance, faithlessness, and most of all, hopelessness. You can listen to the conversation here.

As for me, it is a reminder to keep the guardrails up: don’t let cynicism creep in, and certainly don’t accept it as a natural condition. I don’t think it is a natural condition, really. It is incumbent upon us to cultivate hope and love, really, every day. Is it a tall order some days? Yes. But in doing so you overcome yourself, greater sin, and therefore, greater unhappiness. You also open yourself up to the workings of the Holy Spirit. It is work worth doing!

Is cynicism a sin?

“Is cynicism a sin” is kind of a tongue twister. It’s also something I have been thinking about lately, especially living in arguably the cynicism capital of America.

I did a little research and the short answer is, no, cynicism is not a sin. However, it is a spiritual danger. It is also more akin to a vice, because cynicism is a temptation. Those living in cynicism risk enmeshing themslves in a worldview of hopelessness (nothing good will ever happen) arrogance (and I know nothing good will ever happen again) and laziness - even acedia, “spiritual sloth” (nothing good will ever happen again so I can just check out now). The good news is, there are prayerful and mindful ways to combat cynical tendencies and we should all enlist these strategies immediately.

I will be on Morning Air tomorrow at 8:20 eastern to discuss all this with the hosts. Find your way to tune in here or simply open the livestream player here. I look forward to discussing this topic!

Why are Gen Z gals visiting monasteries for a lil' peace and quiet?

This morning I was on Morning Air on Relevant Radio discussing the trend, shared first on Tik Tok, that Gen Z women are seeking out monasteries for their summer vacations. Why? They just want a little peace and quiet already! You can listen to the conversation here, starting at 19:32,

My favorite parts of this conversation were talking about what a younger, secular generation might learn from the witness of other women committed to a religious path for their life, and how good food and good conversation are great evangelization tools. Really. I was talking to someone recently: I hear about people who have these profound conversion experiences while at adoration, for example, or because they just get the Eucharist at a deep soul level, and ta-da, they are on the path to becoming Catholic. Not me! It took heart ache and prayer, but also, an appreciation of just the rhythms, rules, and traditions of the Church to make a revert of me. And one of the things I have enjoyed the most is the aspect of the church that says - celebrate! We are human, after all, and we have human needs, which includes community. So, these. young ladies are finding it. And silence, to boot. That is the genius of this faith: it just gets humans (because Jesus gets humans. I imagine, in part, because he became one).