Steven Miller,
I’m writing to you as a Stoic, an atheist, and a progressive: not to convert you, but to challenge you. I don’t share your faith, but I do share your humanity, and it’s on that common ground that I want to speak. My goal isn’t to mock or dismiss you, but to ask you to consider the consequences of your words and actions, and to reflect on whether they align with the values you claim to uphold.
You’ve built a platform on the idea that faith in God leads to wealth, success, and political power. This is the prosperity gospel, and it’s a distortion of both Christianity and reason. As a Stoic, I believe in living virtuously and embracing what we can control: our actions, our integrity, and our response to the world. The prosperity gospel, however, teaches people to chase external rewards: money, status, and power. These are the very things Stoicism warns against, because they lead to dependence, greed, and moral compromise.
Worse, the prosperity gospel preys on the vulnerable. It tells people that if they’re poor, sick, or struggling, it’s because they lack faith. This is not just false; it’s cruel. It blames the victim and absolves the powerful of their responsibility to care for the least among us. As a progressive, I believe in economic justice, healthcare for all, and a safety net for those in need. The prosperity gospel undermines these values by shifting blame from systemic injustice to individual failure.
Do you truly believe that God rewards the wealthy and punishes the poor? Or is the prosperity gospel a tool to justify inequality and maintain power?
You’ve also aligned yourself with Christian nationalism, the idea that America is a “Christian nation” with a divine mandate to dominate. This is a dangerous and historically inaccurate claim. America was founded on principles of secular governance, pluralism, and the separation of church and state, principles that protect people of all faiths (and none) from the tyranny of a single religious ideology.
Christian nationalism isn’t just wrong; it’s un-Christian. Jesus didn’t preach about building empires or wielding political power. He preached about love, humility, and service to the marginalized. He washed the feet of his disciples and told them to turn the other cheek. He stood with the poor, the outcast, and the oppressed. Christian nationalism, by contrast, is about power, exclusion, and domination. It turns Christianity into a political weapon, used to justify discrimination, xenophobia, and even violence.
As a Stoic, I believe in cosmopolitanism: the idea that we are all citizens of the world, bound by a shared humanity. Christian nationalism rejects this. It divides people into “us” and “them,” creating tribes that dehumanize those who don’t fit the mold. This is the opposite of virtue. It’s fear masquerading as faith.
How do you reconcile Christian nationalism with the teachings of Jesus? Do you truly believe he would support a movement that excludes, demonizes, and oppresses?
You’ve made it clear that your faith is tied to political power. You’ve supported leaders and policies that prioritize wealth, influence, and control over compassion, justice, and integrity. This is the idolatry of power, and it’s a betrayal of both reason and faith.
As a Stoic, I believe that true strength lies in virtue, not power. A virtuous person acts with courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance, regardless of whether they hold political office or live in obscurity. Power, on the other hand, is fleeting and corrupting. History is full of examples of leaders who gained power only to lose their souls in the process.
As an atheist, I don’t believe in divine judgment. But I do believe in moral accountability. The harm caused by your brand of Christianity is real: families torn apart by anti-immigrant policies, LGBTQ+ youth driven to despair by exclusionary rhetoric, and marginalized communities left behind in the pursuit of power. These are not abstract ideas. They are human lives, and they matter.
What do you say to the people who have been harmed by the policies and rhetoric you’ve supported? Do you take responsibility for the consequences of your actions, or do you hide behind your faith as an excuse?
I don’t expect you to abandon your faith, but I do expect you to live with integrity. If you claim to follow Christ, then follow him all the way, not just the parts that serve your political ambitions. Embrace humility. Stand with the oppressed. Reject the pursuit of power and wealth. And most of all, stop using your faith as a weapon.
As a Stoic, I strive to live by the principle of amor fati: love of fate. I accept what I cannot control and focus on what I can: my actions, my character, and my commitment to justice. I invite you to do the same. You cannot control how others perceive you, but you can control whether you live with integrity.
As a progressive, I believe in equality, justice, and compassion for all people. These values are not exclusive to any faith or ideology. They are human values, and they demand that we hold ourselves and others accountable.
What kind of legacy do you want to leave? One of division, power, and exclusion? Or one of integrity, compassion, and service?
I hope you’ll choose the latter.
Sincerely,
Philip Huffman