St. Francis and the Obscure Logic of Cultural Influence

What it takes to build long-term cultural influence, the power of extreme confidence, and some reflections on the miraculous. Do you have what it takes to leave behind a long-lasting institution? Inspired by the biography Francis: A Revolutionary Life by Adrian House.
For reference, see otherlife.co/p/st-francis-obs...
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[@bobnunnemin1273]

Justin, I'm really glad to see you coming back with this content. My great-aunt is a Franciscan Nun, and this gave me context as to why she would devote her life to that Order, God bless

[@JustinMurphy]

Hey thanks for the kind words. Yea I got sidetracked by a few things, was a long detour but I'm happy to be back. Thanks for your interest in my work and your aunt is probably very cool!

[@lisabode17]

You should interview Richard Spencer.

[@toxictroll7843]

There are thousands of francises every year. Almost each of them fails misersbly. Spencer is one of them. Total moron.

[@connemignonne]

Ask him his opinion on burgers

[@hyper_modern5071]

You should

[@O.G.Rose.Michelle.and.Daniel]

Excellent, and I really appreciate the emphasis on the vast strangeness we see in cultural change and shifts in cultural logic. St. Francis is a great case study of that, truly.

[@JustinMurphy]

Thanks OG, always appreciate your impressions.

[@user-xe7in9oz1n]

What an incredible and interesting man he was for sure! I would like to have such an extreme confidence and faith as he had.

[@connemignonne]

I have to consider just how many other would-be St. Francises or Diogeneses there might have been who failed to make any kind of noteworthy impact by their choice of a radical lifestyle.
I am concerned that Saint Francis and Diogenes might just be so famous precisely because they succeeded in spite of the fact that the lifestyles they chose actually overwhelmingly *don't* tend to work at making any kind of impact. How inconceivable/miraculous his success was in spite of the odds is also what makes St Francis such a powerful and hopeful symbol, though.

[@JustinMurphy]

This is a very fair question. Hard to know for sure. But, I've never once in my life encountered someone who did something like this AND FOLLOWED THROUGH for the rest of his life. I feel like that's the key thing, which is so rare. But when it happens, it can change the world.

[@connemignonne]

@@JustinMurphy Apparently it is thought that St Francis had already accumulated 11 devoted followers over the course of just a year, and just kept winning and being increasingly famous and influential from there. I understand why he followed through!

[@realHampson]

Interaction Ritual Chains by Randall Collins

[@JustinMurphy]

yea his work is very interesting

[@user-fd8fe9hk9q]

Wouldn't you say the result of WW2 to be an example of power forcing change? I mean there are plenty of other examples in history as well. Money cant buy it but power certainly can force culture.
(Also start using minoxidil.)

[@dreyri2736]

Good

[@JustinMurphy]

Thanks!

[@slvrcross]

I see you suffer from JFS :(