Masculine skills, virtues, isolation

A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but war within. He may be known by his warfare as well as by his peace. ―J.C. Ryle, Holiness

Here’s an insight we drew out while working on chapter 9 of our book. This section didn’t make it into the final cut, because it illustrates a different point than the one we were focused on there:

It is fascinating to compare Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven with Denzel Washington’s Equalizer. Like Eastwood’s villainous Will Munny, Washington’s Robert McCall is a man with a dark past—in his case, as a special forces commando. But unlike Munny, McCall has voluntarily given up that life by faking his own death to escape it; dying to his past, and being reborn a new man. He lives as a good, law-abiding citizen, and is determined to be content in his new life. Notably, however, he is also alone. He has no wife or family, and follows the same routine every day.

Whereas Munny stops being wicked by turning from a life focused on himself, and taki…