In Letters to Young Radicals, political science professor Aurelian Craiutu makes a case for the overlooked virtue of moderation. In our current climate, moderation doesn’t sound appealing. We’re told to “pick a side,” to plant our flag firmly on one end of the spectrum—right or left. Yet Craiutu argues that moderation is not weakness but strength: more courageous, more hopeful, and ultimately more constructive than polarization.

By its very nature, moderation stays open—to nuance, to complexity, to the interests of all parties. A moderate doesn’t have far to walk toward those on either side. Isn’t this where Jesus stood? Accessible to all, unafraid to meet people where they were.

And yet, we gravitate toward the loud and the radical. We admire leaders who sound unshakable, who present their faith in stark, uncompromising terms. We often equate radical faith with deeper faith. But perhaps we need honesty here: maybe the church would do better to seek humility and holiness, rather than pure boldness, in its leaders.

Moderation does not mean blandness, nor does it lack courage. Refusing to yell may feel risky in our all-or-nothing world, but it creates the space for genuine, meaningful conversations.

Ref. Craiutu, Aurelian. Why Not Moderation? Letters to Young Radicals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023. ISBN: 978-1108848855