Orthodoxy Paperback – June 23, 2013

I have long been using apologetics and bits and pieces of arguments G.K. Chesterton uses on both adult and young adults of high school age. I want to say that the strongest argument, as Chesterton, and as now I, see it, is that the best way to come to Orthodoxy, or the Creed, is atheism, Darwinism and Materialism themselves. Before I say what it is, I will say what Orthodoxy is not. It is not a philosophical debate over atheism vs. belief in God. It is an experiential journey of G.K. Chesterton, who followed the path of atheism, which was very entrenched in the educational system of England in the late 1800's (as it is now). He judges the "fruits" of all these -isms, which are not involved in the way, the truth, and the light, and in many cases diametrically opposed to Truth.The materialist philosopher (Darwinists, relativists) arguments contradict themselves laying the way for the way, the truth and the light. Since the present age has all but forsaken philosophy, it also was unwittingly laid to waste common sense. Chesterton is the "Apostle of Common Sense" and Orthodoxy is his swan song. Do not become discouraged by the discussion of the maniac, lunatic and asylum which are the first items of the book. He compares some of the great thinkers, with their universally appealing laws, to the lunatics.How can this be that these individuals of higher learning, such as Nietzsche, can explain everything by such small arguments? Chesterton argues that indeed they do explain the universe, but the universe they explain is a very small universe. Even though the circle is infinite, the circle is a very small one! 3 pence in diameter he states. Insomuch the attack is not against dogmas of Catholicism and Christianity, but attacks against human thinking. The killing of thought itself, which is the only thought that should be censored. If there is any unwavering dogma, it is the dogma against miracles. No matter what is put forth in terms of the miracle, there is an predisposition against it. Nietzsche, and others like him, which Chesterton one by one fillets are "...wrong not by error of their arguments, by the manifest mistake of their whole lives." The Christian may have doubts, and he can take two conflicting items and the conflict as well and move on. The dogma of the materialist or Darwinist (or any of the isms) can have no exceptions. Chesterton makes not excuse for God's complexity, but just states that it is.In a way, Orthodoxy is much like "City of God" by St. Augustine in one aspect, it provides convincing arguments against gods that we have set up in front of the real God and the real Truth. Augustine (400 AD) explains why Christianity is not responsible for the fall of Rome (but like the phoenix, or a sinking ship with a cross, sinks, but comes back to life again, it becomes a submarine, and miraculously reemerges). If Christianity were a fad, that fad would have died with Rome. But as Chesterton points out, it is one of the only things that did survive the fall of Rome. Chesterton takes the atheists, of which he was one at one time, to task one at a time, as Augustine took the Roman gods to task one at a time. In the case of Nietzsche, he was insane at the end of his life. Chesterton comments that if he had not gone insane, his followers would have.After we get through the hard part of the beginning of the book, the maniac (the self reliant man being part of this), there is a whole different way of looking at our universe that Chesterton put forth for our contemplation. He shows how man is basically Mystical. And he lays down the stories of childhood as superior to the morbid philosophies. He helps us reclaim the sense of wonder. He keeps logic in its place, showing the many logical items and concepts conveyed. He ridicules the philosophies that begin on an unfounded base. And the rest of their philosophy that follows is not grounded. He looks at the philosophers who criticize Christ, and try to slice him up into a gentle, kind moralist, who speaks some truths. Under this view, he becomes like monster with his arm and leg sawed off. Chesterton points out that it is not a nervous breakdown that happens when Christ overturns tables in the Temple, but a truth-speaking thing, that aligns with his other actions. Chesterton says that Christ is a seamless garment, which cannot be parted out. His divinity, and miracles that go with it, are intertwined with his humanity.Audio books is a great way to introduce ourselves and others into these old (1905 copyright) concepts. Do not get bogged down by unfamiliar philosophers or poets, but take in what you can take in. And as in any classic book, you will be back for more.

I have read almost 4 books by G. K. Chesterton thus far; and Orthodoxy is a masterpiece. The best of what I have read from him yet. Witty, hilarious, intellectually astute--Chesterton is in fine form throughout. And though Orthodoxy is heady you will find that Chesterton's humor and skill with the pen makes it an almost addictive read. His paradoxical manner of framing big ideas, his undeniable ability to wield "common" sense as a weapon, his way of speaking to universal human experiences--together makes him one of the most enjoyable writers of his time. And he's not pulling any punches with the philosophers of his day either.In the introduction, Chesterton self-deprecatingly describes himself as a man who sent out from England to explore new lands, but gets blown off course in his travels and unknowingly arrives back in downtown London--where he then proceeds to claim this "new land" for England! Chesterton then charts his spiritual journey from agnosticism to Christianity and how he unknowingly discovered this "new doctrine" on his own--only to find out, much to his surprise, that it was nothing more than the old Christian doctrine which has been believed for thousands of years. Chesterton is a late comer to the party, and he doesn't mind admitting that fact throughout!Chesterton rails against intellectualism--against the scholastics and against the George Bernard Shaw types. The atheist scientist who says there is no transcendent meaning to this thing called life. Grown up skeptics and modernized "experts" who care little for the world. In short Chesterton realizes that the fairy tales that he knew as a child, that wonder he felt within the deepest part of him when he was young, the feeling that the grass was green because it was "supposed to be green"--were actually all true. The reason the tales of the lady and the dragon, or jack and the beanstalk resonated with him so much as a child because they spoke to a certain human truth--an internal testimony, that there is something more than just molecules and chance. There had to be something more. So Chesterton figures out an understanding of original sin, of creation, of a transcendent God, and of the archetypal tale because it was really true--the story of God coming into the world to bring man back to Himself. Chesterton is unabashedly romantic, and he rejoices to find that Christianity is as well.In the chapter that perhaps hit me the hardest (The Flag of the World), Chesterton confronts exactly what our posture as Christians needs to be towards the world. It cannot be escapism or pessimism; an unhealthy desire to withdraw from the darkness of the world: "For our Titanic purposes of faith and revolution, what we need is not the cold acceptance of the world as a compromise, but some way in which we can heartily hate and heartily love it. We do not want joy and anger to neutralize each other and produce a surly contentment; we want a fiercer delight and a fiercer discontent. We have to feel the universe at once as an ogre' castle, to be stormed, and yet as our own cottage, to which we can return at evening." Wow. That is romance in writing--and ointment to my own personal numbness. Another one: "The point is not that this world is too sad to love or too glad not to love; the point is that when you do love a thing, its gladness is a reason for loving it, and its sadness a reason for loving it more." "A man's friend leaves him as he is: his wife loves him and is always trying to turn him into somebody else."This is a great book, and I am already doing a second pass through it because there is so much in it that I missed. Chesterton is medicinal to the ills of a modern world--and Orthodoxy in particular has lost no degree of relevance in the century that has past since its composition.

Ótimo.

Chesterton spends the first 1/3 of the book dismantling the arguments against religion. Then spends the rest of the book building a case for religion in a logical step by step manner that can only be described as brilliant.Very impressed by the book, there are also a lot of really great quoteable lines.“Men did not love Rome because she was great, Rome was great because men loved her.”

Como Chesterton no hay dos -y como este libro, tampoco. Es fascinante cómo el autor logra guiar al lector por planteamientos e ideas que nadie más ha narrado de una manera tan sublime y artística como él. Cada dos o tres párrafos Chesterton tiene el don de decir una frase inolvidable o una cita extremadamente persuasiva. Uno de los libros más estimulantes que he leído, sin duda.La apologética de Chesterton -si se le puede llamar así- es única, nadie aborda los temas como él. Este libro no demuestra el cristianismo como tal, sino que defiende el sentido común y termina por llevarte por una travesía aventuresca que te deja con ganas de empezar a aprender sobre la religión tan fascinante desde la que el autor miraba el mundo. Inolvidable libro, inolvidable estilo.

An amazing book and definitely one of the best of Chesterton' works

I read this book the first time when I was 14 and understood nothing. Was that the reason why I’ve kept a distance all these years? Orthodoxy is very much Chesterton‘ own story. He doesn’t purport to write a systematic treatise on apologetics. He does want to have his questions answered. He asks real questions. He gives real answers. What makes this a delightful read: it’s rooted in experience, not in abstractions. Of course. He writes in a particular historical context. But rather than a weakness this appears to be strength, as it shows the perennial value of the principles expounded. Highly recommendable.