Orthodoxy by Chesterson

[YCGP]

Is "Orthodoxy| by Chesterson a good read? I downloaded it but I want to hear some feedback before diving in.

PS... what would God think of something like this... I have an exam coming up but instead of studying for it I am learning about the faith.

Thanks.

 

[archer75]

Do keep in mind that Chesterton's book is not exactly about Chalcedonian Orthodoxy ("TAW Orthodoxy") but rather is about the beliefs expressed in the Apostles' Creed (which we EO have never used much, but with the tenets of which we do not, to my knowledge, disagree at all).

 

[YCGP]

Oh ok.

What would be a good book for TAW stuff?

I already have 'The Orthodox Way'

 

[Phronema]

For the Life of the World by Father Alexander Schmemann is a good one in my opinion, and a fairly short read.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I smell Rus coming!!!!

 

[rusmeister]

I smell Rus coming!!!!

Well, yeah.

You should read Chesterton’s book anyway. One thing I can tell you that he did for me was to make it clear that there is nowhere else to go. That may not mean so much early on, but as time goes on and you learn how messed up the Church is, you might be tempted to leave. That’s where GK comes in, showing just HOW it is that the Faith is true, even on the terms of its enemies.

 

[Shane R]

It's important to note when Chesterton wrote that tome: he published it while he was still an Anglican. It was some 12 years later when he entered the RCC. It is considered a classic by traditional Anglicans but I've never been able to finish it. His literary style does little for me and I find the work a bore.

 

[ArmyMatt]

yes, you should read Chesterton.

 

[-Sasha-]

It was one of the first books I read when I started delving into Christianity. I'd recommend it!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I’ve read the book...and I was just kidding about you.

Well, yeah.

You should read Chesterton’s book anyway. One thing I can tell you that he did for me was to make it clear that there is nowhere else to go. That may not mean so much early on, but as time goes on and you learn how messed up the Church is, you might be tempted to leave. That’s where GK comes in, showing just HOW it is that the Faith is true, even on the terms of its enemies.

 

[rusmeister]

It's important to note when Chesterton wrote that tome: he published it while he was still an Anglican. It was some 12 years later when he entered the RCC. It is considered a classic by traditional Anglicans but I've never been able to finish it. His literary style does little for me and I find the work a bore.

I think the fault is not in his personal style, but in our modern educations. He was an incredibly popular journalist across the entire English-speaking world in his time, and he himself was mobbed by reporters when he came to our shores. We are not used to having to really THINK when we read; it is as if all our lives we ate only Farina, and somebody suddenly slipped us granola out of the blue.

Not saying anything about you, or any particular person, but Shakespeare is incredibly boring to elementary school children - but the problem is not in Shakespeare. A writer MAY be a poor writer, but the evidence that Chesterton was widely understood and appreciated, not by a narrow elite, but by large numbers of ordinary people, is overwhelming. A person who doesn’t get Chesterton just hasn’t gotten him... yet. When you do, you suddenly discover that he is not in the least boring. So my advice would be to pick him up again in five years and try again. Over time, our own eyes change, what we see and understand.

 

[Petros2015]

PS... what would God think of something like this... I have an exam coming up but instead of studying for it I am learning about the faith.

I think he would probably say something about reaping what you sow; if you don't invest in studying for the exam, you won't magically do well on it. "Don't be deceived - even birds must flap their wings if they want to fly"

 

[Chesterton]

Is "Orthodoxy| by Chesterson a good read? I downloaded it but I want to hear some feedback before diving in.

Yes, a great read. It was mind-expanding for me, and helped lead me to the right way.

 

[YCGP]

Great guys thanks. Ill give it a read.