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Orthodoxy
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Orthodoxy Chapter 1
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First, he is basically saying this is why he wrote the book. His little story about the yachtsmen is his journey to God. He was able to finally find God, after so many other people. I do think he is a little hard to read but I think he is just getting warmed up. So I am going to be patient and hopefully someone can help us get the most out of GK.
I am challenged to read "Orthodoxy" again. I read it a year ago and remember it only as a very difficult book, hard to penetrate by an author who does not know how to put things in simpler language. I came across a quote from Bishop Sheen that Chesterton “never used a useless word” and I quickly disagreed with the bishop. Now I read the introduction by an Oxford graduate student who writes, “Orthodoxy is not easy to read”. I never read book introductions unless they are by the author before I read the book. Now I started reading the introduction and had I read it the first time I might not have even attempted reading Orthodoxy. There is no book I read four times except parts of the Bible. The writer of the Introduction (some 25 pages) says he read it four times. He is a graduate student in philosophy at Oxford. If that’s what it takes why should I even attempt it a second time?Chesterton’s beginning is auspicious though. He writes he wants to:
“state the philosophy in which I have come to believe. I will not call it my philosophy; for I did not make it. God and humanity made it; and it made me” (p. 19)
It also is good that your group will shed some light in making things simpler here. That is why I want to make a second attempt.
It is gratifying to see a number of very good comments right at the start of this thread. Here is some information which I hope will be helpful to those hoping to join the conversation.A copy of the book is available on Amazon Kindle for free. Other Kindle versions are also available for under two dollars. Please remember that you do not need a Kindle devise to read a kindle book; kindle for PC is available for free from Amazon.
For those wanting to know more about Chesterton, there is a site dedicated to him, called the Chesterton Society.
http://www.chesterton.org
Happy reading to all.
The more I'm getting into the book I'm starting to understand a little more and of course all your observations have helped me tremendously. Thank you all so much. I thought it was just me.
I've struggled through this a few times. The chapter Ethics of Elfland makes the entire book worthwhile. GKC is so smart I struggle with his writing (Everlasting Man is so very difficult) but I'm glad I've given him a try.
John wrote: "I've struggled through this a few times. The chapter Ethics of Elfland makes the entire book worthwhile. GKC is so smart I struggle with his writing (Everlasting Man is so very difficult) but I'm g..."Totally understand John. But with some many great comments and explanations from others I'm thinking of adding more of Chesterton on my to-read list.
Chesterton states his purpose in writing is to reveal how God and humanity’s philosophy made him. The metaphor of the man in the yacht who thinks he discovered a new land which he realizes is his home England is Chesterton himself discovering that the romance of the unfamiliar is the comfortable and secure home. This is an idea that the poet T. S. Eliot meditates on in “Four Quartets”:“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of our exploring Will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
This discovery in a word is “orthodoxy” and the book that Chesterton is writing is concerned with “the actual fact that the central Christian theology (sufficiently summarized in the Apostles’
Creed) is the root of energy and sound ethics”. (p. 25)
To be honest and fair to all I am struggling with what direction the author's thoughts are going. That being said I would be extremely greatful for those interested in participating in this discussion to offer their opinions.