We wrap up our series on Chesterton's classic Orthodoxy by exploring the common arguments against Christianity. Chesterton does not argue from a standard apologetics approach, but instead utilizes common sense to show how our faith in Christianity rests not upon one "slam dunk" argument, but rather the accumulation of a thousand little pieces of evidences. He also challenges common agnostic/atheistic assumptions that men exist as nothing more than animals, religions comes from dark and ignorant times, and Christianity turns everything gloomy and repressed. On the contrary, Chesterton argues that Christianity rightly identifies the uniqueness of man, emerged at the height of the Roman Empire, and provides the conditions for people to sing, dance, and enjoy the pleasures of life without running off a cliff. We also examine Chesterton's suspicion that Jesus's greatest secret lay not in his power, but his joy.
"If I am asked, as a purely intellectual question, why I believe in Christianity, I can only answer, “For the same reason that an intelligent agnostic disbelieves in Christianity.” I believe in it quite rationally upon the evidence."
"Somehow or other an extraordinary idea has arisen that the disbelievers in miracles consider them coldly and fairly, while believers in miracles accept them only in connection with some dogma. The fact is quite the other way. The believers in miracles accept them (rightly or wrongly) because they have evidence for them. The disbelievers in miracles deny them (rightly or wrongly) because they have a doctrine against them."
"The Stoics, ancient and modern, were proud of concealing their tears. He never concealed His tears; He showed them plainly on His open face at any daily sight, such as the far sight of His native city. Yet He concealed something. Solemn supermen and imperial diplomatists are proud of restraining their anger. He never restrained His anger. He flung furniture down the front steps of the Temple, and asked men how they expected to escape the damnation of Hell. Yet He restrained something. I say it with reverence; there was in that shattering personality a thread that must be called shyness. There was something that He hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray. There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isolation. There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was His mirth."
A Brief Update
Unlocking the Mysteries of Acts with Dr. Robert Cara
Should We Baptize Babies? with Dr. Steve Wellum
Getting a Grip on Systematic Theology with Derek Rishmawy
Masculinity, Negative World, and the Future of Evangelicalism (Interview with Aaron Renn)
From Darkness to Sight: A Journey from Hardship to Healing (Interview with Dr. Ming Wang)
Jesus Wants You to Steal From the Rich
How Should Christians Think About Frozen Embryos?
Uncovering the Bible of the Apostles (Interview with Dr. Greg Lanier)
Understanding the Church Fathers for Protestants in Fifteen-ish Minutes (Podcast Recap)
How to Communicate the Cross to a Post-Christian World (Interview with Jeremy Treat)
Richard Hooker and the Solution to Radicalism (Interview with Dr. Brad Littlejohn)
Why God Is Not Angry (Interview with Ryan Hurd)
A Crash Course on John Calvin's Theology (Podcast Recap)
Practical Advice for Young Pastors with Charlie Wingard
What is a Classical Christian Education For? with Dale Stenberg
Uncovering the Real John Calvin with Dr. Peter Lillback (Reformation Series Ep.11)
Calvin on Contentment in Trials and Blessing (Reformation Series Ep.10)
Defending the Protestant Doctrine of Scripture with Sean Luke (Reformation Series Ep. 09)
Calvin on Suffering and Trials (Reformation Series Ep.08)
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