I'm so delighted and edified by this - especially since I've been so recently immersing myself in the wonders of Chesterton. It's all so perfectly, beautifully paradoxical (and Chesterton always helps point people in the right direction!).
It'll certainly be an interesting piece to bring up in our catechism/apologetics discussion group tomorrow in which we'll be talking about the question/challenge "Are you saved?" (which has other varieties such as "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour?") Should be interesting especially since a large portion of ChesterTeens belongs to the group.
By the way, I discovered this blogger through his book which I found at Sam's Club. It's called The Christian Almanac: A Book of Days Celebrating History's Most Significant People and Events by George Grant and Gregory Wilbur. I wasn't planning on purchasing it - just checking out its format and general content as I was working on plans to expand the "Calendar of Resources" on love2learn. The first thing I opened to was a piece on Hilaire Belloc! After picking up my jaw from the floor, I did a little more browsing and realized that even though there were things I disagreed with (such as the author's overall take on the apparitions of Fatima), it was a treasure trove of historical and literary tidbits that I'd enjoy culling things from and included Saints of the Day and lovely selections from some of my very favorite authors. (It also didn't seem accidental that Chesterton was listed first in a list of favorite authors mentioned in the acknowledgements.)
P.S. This is sort of related (hat-tip Amy Welborn)
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I'm reading Everlasting Man to Nate while he does dishes (He reads Harry Potter to me). We both agree that while C. has great ideas, he is awefully repetitive--repeats a point over and over. The argument of each chapter could be condensed into two or three paragraphs without sacrificing the wit or the paradox. Maybe it shouldn't be read aloud!
Then again there is the "rule of three" that I keep hearing from our SAP guru's here at work. They are charged with teaching 20,000 employees how to use the new software.
Basically they have found that it is only after the 3rd time a concept is discussed will the student generally "get it". - - - and that is for students who are motivated (to keep their jobs!)
Maybe once again Chesterton has learned something about humanity that he charitably shares.
Part of the problem is that C. is talking about things that my son doesn't need convincing of.
+JMJ+
Now there are two! I found James Sauer's article independently and found him as much of a paradox as you do, Love2Learn Mom, but I never would have guessed that there was room for two Calvinist Chestertonians (or should it be Chestertonian Calvinists?) in the world!
Please let us know what your discussion group makes of all this. It's really quite fascinating . . . :)
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