Next week we will begin our study of G.K. Chesterton’s book Orthodoxy. This book is a defense of basic Christianity both against modern rationalism which holds that only logic and reason are the means of discovering truth and against a post-modern denial of truth itself. This is one of those books that C.S. Lewis credits with his own conversion to Christianity. Unlike many apologetics (defenses of the Faith) which are well-reasoned but dry, Orthodoxy, as one reviewer said, “rollicks with an energetic gaiety . . . saturated with joy . . . and paints the world with colors that are too bright for our dim eyes to see.” It is a fun book to read especially within a group discussion. Because Orthodoxy is an apologetic, its primary audience is the non-Christian, and it seeks to engage non-believers on their own terms. (I’m not certain that Chesterton every quotes the Bible in his work.) Please think about inviting someone who doesn’t attend a church to read this book with you and to join us on Tuesday night.
If you have not read Orthodoxy before, I encourage you to find a study guide to help you through the book. There are several very good online guides from all different perspectives. Some of these guides are from Notre Dame (Alfred J. Freddoso), Marquette (Joe Grabowski), and College of the Ozarks (Kyle D. Rapinchuk).
Please let me know if you need me to order you a copy (or two) of Orthodoxy or if there is anyone that you would like me to add to this email list. Likewise, if you want to drop from this list, let me know as well. As before, dinner will be served at 6, with the discussion beginning about 6:45, and we will end by 8 with the service of Compline. There are eight chapters to the book, and so this will take us through the week before Thanksgiving.