Posted on 11/29/2004 9:41:23 AM PST by The Great Yazoo
For those starting out on Chesterton, the best sequence is: Maisy Ward's Biography of him; then Heretics; then Orthodoxy; then Everlasting Man. Then anything else. After Orthodoxy (one of the great literary works of all time IMHO), my favorite is Sidelights on New London and Newer York; it is side-splittingly funny.
Naturalism weakens Western culture and Islam takes over.
I also recommend Til We Have Faces. It deals with the differences in ritual and psychology between nature religion and philosophy. Or something like that. I've read it twice, and it's still a mystery to me.
If I remember correctly, Lewis was an English professor because that was the first open position for which he could apply. He was equally prepared to become a lecturer in Philosophy, and had a keen eye trained on the Ancients/Moderns debate during his education. Naturalism and Spencerism would have fallen under his notice, I think.
Can you imagine what C.S. Lewis, who was an Anglican, would say about the current state of the Episcopal Church in the USA?
And didn't he write the Father Brown series...or was that someone else?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C. S. Lewis
Oh, yes, he did write "The Dumb Ox." Anecdote: when the famous Thomistic scholar Etienne Gilson read it, he flung the book across the room and uttered, "That simple man has made my work obsolete!" And, yes, the great GKC did write the Father Brown stories.
(ahem!)
Lewis converted to Catholicism in his 40s or early 50s.
He and his friend Tolkein had debates about Catholicism for years. Even tho Tolkein (a Catholic) had a hand in converting Lewis, Lewis was a die-hard Anglican.
If you have proof to the contrary, I would be interested in reading it.
You are correct. Lewis never converted to the Church of Rome.
I once commented to a good (and devoutly evangelical - completely lapsed Catholic) friend that I didn't care for the Left Behind series as the first book (the only one I've read) was annoyingly poorly written and I have doubts about the scriptural basis of "The Rapture". I think the phrase she used was "you are so FOS!"
She's normally a dear but with a highly volatile temper. We're still friends (she asked for forgiveness afterwards - freely given I might add) but my opinion of the series remains the same. I haven't read much by C.S. Lewis but what I have seen is very satisfying. I'll have to look up Chesterton as well.
Well as long as we are discussing Lewis and Chesterton has anyone read Charles Williams?? I haven't read any of his works, but I often hear his name along with Lewis, so I am just wondering if he is worth checking out.
I don't know if you are Catholic or not but beforwarned Chesterton is VERY Catholic. I understand alot of people dislike his work because of this.
I am certain you are wrong about this, sir. I say this respectfully: Lewis never converted to Catholicism. He died an Anglican.
Actually, I've often felt that "That Hideous Strength" was a more accurate picture of today than anything Orwell ever penned. Worship of the Macrobes is upon us!
And "The Last Battle" definitely captures the spirit of our age. The Great Ape is the Media, Hollywood, and the Left, without a doubt.
C. S. Lewis has been an important person in my life. IMO, he is a theosophical genius/saint. He was important in leading me from "skimmed milk" Christianity to the whole-bodied, orthodox real thing.
I would not know with which of his books one who is unfamiliar with his works should start. Chances are that person will wind up reading them all, as I did.
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