Orthodoxy

Written by G. K. Chesterton

Narrated by Stephen Johnston

In this classic of Christian apologetics, Chesterton lays out a sort of “spiritual autobiography”—how he personally came to believe. Chesterton considered it a companion book to his earlier work Heretics. Where Heretics was a collection of essays defending the Christian faith, Orthodoxy is Chesterton’s own story of how he came to believe that faith.

G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was one of C. S. Lewis’ primary mentors in apologetics, and an influence even in his conversion. Novelist, poet, essayist, and journalist, Chesterton was perhaps best known for his Father Brown detective stories. He produced more than 100 volumes in his lifetime, including biographies of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas Aquinas. His Everlasting Man, which set out a Christian outline of history, was one of the factors that wore down Lewis’ resistance to Christianity. Chesterton was one of the first defenders of orthodoxy to use humor as a weapon. Perhaps more important was his use of reason to defend faith.

About the Hendrickson Christian Classics series:
Acts of faith always start with a small “yes”—so how can you get better at hearing his call? Learning from trusted elders and writers in Christianity who walked before us is a fantastic way to begin! Whether you are looking to get more out of Scripture, be challenged by God’s relentless love, or gain a greater understanding for how Jesus reveals himself, the Hendrickson Christian Classics series will inspire and provoke you into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Gain Fresh Insights and Perspectives
Whether you’re a new or longtime believer, get empowered and engaged in your walk with God by these inspirational Christian leaders who endured tremendous hardships, faced extreme persecution, and took consistent steps of faith!

The Hendrickson Christian Classics are for you if you want to:

• Learn how to experience the Holy Spirit’s presence daily
• Get a handle on Christian classics (like The Pilgrim’s Progress and others)
• Take your understanding of Scripture to a deeper level

Immerse yourself in these spiritual Christian classics!
Dive deep into these amazing masterworks and experience some of the greatest Christian classics, all masterfully narrated by Emmy Award winner Stephen Johnston:

• The Pilgrim’s Progress (by John Bunyan)
• Absolute Surrender (by Andrew Murray)
• The Practice of the Presence of God (by Brother Lawrence)
• How to Pray and How to Study the Bible (by R.A. Torrey)
• Heretics (by G.K. Chesterton)
• Humility (by Andrew Murray)
• In His Steps (by Charles Sheldon)
• The Imitation of Christ (by Thomas a Kempis)
• The Kneeling Christian (by Albert Richardson)
• Orthodoxy (by G.K. Chesterton)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781683079132

G. K. Chesterton

G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was an English writer, philosopher and critic known for his creative wordplay. Born in London, Chesterton attended St. Paul’s School before enrolling in the Slade School of Fine Art at University College. His professional writing career began as a freelance critic where he focused on art and literature. He then ventured into fiction with his novels The Napoleon of Notting Hill and The Man Who Was Thursday as well as a series of stories featuring Father Brown.

Reviews for Orthodoxy

[bottomofthepile · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm in the peculiar (and rather frustrating) situation of being a book lover living in a foreign country with no access to an English library and (temporarily, I hope) in a financial situation that prevents me from buying books. Therefore, I've had to fall back on the collection of books that I already own. I've just recently finished reading G. K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy for the 3rd time. If you're familiar with Chesterton then you well know his penchant for paradox and mirth. This writer had a knack for showing familiar things in a startling new light.Orthodoxy doesn't disappoint. It constantly amazes and stimulates from the first page to the last. It's as good as a book on religion and philosophy can get.I won't write about this book what's already been written in other reviews below. I'll only add that in my 3rd reading of this book I came across a passage that somehow I had forgotten after my first 2 readings. This passage is a prime example of how Chesterton can astonish:"All the towering materialism which dominates the modern mind rests ultimately upon one assumption; a false assumption. It is supposed that if a thing goes on repeating itself is it probably dead; a piece of clockwork. People feel that if the universe was personal it would vary . . . The sun rises every morning. I do not rise every morning; but the variation is due not to my activity; but to my inactivity . . . it might be true that the sun rises regularly because he never gets tired of rising . . . The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they especially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore."That's from a chapter titled 'The Ethics of Elfland' and I think that's a good example of the flavor of the entire book.

[neverstopreading-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Chesterton's "Orthodoxy" and Lewis' "Mere Christianity" are classics of contemporary Christian apologetics. Both write to a similar audience, namely, secular academics. Lewis' appeal was broader, however, for he was reaching out to those people influenced or educated by these academics. Consequently, these books are full of reason and logic but are devoid of Bible quotes. This might dismay some fundamentalists, but this type of apologetic is absolutely necessary. Just as a Muslim will not convince a Christian regarding Islam by quoting the Qu'ran, so, in most cases, a Christian will not convert a secular academic by quoting the Bible. The appeal must be made on common ground, in this case, reason and logic. In this regard, Chesterton succeeds.That being said, I give him only 3 1/2 stars because of his rambling, time-sensitive style. It is easy for an American reading in the 21st century to become completely lost in Chesterton's quips and references to late-modernity intellectuals.Lewis' broader appeal makes him more accessible to Chesterton, so I recommend "Mere Christianity" over "Orthodoxy" to the average 21st century American, whereas I recommend "Orthodoxy" to those who are educated in late 19th and early 20th-century intellectualism.Both books are useful for Christians in developing apologetic skills and for non-Christians, especially seculars, in understanding a traditional, intellectual, and non-fundamentalist brand of Christianity.

[bness2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Chesterton at his philosophical best. He presents his personal arguments for the existence of God and skewers all the puffed up, empty-headed modern philosophers and worthless aristocrats and oligarchs. His wit is as fresh and sharp as Mark Twain's.

[ivinela · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

brilliant!

[ashdwyer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is simply amazing. I've already written a lengthy review of it, and i'll post that here soon.

[mr_rhumba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great work by a great writer. I wish I could have his faith!

[chriszodrow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant. One to read again and again.

[nmele_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Although Chesterton included many references to his contemporaries and to the issues of his day, most of them now obscure, the clarity of his writing and the force of his argument made this an interesting and surprising read for me.

[nesum_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a wonderful exploration of one man's faith. Well thought-out, and yet passionate and personal, Orthodoxy shows how Chesterton explored the issues of faith, came to a mighty conclusion, only then to realize that his conclusion was what Christianity had been preaching for centuries.The book is a heavy one, despite its short length, but should be studied carefully by anyone who might be looking seriously at the issue of religion.

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great book. I love the way the author expresses his thoughts and reasoning. His examples are apt, and humorous as well. I wish I could remember all of his points, but that's why I intend to buy the book, so I can refer back to it. It is fascinating to see his progression from agnostic to orthodox believer in Christianity. Very encouraging.