Orthodoxy

Chesterton traces the roots of his own Christianity. He was initially a non-believer: ‘ I was a pagan at the age of twelve and a complete agnostic by the age of sixteen’. He avidly read lots of anti-Christian literature and decided that if Christianity was wrong ‘it was very wrong indeed’. In Orthodoxy he discusses at length the paradoxes of Christianity – too pessimistic for some and too optimistic for others.

Later he he cements his belief and whilst completely committed to his faith, makes it clear he can understand why others do not. However, his belief is founded 'quite rationally upon the evidence’.

Chesterton loved his religion because it was a living religion and continued to teach him. ­­       G K Chesterton