Sunday, February 27, 2011

Heretics, Daleks, and Lalaith

A defining characteristic of G.K. Chesterton is his habit of turning assumptions upside down via paradoxes. In his book Heretics, he states that it takes a serious man to laugh. How is that possible?
Well, here’s a simple exercise to explain it.

Here my audience splits into two groups. One who is holding their sides and laughing hysterically, and one who is just staring at the screen. I may safely assume the former has watched “Doctor Who” and has seen the terror the Daleks can unleash. Only then can you laugh at them.
How does this apply to life? Chesterton states “A man who has faith must be prepared not only to be a martyr but to be a fool.” If you won’t surrender your dignity for a cause, would you really die for it?
The song ‘Undignified Praise’ drives this point home.
I will dance, I will sing
And be crazy for my King
Nothing Lord is hindering, this passion in my soul
And I'll become, even more Undignified than this

I will close with a quote from “The Bark of the Bog Owl” by Jonathan Rogers.
“Do not ask ‘Am I being a fool?’ Ask ‘Am I being the right sort of fool?”

1 comment:

  1. Chesterton said it best: Paradox is truth standing on her head to get our attention.

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