Christianity and the Eternal Revolution (Orthodoxy Part VII)

That’ll Preach

Our series in Orthodoxy continues as we look at Chesterton's interesting perspective on wealthy people, the aristocracy, and placing too much trust in the government. He also points out the fundamental flawed assumption of progressivism: that things left to themselves will progress rather than decay. "Open-mindedness" does not automatically lead to "progress" and neither does revolution lead to better outcomes. He expresses a great deal of distrust for government and extols democracy as the best way to keep human sinfulness in check. The Christian understanding of human sinfulness ought to keep any aspirations to man-made utopia in check.

"We have said we must be fond of this world, even in order to change it. We now add that we must be fond of another world (real or imaginary) in order to have something to change it to."

"The Evolutionist says, 'Where do you draw the line?' the Revolutionist answers, 'I draw it here: exactly between your head and body.'"

"But all conservatism is based upon the idea that if you leave things alone you leave them as they are. But you do not. If you leave a thing alone you leave it to a torrent of change."

"This eternal revolution, this suspicion sustained through centuries, you (being a vague modern) call the doctrine of progress. If you were a philosopher you would call it, as I do, the doctrine of original sin. You may call it the cosmic advance as much as you like; I call it what it is -- the Fall."

"I could never conceive or tolerate any Utopia which did not leave to me the liberty for which I chiefly care, the liberty to bind myself. Complete anarchy would not merely make it impossible to have any discipline or fidelity; it would also make it impossible to have any fun. The dissolution of all contracts would not only ruin morality but spoil sport."