the smedley log - suburban scrawl

Quote of the day (for two weeks ago)

It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.
-G. K. Chesterton

I remember reading alot of Chesterton in the day, I think his mysteries had a priest detective. I think I remember reading he had theological writing as well (as did Dorothy Sayers). So, he wasn’t even the cynical outsider saying that – he was a religious dude. How cool is that

Ironically, I am more familiar with the theological side of Chesterton. (My brother-in-law is much more familiar)

But yes, Ellen, Gilbert seemed to be a man in support of Christian tradition, while simultaneously suspicious of some of the idiocy that follows that tradition.

It’s funny in that I’m a former Catholic, but not an “ex-catholic” or “recovering catholic’ – it just happens to be beliefs I no longer have. There’s still a lot I learned in my 12 years Catholic School theologically I can respect philosophically too. I happen to be agnostic, but tend to not like fervent “anti-god” as much as I tend not to like extremes in religion to.

Does anyone know when Chesterton made his comment about the test of a good religion? I’ve been trying to track it down and I’m starting to wonder whether he is truly the source. Everyone seems to be copying it from somewhere else without proper citation. This is one of those clever sayings everyone likes to repeat.

Any leads? I want to use it in something I’m writing but only if I can verify its source.