Yesterday, I posed the question, “Are Women Tired?” and today, I follow up with Dorothy Sayers, whose quotes I was just perusing on Goodreads. If you’ve never read this sharp, dry, witty woman, no time like the present to start. Try these two out to get you started…
“A man once asked me … how I managed in my books to write such natural conversation between men when they were by themselves. Was I, by any chance, a member of a large, mixed family with a lot of male friends? I replied that, on the contrary, I was an only child and had practically never seen or spoken to any men of my own age till I was about twenty-five. “Well,” said the man, “I shouldn’t have expected a woman (meaning me) to have been able to make it so convincing.” I replied that I had coped with this difficult problem by making my men talk, as far as possible, like ordinary human beings. This aspect of the matter seemed to surprise the other speaker; he said no more, but took it away to chew it over. One of these days it may quite likely occur to him that women, as well as men, when left to themselves, talk very much like human beings also.”
― Dorothy L. Sayers, Are Women Human?
and here’s a little freebie…thanks to http://www.goodreads.com for excellence in spreading the literary gospel!
“In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair…the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die.”
― Dorothy L. Sayers
Posts Tagged ‘Dorothy Sayers’
Dorothy Sayers, with her sharp wit, writing 60 years ago, captures significant issues believers and unbelievers alike struggle with today. Too often, we find the central beliefs of Christianity troublesome because we don’t know what they are. In Creed or Chaos, she uses the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed and puts it in everyday language (well, everyday language of 60 years ago), to help us understand the folly of some of what we believe to be true about the Christian story. Listen and laugh with a few of the questions and answers from her contrived Christian examination. Then ask yourself, “What do I believe?” Consider rereading the Nicene Creed or the Apostle’s Creed and meditating on what they say about what a Christian believes.
“Q.: What does the Church think of God the Father?
“A.: He is omnipotent and holy. He created the world and imposed on man conditions impossible of fulfillment ; He is very angry if these are not carried out. He sometimes interferes by means of arbitrary judgments and miracles, distributed with a good deal of favouritism. He likes to be truckled to and is always ready to pounce on anybody who trips up over a difficulty in the Law, or is having a bit of fun . He is rather like a dictator, only larger and more arbitrary.
Q.: What does the Church think of God the Son?
“A.: He is in some way to be identified with Jesus of Nazareth. It was not His fault that the world was made like this, and, unlike God the Father, He is friendly to man and did His best to reconcile man to God ( see Atonement). He has a good deal of influence with God, and if you want anything done, it is best to apply to Him.
“Q.: What does the Church think of God the Holy Ghost?”
“A.: I don’t know exactly. He was never seen or heard of till Whit-Sunday. There is a sin against Him which damns you for ever, but nobody knows what that is.”
“Q: What is the doctrine of the Trinity?
“A: ‘The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the whole thing incomprehensible.’ Something put in by the theologians to make it more difficult — nothing to do with daily life or ethics.”
I enjoy Sayers’ humor, but it makes me wiggle a little bit. It compels me to look at what I believe and see if it really is as foolish as all this. The fact is, the core tenets of Christianity are neither foolish nor boring. I need to rediscover the Story in a way that makes me passionate and draws others to want to hear this wild but good news.
