Chesterton is quite clear that Orthodoxy is not, primarily, a work of positive, apologetic proof for the existence of God: it is merely his [Chesterton's] journey back to what he came to see as the best possible set of beliefs for living one’s life, i.e., The Apostle’s Creed (as he concludes). Some may even say, as the author does, an autobiography. In short, the work humorously traces the intellectual journey of this terribly intelligent fellow, and explains why he, himself, came to believe in Christianity.

That being said, your attack on this book for it’s being “circular” is off the mark. Of course, since it is a Catholic’s Theists autobiography, the book revolves around the central axiom that GOD EXISTS (in other words, the author does in fact believe God exists).* I believe you meant to say that Chesterton was coherent =D. In seriousness, What you were trying to convey by “circular,” I believe, was that you think his argument takes the Assumption: “God exists” only to come to the Conclusion: “God exists.” But if you think this is the basic argument of the book, you, to put it bluntly, missed the point. The book is pretty much one, big, jolly, “Reductio ad Absurdum.”He essentially “bites the heels” of other rival philosophical systems, shows the innate absurdity of each, i.e., that determinism completely undercuts the justice system, and from there, goes on to explain how all of this intellectual searching brought him back to Christianity, the only system which he found to be the most existentially, and philosophically ( It provides answers to Epistemological, Metaphysical, Ontological, and Ethical Questions) complete.

With this brief background, I think you might be able to see the relevance of “The Ethics of Elfland.” This chapter reveals some of the basic axioms** (intuitions, if you will) Chesterton held, which lead him to reject the other philosophies and accept Christianity: it is foundational to the book. As the main point of the chapter is to reveal Chesterton’s belief that Life is beautiful and full of Wonder, one can now easily see how he would be attracted to the Judeo-Christian Tradition, which teaches that, “We must see the hand [to avoid confusion, Will] of God in all things, and this should bring us joy.”

Hope this helps a bit!

Side note: If you want to read some heavier, philosophical defense of Christian belief, May I suggest “Warranted Christian Belief,” By Alvin Plantinga :D

• Just as Richard Dawkins’ or any other Naturalist’s work revolves around the fact that God DOES NOT EXIST. If this is your criterion for ‘circularity,’ then we are all screwed!

**That life and people are wonderful. Keep in mind the bleak background of philosophical pessimism that dominated the contemporary academic milieu.

For Myths are exactly that, a window/lense in which we can look at life . . . Honestly. No-one is qualified to disprove any myth strictly on the basis of Inconveince or as some say their Individuality . . . ; p – Because my faith in the Author of the Universe has nothing to do w/ your Choices. So in light of this I want to say that for me “story” or “myth” is better seen as a Language in that whether your a Scientist, Mathematian or an Autistic Prodigy (think -Rainman). . . Its a language we all speak and understand. Its when we waste time debating the details or the question of life that we lose out on Life itself. So please remember that if one looks hard enough. . . You will See, Experience, and finally Live your life for what it was meant for . . . To be lived ; ) As for me . . . I whole heartily embrace myths as eternal because its the story of my life like my children that will out live me. . . That my friend is how I define Legacy.