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# Sayers' Farce on Why Doctrine is Important: Part I - On God the Holy Ghost - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture
- URL: https://mereorthodoxy.com/sayers-farce-on-why-doctrine-is-important-part-i-on-god-the-holy-ghost/
- Published: 2006-11-30T06:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-26T16:58:52.000Z
- Description: Dorothy Sayers, one of the most intelligent lay-theologians of the 20th century, a member of the famous Inklings and a first-rate mystery writer, wrote a piece called “The Dogma is the Drama” contained in the collection Letters to a Diminished […]
- Author: Mere Orthodoxy
- Tags: Matthew Lee Anderson

Dorothy Sayers, one of the most intelligent lay-theologians of the 20th century, a member of the famous Inklings and a first-rate mystery writer, wrote a piece called “The Dogma is the Drama” contained in the collection [*Letters to a Diminished Church*](http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Diminished-Church-Passionate-Arguments/dp/0849945267/sr=8-1/qid=1164917863/ref=sr%5F1%5F1/105-6585787-7984421?ie=UTF8&s=books&ref=mereorthodoxy.com). In it, she passionately argues that theology is dramatic and beautiful, a crucial part of living life well. However, she laments the fact that so few actually understand Christian dogma or doctrine.

I haven’t had time to do much blogging lately because of my teaching responsibilities (term paper time!) and because of other commitments. So I thought I’d let Sayers do some speaking. Below is a sample from what she thought the “average” persons might put on an examination paper about Christian doctrine. I’ll start with her hilarious entry on “God the Holy Spirit.”

> Q: WHAT DOES THE CHURCH THINK OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT?  
>  
> A: I don’t know exactly. He was never see or heard of till Whitsunday. There is a sin against him that damns you for ever, but nobody knows what it is.

I’ll try to stay away from whatever that sin is until the next time…