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. 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…
Matthew Lee Anderson
Matthew Lee Anderson is an Associate Professor of Ethics and Theology in Baylor University's Honors College. He has a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics from Oxford University, and is a Perpetual Member of Biola University's Torrey Honors College. In 2005, he founded Mere Orthodoxy.
