I’m not going to get into an argument with Rick Brookhiser about the merit of various literary giants. Not gonna do it, as Dana Carvey said as George H. W. Bush. Wouldn’t be prudent. I liked the quote from Chesterton. Always did, always will.

But, as for Andrew’s objection. To be sure, he is consistent in his cold scientific approach to all things that cannot me measured in a beaker in some lab. But surely you can agree, Andrew, that it’s annoying how so many more people are willing to believe in nice miracles, in God’s beneficent interventions and hopeful characterizations of the afterlife, who are simultaneously eager to dismiss anything having to do with the devil, dark spirits and, of course, Hell. I’m not saying one can’t have a well thought-through position where you can believe in good miracles but express mocking skepticism for evil ones. But I would think you could at least admire Chesterton’s willingness to admit that most people don’t think it through.