Puritanism
A large portion of the American populace espouses a moral code that can be
accurately described as Puritanical. Although this code is wrapped in religious
language, it is fundamentally a denial of the goodness of creation, finding the
source of evil in material things of pleasure (as tobacco, alcohol, art, and so
on) rather than in the disordered human will to misuse the good things nature
affords us. The Puritans' fondness for legal prohibitions as well as their
presumption of their own moral superiority have given religion a bad name in
America.
At the conclusion of his Illustrated London News column for September 11, 1909,
Chesterton made the point with his characteristic logic and wit:
"Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by
setting up false devils; by making men afraid of war or alcohol, or economic
law, when they should be afraid of spiritual corruption and cowardice. The
Moslems say, 'There is no God but God'. The English Moslems, the abstainers,
have to learn to remember also that there is no Satan but Satan".
Gilbert! is dedicated to
continuing Chesterton's war against Puritanical attitudes -- for one example,
please read our cigar reviews. We also intend to follow him in celebrating the
joys of use rather than abuse -- please read our "For Lovers Only".
[And for further reading in
Chesterton's works, see Chapter IV of St. Thomas Aquinas, "A Meditation on
the Manichees" and "The Puritans and the Luxuries of Life",
Illustrated London News, February 21, 1931]. Adapted from Martin Ward's Chesterton page.