G.K. Chester once said, “I never discuss anything but politics and religion. There is nothing else to discuss.” While I generally enjoy the self-indulgence of statements like these, it is with apologies to Mr. Chesterton that I must part company with him. Politics and religion are important discussions to have, but they are not the only things worth talking about. Once again, this brings us back to the point about generalism—the one I apparently can’t stop making. It’s good to be good (skilled at, versed in, etc) at many things and however different, even if some are more important than others.
I talk more about religion than anything – if that isn’t already obvious. But then, family life, politics, music, writing, business, fitness, martial arts, etc, all come into discussion. There are so many beautiful, delicious, magnificent things in life – things that God gave us – that I see no reason to ignore them. Chesterton, in my view, is being a funny person, which we all know that he was. Obviously, he discussed things other than politics and religion, because we have accounts of him discussing them. Chesterton had much to say on the arts, and much to contribute to them. He was a well-rounded man and not just in his physique.
There is also a sort of intellectual dependency on these alternative disciplines. I am convinced that politics and ethics cannot be made sense of without a study of metaphysics—specifically, without acquiring at least some knowledge of God. To want to study the affairs of man (that’s politics) and how things should be organized and arranged in society, it seems reasonable to wonder if there is any grand purpose or meaning to existence as such, which, if there is, should perhaps be considered before instituting any old political regime. One should think about how things should be – what a person is, what a person is for, etc – before deciding how things will be. Religion, thus, precedes politics. Otherwise politics is a joke without a punchline, which is what we have today. Who would dare to disagree?
But a study of religion enriches also everything else. To see reality clearly is to appreciate it deeply. For religion does not weigh a person down but buoys them up. You become excited about things—excited about science and philosophy and theology and music and literature and life—knowing all these were put here for a purpose and made to be discovered and explored; not to mention, enjoyed. The world is not a cold, brute fact; existence is not devoid of meaning. Everything means everything; everything points to something beyond itself. Religion—that is, true religion—is seeing reality for what it is: that the world is made by God and there is a plan and that we’re a part of it. Pretty sweet, if you ask me.
Of course, none of this need turn anybody into an (there’s that word again) orgulous or annoying human being. Religion humbles. Because there is undeniably a certain, unparalleled trembling that sets in when considering the awesomeness of God—that there is an uncreated, unconditioned, necessarily existing conscious reality that explains why everything exists instead of nothing. Something so unbelievably enormous. And loving. Again, pretty sweet, if you ask me.
The point is that life is good and that activities and learning are good and everything is good. So we needn’t restrict ourselves to discussing religion and politics all the time, and probably miss out on some pretty spectacular things if we do. It’s good to allow some pressure to escape by enjoying the seemingly pointless recreations of life. (There are no pointless recreations in life, really.) Religion and politics can be tough, exacting conversation. Sometimes it’s nice just to talk about ham sandwiches a while, or heavy metal. Things are easier that way. Gives you time to recuperate. God made ham sandwiches too, you know. He also made — and can use for good — heavy metal.