G.K. Chesterton, a prolific writer and Christian apologist, had some notable things to say about paganism in his works. One of his most famous quotes on the subject is from "The Everlasting Man," where he states:
"Paganism was the biggest thing in the world; and Christianity was bigger; and everything else has been comparatively small beer."
In this context, Chesterton contrasts the grandeur and dominance of paganism in the ancient world with the revolutionary impact of Christianity. He saw Christianity as a transformative force that not only eclipsed the influence of paganism but also reshaped the world's cultural, moral, and spiritual landscape.
His writings often delved into the differences between paganism and Christianity, highlighting how Christianity, in his view, offered a more complete and fulfilling worldview. Chesterton argued that while paganism celebrated the natural world and human achievements, it lacked the depth and comprehensive moral framework provided by Christianity.
Chesterton's views on paganism were part of his broader critique of modern secularism and materialism, which he saw as spiritually lacking compared to the Christian tradition. His approach to paganism was not one of disdain, but rather of comparison to emphasize what he saw as the virtues and uniqueness of Christianity.
The last lines in Turgenev’s “The Nymphs” joltingly display this transition, with the final image left in the mind of “the golden cross on the white bell tower.”
I stood before a chain of beautiful mountains forming a semicircle. A young, green forest covered them from summit to base.
Limpidly blue above them was the southern sky; on the heights the sunbeams rioted; below, half-hidden in the grass, swift brooks were babbling.
And the old fable came to my mind, how in the first century after Christ's birth, a Greek ship was sailing on the Aegean Sea.
The hour was midday. It was still weather. And suddenly up aloft, above the pilot's head, some one called distinctly, 'When thou sailest by the island, shout in a loud voice, "Great Pan is dead!"'
The pilot was amazed; afraid. But when the ship passed the island, he obeyed, he called, “Great Pan is dead!”
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