Cultivating Joy with G.K. Chesterton

How does one grow in joy? G.K. Chesterton, a giant in the Catholic intellectual tradition, wrote with discernment, insight, and wit on a host of topics. Due to his encounter with the rich love of God and coupled with his uncanny humor, an incredible joy radiated through his writings and relationships.

In this course, students will begin with reading a short biography about Chesterton in order to appreciate the background which laid a foundation for a lifetime of rigorous inquiry into the study of the human person and the divine. Following this, students will explore the topics of atheism and Christianity as explored in Chesterton's fictional dystopian novel, The Ball and the Cross. Continuing along, they will put on their detective hats to read through several of Chesterton's famous Father Brown mysteries and investigate the idea of mystery itself while enjoying the matter of fact crime solving from an amateur detective priest. Once better acquainted with his writing style, we will dive deep into what many consider his greatest accomplishment, The Everlasting Man. This book's defense of Christianity is responsible for inspiring former atheist C.S. Lewis on his journey toward conversion. We will conclude our year reading a sampling of Chesterton's essays, poems, and short stories - of which there is a seemingly endless treasury.

Through deliberate reading, weekly reflection assignments, and thoughtful in class discussion (including the opportunity for students to lead discussion), students will walk away with an appreciation for Chesterton’s work and the ability to consider prayerfully all of creation with a new perspective imbued with gratitude and joy.

Quarter 1

• The Life of Chesterton
• On Atheism and Christianity: The Ball and the Cross

Quarter 2

• The Beauty of a Detective Story: _The Father Brown Mysteries _

Quarter 3

• Coming Home and Conversion: The Everlasting Man

Quarter 4

• Coming Home and Conversion: _The Everlasting Man _(continued)
• The Joy of Inquiry: Essays and Short Stories

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.