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the world。
But the important matter was this； that it entirely reversed
the reason for optimism。 And the instant the reversal was made it
felt like the abrupt ease when a bone is put back in the socket。
I had often called myself an optimist； to avoid the too evident
blasphemy of pessimism。 But all the optimism of the age had been
false and disheartening for this reason； that it had always been
trying to prove that we fit in to the world。 The Christian
optimism is based on the fact that we do NOT fit in to the world。
I had tried to be happy by telling myself that man is an animal；
like any other which sought its meat from God。 But now I really
was happy； for I had learnt that man is a monstrosity。 I had been
right in feeling all things as odd； for I myself was at once worse
and better than all things。 The optimist's pleasure was prosaic；
for it dwelt on the naturalness of everything； the Christian
pleasure was poetic； for it dwelt on the unnaturalness of everything
in the light of the supernatural。 The modern philosopher had told
me again and again that I was in the right place； and I had still
felt depressed even in acquiescence。 But I had heard that I was in
the WRONG place； and my soul sang for joy； like a bird in spring。
The knowledge found out and illuminated forgotten chambers in the dark
house of infancy。 I knew now why grass had always seemed to me
as queer as the green beard of a giant； and why I could feel homesick
at home。
VI THE PARADOXES OF CHRISTIANITY
The real trouble with this world of ours is not that it is an
unreasonable world； nor even that it is a reasonable one。 The commonest
kind of trouble is that it is nearly reasonable； but not quite。
Life is not an illogicality； yet it is a trap for logicians。
It looks just a little more mathematical and regular than it is；
its exactitude is obvious； but its inexactitude is hidden；
its wildness lies in wait。 I give one coarse instance of what I mean。
Suppose some mathematical creature from the moon were to reckon
up the human body； he would at once see that the essential thing
about it was that it was duplicate。 A man is two men； he on the
right exactly resembling him on the left。 Having noted that there
was an arm on the right and one on the left； a leg on the right
and one on the left； he might go further and still find on each side
the same number of fingers； the same number of toes； twin eyes；
twin ears； twin nostrils； and even twin lobes of the brain。
At last he would take it as a law； and then； where he found a heart
on one side； would deduce that there was another heart on the other。
And just then； where he most felt he was right； he would be wrong。
It is this silent swerving from accuracy by an inch that is
the uncanny element in everything。 It seems a sort of secret
treason in the universe。 An apple or an orange is round enough
to get itself called round； and yet is not round after all。
The earth itself is shaped like an orange in order to lure some
simple astronomer into calling it a globe。 A blade of grass is
called after the blade of a sword； because it comes to a point；
but it doesn't。 Everywhere in things there is this element of the
quiet and incalculable。 It escapes the rationalists； but it never
escapes till the last moment。 From the grand curve of our earth it
could easily be inferred that every inch of it was thus curved。
It would seem rational that as a man has a brain on both sides；
he should have a heart on both sides。 Yet scientific men are still
organizing expeditions to find the North Pole； because they are
so fond of flat country。 Scientific men are also still organizing
expeditions to find a man's heart； and when they try to find it；
they generally get on the wrong side of him。
Now； actual insight or inspiration is best tested by whether it
guesses these hidden malformations or surprises。 If our mathematician
from the moon saw the two arms and the two ears； he might deduce
the two shoulder…blades and the two halves of the brain。 But if he
guessed that the man's heart was in the right place； then I should
call him something more than a mathematician。 Now； this is exactly
the claim which I have since come to propound for Christianity。
Not merely that it deduces logical truths； but that when it suddenly
becomes illogical； it has found； so to speak； an illogical truth。
It not only goes right about things； but it goes wrong （if one
may say so） exactly where the things go wrong。 Its plan suits
the secret irregularities； and expects the unexpected。 It is simple
about the simple truth； but it is stubborn about the subtle truth。
It will admit that a man has two hands； it will not admit （though all
the Modernists wail to it） the obvious deduction that he has two hearts。
It is my only purpose in this chapter to point this out； to show
that whenever we feel there is something odd in Christian theology；
we shall generally find that there is something odd in the truth。
I have alluded to an unmeaning phrase to the effect that
such and such a creed cannot be believed in our age。 Of course；
anything can be believed in any age。 But； oddly enough； there really
is a sense in which a creed； if it is believed at all； can be
believed more fixedly in a complex society than in a simple one。
If a man finds Christianity true in Birmingham； he has actually clearer
reasons for faith than if he had found it true in Mercia。 For the more
complicated seems the coincidence； the less it can be a coincidence。
If snowflakes fell in the shape； say； of the heart of Midlothian；
it might be an accident。 But if snowflakes fell in the exact shape
of the maze at Hampton Court； I think one might call it a miracle。
It is exactly as of such a miracle that I have since come to feel
of the philosophy of Christianity。 The complication of our modern
world proves the truth of the creed more perfectly than any of
the plain problems of the ages of faith。 It was in Notting Hill
and Battersea that I began to see that Christianity was true。
This is why the faith has that elaboration of doctrines and details
which so much distresses those who admire Christianity without
believing in it。 When once one believes in a creed； one is proud
of its complexity； as scientists are proud of the complexity
of science。 It shows how rich it is in discoveries。 If it is right
at all； it is a compliment to say that it's elaborately right。
A stick might fit a hole or a stone a holl