The Return of Dale Ahlquist

4/22/2025

Dale Ahlquist addresses a Society of G.K. Chesterton pilgrimage group on the campus of EWTN, reminiscing about his time hosting the Chesterton series.

A New Chesterton Reading Plan

4/1/2014

Dale Ahlquist offers an up to date list of Chesterton books for the avid reader and fan of all things Chesterton.

Ask Mr. Chesterson IV

12/1/2013

G.K. Chesterton takes questions from phone callers and audience members.

Apocalypse Later

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist looks at Chesterton's take on the Apocalypse, also known as the End Times.

The Tumbler of God

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist looks at Chesterton the Mystic.

The Moment When There Is Nothing but God

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist presents Chesterton's view on Mysticism.

Why Ask Why?

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist takes a look at Chesterton's view of philosophy.

The Tower of Babel

12/1/2013

Dale looks at how Chesterton warns us of the danger of doing things merely because we can do them, such as new types of arrogant towers, real or metaphorical, the confusion that will follow and the cultural decadence that could destroy our civilization.

The Epistle of Common Sense

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist takes a look at Chesterton's view of the Epistle of St. James, which Chesterton himself called “the old Christian common sense." Dale also sees how this epistle and Chesteron have a lot in common.

How to Have an Argument

12/1/2013

With Chesterton's help, Dale Ahlquist develops three lists on how to have a good argument, which includes how to spot a bad argument, the techniques to have a good argument and how to win an argument.

The Shop of Ghosts

12/1/2013

Dale talks about Chesterton's fondness of Christmas and gives us a surprising and new perspective of this old and familiar occasion.

The Basis of Civilization

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist explains Chesterton's defense of the Christian ideal, which makes for a stable and just society.

Sin and Syntax

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist explains Chesterton's defense of the Christian Creed and defends it against those who attack it.

The Man Who Went Sane

12/1/2013

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's view on sanity and being able to see the world as it really is – created by God but tainted by sin.

G. K. Chesterson Conference

3/1/2011

Host Dale Ahlquist presents highlights from the 2009 Chesterton Conference.

St. G. K. C.?

3/1/2011

Host Dale Ahlquist explores the possibility that G.K. Chesterton may someday be proclaimed a Saint.

Ask Mr. Chesterton III

3/1/2011

G.K. Chesterton takes questions from phone callers and audience members.

Comedy and Tragedy

3/1/2011

Host Dale Ahlquist talks about Chesterton's belief that the sane man is the man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head.

The Divine Detective

3/1/2011

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's statement that the essence of a mystery tale is that we are suddenly confronted with a truth which we have never suspected and yet can see to be true.

God Is Dead: Chesterson Vs Nietzsche

3/1/2011

An imagined debate between Chesterton and Nietzsche, or between the Culture of Life, and the Culture of Death.

The Return of the King

3/1/2011

Host Dale Ahlquist talks about Chesterton's opinions and discussions on King Arthur.

Catholic Social Teaching

3/1/2011

Dale Ahlquist talks about Chesterton's belief that justice is more important than peace, as the soul is more important than the body.

The Bible

3/1/2011

Dale Ahlquist discusses how Chesterton is amused by the “logical methods by which men prove that Jericho could not have been utterly destroyed, because there is none of it left”.

The Universe and Other Little Things

3/1/2011

Host Dale Ahlquist covers Chesterton's statement that a certain sort of humanitarianism or horror of cruelty is almost the only form of morality left among some of the modern moralists.

Faith and Doubt

3/1/2011

Host Dale Ahlquist discusses how no sceptic who believes that truth is subjective has any hesitation about treating it as objective.

Life and Death

3/1/2011

Host Dale Ahlquist explains how modern skeptics fear death, but Chesterton says, “Perhaps one never knows what being a man means until the instant of death…all life is a learning to die.”

The Exception Proves the Rule

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explores the thought of the brilliant 20th Century thinker, G.K. Chesterton on why Moral Relativism doesn't work.

The Best Toy in the World

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explains why Chesterton’s favorite toy as a child was a toy theater; includes a production of Chesterton’s toy theater play, “The disadvantage of having two heads.”

Modernism

7/31/2009

Explaining why common sense is connected to belief in God, Host Dale Ahlquist explores G.K. Chesterton's thoughts on the matter.

The Poet and the Priests

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explores G.K. Chesterton's thoughts on why the priesthood is one of the most mysterious and misunderstood ideas in the modern mind.

A Society of Parents

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explores the thoughts of the great 20th Century thinker G.K. Chesterton on the greatness of Christian Marriage.

The Children of a Lonely God

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explores G. K. Chesterton's thoughts on the Muslim Faith.

This Means War

7/31/2009

Exploring the thoughts of the great 20th Century thinker G.K. Chesterton on Just War Theory, host Dale Ahlquist looks at when it's just to fight and when it's not.

A Nation With the Soul of a Church

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explains why the great 20th Century thinker G.K. Chesterton saw the United States as a nation with the soul of a church.

The Thrill of Monotony

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explores the great 20th Century thinker G.K. Chesterton's views on progress, innovation and common sense.

The Problem of Evil

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explores the great 20th Century thinker G.K. Chesterton's thoughts on the proper use of language.

Language

7/31/2009

Host Dale Ahlquist explores the great 20th Century thinker G.K. Chesterton's thoughts on the proper use of language.

To Tell the Truth

7/31/2009

The truth can be known host Dale Ahlquist tells us, as he explores the great 20th Century thinker G.K. Chesterton's thoughts on the matter.

Ask Mr Chesterton II

7/1/2009

Audience members get to ask the brilliant 20th Century thinker, G.K. Chesterton questions via satellite from 1936 London; G.K. Chesterton played by actor Chuck Chalberg.

Against the Stream

3/13/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at Chesterton's take on common sense.

Ask Mr. Chesterton

3/13/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a lively Q&A session.

The Seven Deadly Sins Pt. 2

3/11/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at Chesterton's take on the seven deadly sins.

The Seven Deadly Sins Pt. 1

3/4/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at Chesterton's take on the seven deadly sins.

Chesterton and Shakespeare

3/3/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at Chesterton's skills as an insightful literary critic in regard to Shakespeare.

How to Think

3/3/2008

Host Dale Ahlquist looks to Chesterton's wisdom to explain why modern man has lost his ability to think clearly.

A Friend of the Family

3/3/2008

Host Dale Ahlquist examines the wisdom of renowned writer G.K. Chesterton on the issue of the loss of the sense of the sacredness of the family; also includes short dramatic presentations of Chesterton and Ibsen’s “A Doll House

East and West

3/1/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at Chesterton’s examination of the difference between Christianity and Eastern religions.

Abandon Hopelessness, All Ye Who Enter Here

2/29/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at the effect the renowned fiction writer Charles Dickens had on him.

Chesterton Vs Darrow

2/28/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at the famous debate Chesterton had with Clarence Darrow.

Law and Lawyers

2/26/2008

Dale Ahlquist continues his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at the errors in modern law.

Health and Medicine

2/26/2008

Host Dale Ahlquist looks to the wisdom of the great 20th Century writer and thinker G.K. Chesterton to explain why contemporary society has come to misunderstand the true meaning of health.

The Only Man I Regularly

2/22/2008

Dale Ahlquist begins his study of the wit and wisdom of the great 20th Century writer, G.K. Chesterton with a look at Chesterton as a committed defender of the Truth.

The Battle Goes on

6/25/2004

Chesterton's battle with modernism is dramatized, with scenes from "The Man Who Was Thursday" and "The Surprise". The subjects dealt with are relevant, even today.

Moments Filled With Eternity

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's wife and how she is almost never mentioned in his writings. This was not for any lack of affection on his part, but at her own request. His wife also wrote poetry, and some of her poetry is featured on this episode.

Chesterton's Enemies

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist talks about George Bernard Shaw, Chesterton's intellectual opponent but also a very close friend.

Chesterton's Friends

6/25/2004

The correspondence and work of Maurice Baring and Hilaire Belloc, two contemporaries and friends of G.K. Chesterton, are dramatized in this study of the writer’s wit and wisdom.

Ten Thousand Reasons

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist discusses some of the many reasons Chesterton became Catholic.

Chesterton & the Mother of God

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's devotion to the Blessed Mother, whom he wrote poems about and even donated a statue to his church.

Chesterton & the Saints

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist uses Chesterton's philosophy to discuss the saints.

A Sacramental Understanding

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist looks at Chesterton's insights on Christianity. Dramatizations include a verbal dual between Turnball and MacIan from "the Ball and the Cross" and a climactic seen from one of the Fr. Brown Mysteries.

The Liberty of God

6/25/2004

Science can be used either as a tool or as a toy, according the G. K. Chesterton. At its highest and noblest, it is a toy. Some have mistakenly tried to elevate science to the status of a religion.

A Tool Or a Toy

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist looks at how according to Chesterton, science can be used either as a tool or as a toy. Some have mistakenly tried to elevate science to the status of a religion.

A Short History of History

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist looks at Chesteron's view on history, in which there are two kinds of historians: those who tell half of the truth, and those who tell none of the truth.

Words About Words

6/25/2004

Among his many talents, Chesterton was a great literary Critic. Chuck Chalberg appears as Chesterton with some of his most pithy comments about the art of writing.

Daily Truth

6/25/2004

Dale Ahlquist focuses on Chesterton's newspaper articles and includes a dramatic re-creation of an English couple enjoying his witty column.

A Chesterton Reading Plan

6/1/2002

Dale Ahlquist attempts to answer the question of what Chesterton book should one read first.

Recovering the Lost Art of Common Sense

6/1/2002

"The first effect of not believing in God, is that you lose your common sense." In order for us to recover our common sense, we have to recover our faith. Learning more about Chesterton may be the first step in recovering faith and common sense.

Talking in Rhyme

6/1/2002

Most modern poetry can be described as variations on a suicide note. Chesterton's poetry, on the other hand, is more joyful. Enjoy this survey of his poetry, including one poem about not committing suicide.

The Art of Defending the Faith

6/1/2002

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's defense of the Faith and how he would find something in his opponents' argument that he agrees with, even if it is the thinnest shred of truth, so that he can start on common ground with them.

The Art of Defending the Faith, Part 1

6/1/2002

Chesterton on Apologetics: "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."

Puritans and Pagans

6/1/2002

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's views of conservatives and progressives, in which he says progressives go on making mistakes and conservatives prevent them from being corrected.

The "D" Word

6/1/2002

Chesterton on Democracy: "I believe that the people can rule, and that when they do rule, they do so better than any of their rulers. … I believe no human institution in history has really so little to be ashamed of as the mob."

Fancies and Fads

6/1/2002

G.K. Chesterton says that a fad is like a heresy. It is the exaltation of something which, even if it is true, is secondary or temporary. And it is set against the things that are essential and eternal.

Uneducating the Educated

6/1/2002

In Chesterton's view, "The purpose of Compulsory Education is to deprive the common people of their common sense." Explore the shortcomings of modern education through the wit and wisdom of Chesterton.

The Signature of Man

6/1/2002

Dale Ahlquist talks about Chesterton's view of creation, which is that because we are created in the image of God, we also are creators.

The Riddles of God

6/1/2002

Dale Ahlquist explores the mysteries of creation with the Prince of Paradox.

Wonder

6/1/2002

As G.K. Chesterton says,: "The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder." Dale Ahlquist discusses there is no excuse for being bored. The world is overflowing with more than enough beauties and fascinations.

Another Introduction to Chesterton

6/1/2002

G.K. Chesterton was a writer of the early 20th century who wrote hundreds of books, thousands of essays, penned epic poetry, and argued about everything. Experience the clearness and completeness of his thinking in this introduction to his life and work.

Chesterton for Today

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist explains the relevance of Chesterton's writings to today's world. As Chesterton said, "A society is in decay when common sense has become uncommon."

Fr. Brown

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist gives an overview of Chesterton's popular "Fr. Brown" detective stories, featuring Fr. James R. Kolp as Fr. Brown.

Eugenics and Other Evils

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's book "Eugenics" exploring the evils of racism, euthanasia, and abortion.

The Superstition of Divorce

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesterton's view of marriage and divorce.

The Outline of Sanity

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist examines Chesterton's book, "The Outline of Sanity" and exposes the problem with modern economic systems such as capitalism and communism.

The Everlasting Man

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist discusses how Chesterton wrote about Christ and the things his critics said about him.

St. Thomas Aquinas

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist explains Chesterton's view of St. Thomas Aquinas which was when Aquinas began by answering no, it would not be the beginning but the end.

St. Francis of Assisi

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist focuses on Chesterton's admiration of St. Francis of Assisi. Chesterton tells about the man who "cared chiefly for the best kind of giving which is called thanksgiving."

The Well and the Shallows

6/22/2000

The Catholic Church is the well-everything else is the shallows.

The Thing: Why I AM a Catholic

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist examines Chesterton's contrasts of the Church (The Thing) to all other philosophies, religions and ideologies.

The Catholic Church & Conversion

6/22/2000

"It's one thing to conclude that Catholicism is good and another to conclude that it is right. It is one thing to conclude that it is right, and another to conclude that it is always right."

What's Wrong With the Church

6/22/2000

Host Dale Ahlquist shows how Chesterton addressed the main problems of his day, which are the same in our day. His solution is to return to the Christian ideal, which "has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."

Heretics

6/22/2000

Chesterton's book "Heretics" takes on modernism, and the skeptic's refusal to use his brain to come to conclusions. He says, " Trees have no dogmas. Turnips are singularly broad-minded."

Orthodoxy

6/22/2000

Dale Ahlquist discusses Chesteron's classic book Orthodoxy and how Chesterton came across orthodox belief almost by accident.

An Introduction to Chesterton

6/22/2000

An overview of Chesterton, the prolific Catholic writer who "said something about everything and he said it better than anybody else."