I read, "Why I Call Myself a Christian"

by brerarnold, Saturday, February 18, 2012, 15:08 (4610 days ago) @ RangerBob

Had to go and read up on Chesterton before I could respond to that part. Seems he didn't like the Quakers very well. As it happens, I am a Quaker, and a recorded Friends minister. Among the Society of Friends at large, I am a Conservative Friend, standing somewhere in the middle between liberal Quakers and evangelical Quakers. I should also say that most conservative Friends would not describe their faith as I have, but it would be recognizably Christian to them.

What Chesterton did not know about the Quaker doctrine and practice of the Inner Light is immeasurable. Comparing it to Aurelius only goes to show how far off base he was. He was mistaken about Aurelius also, although in lesser measure. Stoicism has nothing to do with the Inner Light as we have known it, and you can't just import it into Stoicism because it serves your purposes rhetorically.

I'm not going to try to correct the misimpression Chesterton gives in the passage you quoted. For anyone who really cares, there is already plenty written on the score.