Screwtape shames his nephew, Wormwood in this letter for allowing his patient to experience 2 real pleasures. This letter explains that the devils would rather keep people focused on things they don't truly enjoy. I don't think this means they have to focus on horrible things or even behaving badly, they just need to be kept busy doing things that really don't matter much.
Often, the things people enjoy are what God has given them in the form of gifts and talents. By using these talents they often become closer to God. Something so simple as a walk along a beautiful path can produce a sense of peace and delight that can bring one closer to God. Remember the verse, "Even the rocks cried out His name."
What do you think the "asphyxiating cloud" was that surrounded the patient on his walk from the old mill?
What characteristic does Pain and Pleasure bring?
What state does Screwtape want the patient to be in and why?
How can Wormwood turn this disaster concerning his patient around?
13 comments:
The aphyxiating cloud is, to me, the Holy Spirit guarding him, on his walk from the mill, and maybe he was in prayer too? That's why the devils couldn't get to him.
The charactaristic of Pain and Pleasure is that they give a sense of REALITY. When he meets REAL pleasure, that is something that the devils DO NOT want him to do.
He wants him to be in a state where he isn't really doing anything. Basically, as long as he doesn't do something for the GOOD, or doesn't do it for God, then it doesn't have any impact. As Screwtape said, "Let him do anything but ACT."
Wormwood can make the man just leave behind all of the things he loves, like his friends, or the things he has, and go for the BEST of everything. Like, the man could have "better" things to do.
1) The asphyxiating cloud that surrounded the patient was the presence of God, protecting him. The Lord put a sort of "shield" around the patient, and this did not allow any harm to come to him from Wormwood or the devils.
2) Pain and Pleasure's characteristics are unmistakably real, and give the man who feels them a touchstone of reality.
3) He wants him to be in the state where he doesn't really do anything, or at least anything he enjoys doing. Screwtape does point out that this doesn't mean making the patient necessarily do anything bad, but to just keep him away from what he finds pleasurable. He wants this because if the patient were to take part in things he enjoys (like reading a book he loves, or being in activities he likes), it could bring him much closer to God.
4) He could no longer write to his demon uncle, Screwtape, and no longer take his advice. And also...turn to God for help. Everything will all be right with the help of the Lord :)
What do you think the "asphyxiating cloud" was that surrounded the patient on his walk from the old mill? the holy spirit surrounding him
What characteristic does Pain and Pleasure bring? they are real, so it gives him a sense of reality
What state does Screwtape want the patient to be in and why? He doesnt want him to be himself, doing things he doesnt enjoy and dont glorify God
How can Wormwood turn this disaster concerning his patient around? make sure he doesnt act on his feelings of repentance to God
What do you think the "asphyxiating cloud" was that surrounded the patient on his walk from the old mill? God's presence... the Holy Spirit.
What characteristic does Pain and Pleasure bring? A sense of reality.
What state does Screwtape want the patient to be in and why? I think he kind of wants the patient to not have many strong feelings, like which foods he does or doesn't like, what sports he enjoys, and so on. I think he also wants the patient to not do anything, to not act. He wants the patient to feel without acting and act without feeling.
How can Wormwood turn this disaster concerning his patient around? Let him dwell on his thoughts but not act on them. I guess make him lazy, and since he will be dwelling on good thoughts he might just think he should continue on doing that because they are good, instead of acting on them and their goodness.
1) What Glenn said.
2) What Cephia said.
3) What Anna, Amy, and Cephia said.
4) What Cephia and Anna said.
P.S. I need to get on here earlier to post MY opinions.
The 'aphyxiating cloud' to me is God's presence in the patient's heart, protecting him from the devil!
The characteristic of Pain and Pleasure brings a sense of reality.The pleasure the book and the walk gave the patient was real pleasure!
Screwtape wants Wormwood to make his patient to be in a state where he is focused on things he doesnt truely enjoy. This causes him not to be so focused on the talents God has given him!
Wormwood could turn around the disaster by making the patient focus on the not-so pleasureable things therefore the patient forgets the good things in his life!
Wait a moment...I thought that the last question meant "how can Wormwood NOT continue to make the disaster worse." Did I read it wrong??? Because everybody else seems to be saying how Wormwood could make it WORSE than it is already.
???
Hi Glennellen,
Regarding the last question, the disaster according to the devils is that the patient was allowed to experience real pleasure which resulted in him turning to God. The question asks how can the devils turn the patient towards them.
It's a confusing ? probably because the book is confusing as it's written from the devil's side, so we have to turn everything around to find out what's right.
Well, Matthew. Aren't you just SO creative in your answers! Oh yes....I can just SEE IT!
lol
Aphyxiating cloud
I thought it was God's angel blocking the demons when the cloud appeared
I thought the cloud was one of God's angels that was blocking Wormwood from coming into the "patient's" mind.
Pain is like when your doing something you don't enjoy doing and Pleasure is the oppisite of pain.
I forgot what the answer to the third question was....{Until I glanced over and read Cephia's answer...}
Wormwood's "patient" has become humble....So make the "patient" realize it and hopfully the "patient" will be proud of his acheivement.....
oopsie...:}
The asphyxiating cloud covering sounds like God or The Holly Spirit surrounding him. Yet he also could have been in prayer, drawing himself closer to God, and that also could have been the reason that Wormwood couldn't get to him.
Pain and Pleasure creates a undeniably real experience. Reality brings you back to, well, the "real" world. It can also bring you to the realization of God and how you have strayed, which is something the tempters would never want you to realize.
Screwtape doesn't want the "patient" to be "himself". When we are really and truly ourselves we are more of the person God intended us to be, and why would the tempters want us to be Godly?
Wormwood could let the patient become vain? He could lead the "patient" towards self-righteousness and a holier than though attitude, pulling his attention away from God and more on himself and how "wonderfully holy" he is?
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