Letter 13....The blunders of Wormwood

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?

To all who actually LIKE to read and were ever thinking of reading stuff by Tolkien:

I got an awesome idea. Since this class is helping us understand Lewis's writings, why don't those of us who like to read and want to read Tolkien's works, read Tolkien's works over the summer and make a blog to discuss them as we read them. And we could, like, all read at the same pace, so that we're all at the same place in the book. Such books that we could read:

The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King)
Smith of Wootton Major, and Farmer Giles of Ham (It's one book, two stories)
The Silmarillion (haha, just kidding)

Let me know what you guys think. I've actually made a blog which I don't use... at all, and that I would have to rename, but we could use it if you guys want to do this. SO LET ME KNOW.

P.S. I lost the GAME!!

Letter 12....The Slippery Slope

In this letter, Screwtape congratulates his nephew on his progress. It seems his patient is spending increasing amounts of time with his new group of friends, and less time developing his faith. Sure, he still attends church, but his whole heart is not there. A "dim uneasiness" settles in. This "dim uneasiness" can cause him to repent and turn to God or guilt might build up and turn him farther away.

What will God not allow the devils to completely suppress?

What do you think the "dim uneasiness" is that Christians feel when they're being spiritually lazy?

What is the safest road to hell? How can we prevent this in our own life?

Screwtape says, "As one of my own patients said on his arrival down here, I now see that I spent most of my life in doing neither what I ought nor what I liked." Explain what this means? How does not following God produce this type of life?

Here's a link to a music video that sums it all up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLJF9vaIJ_0

Enjoy!

Letter 11...The Art of Telling Jokes.......

Here are a couple words defined before you start to read, that will help you to understand the letter better.
Incongruities: not compatible, not harmonious
Flippancy: Excessive silliness and lack of steadiness especially regarding grave or sacred matters.

This letter discusses the patient's increasing circle of friends. Screwtape comments that much laughter can be heard and goes on to explain the 4 causes of laughter.

What are the 4 causes of laughter?

Which 2 causes are NOT useful to the devils?

Why do the devils hate fun?

Why is flippancy great for the devils? How can they use it to their advantage?

comments

Ya'll have really interesting comment conversations on here.... I'm just sayin.

Welcome to The Screwtape Letters

A tip from the teacher... if you're not sure you know the meaning of a word, look it up. It can really enlighten the meaning of the letter (if you choose the right word to look up that is).

Screwtape Letters... for Tolkien?

I don't know if anyone saw this, but The Screwtape Letters are dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien.  I thought that was pretty cool! Yeah so look in your book and see if it is in there.