Discuss J14
Journal 15
Letter 16
1. Why does Screwtape want Wormwood’s patient to become a church “connoisseur”?
2. One church near Wormwood’s patient serves up a diluted Christianity. What does Screwtape especially like about it?
3. Another church has a minister who is a passionate protester against almost everything. What does Screwtape especially like about
this one?
4. Above all, Screwtape likes “party” churches in which members takes sides and are attached to causes. What do you think
Screwtape might like about your church or Monte Vista?
Letter 17
1. We seldom think of gluttony as sin today; however, the devils do. What’s the difference between the gluttony of Excess and the
gluttony of Delicacy?
2. Toward which type of gluttony are you inclined?
3. It is clear that Delicacy, as present in the patient’s mother, is extremely irritating. How does it shape her life and affect
those around her?
4. Toward what expressions of gluttony are men inclined?
5. The impact of gluttony is to make food a primary preoccupation which governs our lives. What role do you think food occupies
in your life?
Letter 18
1. God has placed humanity in a dilemma concerning sex—either complete abstinence or unmitigated monogamy. How do the
devils seek to twist sex so that we don’t live according to God’s standards?
2. Why is God’s creation of love offensive and irritating to Screwtape?
3. The devils not only twist sex but love as well. How have they twisted love to destroy God’s intentions?
4. What do we learn about God’s true intention for sex and love from Screwtape’s instructions to Wormwood?
5. How might the observations of Screwtape change the way you think about both sex and love?
HW: Finish J15 and write a rough draft of your own infernal letter in the name of your own personal tempter. It should be at least a page long and designed to tempt yourself.
Wednesday, Sept. 27 ~ Screwtape Letters 14-15
Go over J13
Journal 14
Letter 14
1. According to Screwtape, virtues are less formidable to devils when they are known to the patient. Why is this?
2. What is the true nature of humility?
3. What is God’s goal for humility and all virtues?
4. What are your virtues and outstanding talents? How well do you “handle” them?
Letter 15
1. Screwtape believes that the “Enemy” wants humanity to have a double vision, focusing on both time and eternity. How is that double focus a benefit to us?
2. In contrast to a focus on both eternity and the present, Screwtape wants to obscure both from our sight. How does a preoccupation with the future do just that?
3. Screwtape makes the enigmatic statement that “nearly all vices are rooted in the future.” Explain what is wrong with “the future.”
4. What is it about the future that worries you?
5. In what ways can you discern concerns for the future that hinder your spiritual growth and hurt your heart?
Journal 14
Letter 14
1. According to Screwtape, virtues are less formidable to devils when they are known to the patient. Why is this?
2. What is the true nature of humility?
3. What is God’s goal for humility and all virtues?
4. What are your virtues and outstanding talents? How well do you “handle” them?
Letter 15
1. Screwtape believes that the “Enemy” wants humanity to have a double vision, focusing on both time and eternity. How is that double focus a benefit to us?
2. In contrast to a focus on both eternity and the present, Screwtape wants to obscure both from our sight. How does a preoccupation with the future do just that?
3. Screwtape makes the enigmatic statement that “nearly all vices are rooted in the future.” Explain what is wrong with “the future.”
4. What is it about the future that worries you?
5. In what ways can you discern concerns for the future that hinder your spiritual growth and hurt your heart?
Tuesday, Sept. 26 ~ Screwtape Letters 12-13
Go over J12.
Carry on with Journal 13:
Letter 12
1. Why is it valuable for Wormwood to encourage church attendance, despite its spiritual snares?
2. How is it that Wormwood can combine spiritual degeneration and spiritual inclination into snares and roadblocks to spiritual growth?
Letter 13
1. Wormwood’s patient did “wake up” from his spiritual drift and, for the time being, slipped through his fingers. Identify at least two other ways in which pleasure can be a divine aid and a devilish snare.
2. What is the difference between the detachment of self that God seeks and the detachment from reality that the devils seek?
3. Why would Screwtape want to eradicate small pleasures?
4. What pleasures and pastimes do you find spiritually nourishing? How can you see these relating to Screwtapes strategies or challenges?
Carry on with Journal 13:
Letter 12
1. Why is it valuable for Wormwood to encourage church attendance, despite its spiritual snares?
2. How is it that Wormwood can combine spiritual degeneration and spiritual inclination into snares and roadblocks to spiritual growth?
Letter 13
1. Wormwood’s patient did “wake up” from his spiritual drift and, for the time being, slipped through his fingers. Identify at least two other ways in which pleasure can be a divine aid and a devilish snare.
2. What is the difference between the detachment of self that God seeks and the detachment from reality that the devils seek?
3. Why would Screwtape want to eradicate small pleasures?
4. What pleasures and pastimes do you find spiritually nourishing? How can you see these relating to Screwtapes strategies or challenges?
Monday, Sept. 25 ~ Screwtape Letters 10 & 11
Go over J11.
Journal 12 ~ Letters 10 & 11
Letter 10
1. Clever, slightly sophisticated intellectuals especially fashionable during WW II were “just right” for diabolical use. How would they be a snare for Wormwood’s patient?
2. What social set would be just the right tool for a tempter to use on you?
3. How is it that the diabolical use of peer pressure can turn us into first-order hypocrites?
Letter 11
1. Wormwood receives detailed instructions on laughter. What is there about joy and music that is so detestable to Screwtape?
2. Screwtape doesn’t much care for fun either. Hos can fun be an aid to spiritual growth?
3. Of the four types of humor, Screwtape prefers jokes and flippancy. What is flippancy, and how does Screwtape find it useful? How is it that a joke can be a means of justifying bad behavior?
Journal 12 ~ Letters 10 & 11
Letter 10
1. Clever, slightly sophisticated intellectuals especially fashionable during WW II were “just right” for diabolical use. How would they be a snare for Wormwood’s patient?
2. What social set would be just the right tool for a tempter to use on you?
3. How is it that the diabolical use of peer pressure can turn us into first-order hypocrites?
Letter 11
1. Wormwood receives detailed instructions on laughter. What is there about joy and music that is so detestable to Screwtape?
2. Screwtape doesn’t much care for fun either. Hos can fun be an aid to spiritual growth?
3. Of the four types of humor, Screwtape prefers jokes and flippancy. What is flippancy, and how does Screwtape find it useful? How is it that a joke can be a means of justifying bad behavior?
Block Day, Sept.21 ~ Letters, letters and more letters!
Today we will...
- Finish discussing journals 9 & 10.
- Get a Journal Check
- Continue with J11 and Letters 8 & 9.
Journal 11
- Why does Screwtape call us "amphibians"?
- Summarize "the law of undulation."
- In Letter 8, Screwtape comments that God "cannot ravish" but "can only woo." What does this mean? Do you agree? Explain.
- In Letter 8, Screwtape plainly lays out the opposing war efforts of God and Satan. What is Our Father Below's ultimate aim regarding humanity? In contrast, what is God's? How do the scriptures support Screwtape's understanding of God's goal? (Gen. 1:27, John 12:27-32, 17:20-24 & Eph. 1:3-14)
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| Glubose? |
Wednesday, Sept. 20 ~ Screwtape Letters 5-7
Go over Letters 1-4
Journal 10: Letters 5-7
HW: J10 and Journal Check tomorrow!!
Journal 10: Letters 5-7
- According to Screwtape, what is the "real business" of demons?
- Track Lewis' extended metaphor in Letter 5. Give three ways Lewis implies that a soul is consumable.
- How do Screwtape's words parody Christ's in Matt. 26:26-29?
- In Letter 6, Screwtape tells Wormwood that hatred of Germans may not be useful in winning the patient away from God. What is his reasoning? Does it ring true for you? Are prejudice or stereotypes similar to the situation described? Have you ever had an experience similar to what Screwtape says English "milksops" experience when they meet real German pilots? If so, how were you changed as a result?
- In Letter 7, Screwtape instructs Wormwood to "nurse" the patient into thinking that his religion is merely part of some greater "Cause" -- in this case, either the British war effort or pacifism. How can a cause-however good it may be in intself- become an evil? What examples can you think of, either from history or from your own experience?
- Why does Screwtape want patients to live in fear of what could happen to them? What should be the truth about worry, fear, or anxiety, especially for a professing Christian? (Matt. 6:34, Luke 12:22-26, John 16:33, Philippians 4:6)
HW: J10 and Journal Check tomorrow!!
Tuesday, Sept.19 ~ Screwtape Letters 1-4
Discuss J8 & J9.
Tonight, read Letters 1-4 and complete J9.
Journal 9 (Preface and Letters 1-4)
Preface:
1. According to C. S. Lewis, what two mistaken beliefs about devils can human beings hold? What do you see as the dangers inherent in each view? What is your own belief about the literal existence or non-existence of devils? Why do you believe as you do?
2. The Screwtape Letters is an epistolary novel-that is, a novel told in the form of letters. Authors use this style to create verisimilitude - to make it look as real and true as possible. What details in the Preface allow Lewis to create verisimilitude?
3. Why do you think Lewis bothers to tell us that the narrator is unreliable?
After reading the letters
4. Start a list now of the scriptures that get twisted or parodied throughout the book.
5. How would you describe the strategy that Screwtape suggests Wormwood adopt in these four letters?
6. Why do you think Lewis used the name "Wormwood"? Consider a few verses: Jeremiah 9:15 Lamentations 3:15, Amos 6:12, and Revelation 8:10-11. What connotations does this name have?
7. In Letter 3, Screwtape implies that true conversion is not merely an internal process. What is to be one of the results of true conversion? Have you actually seen this in professing people around you?
8. How might you apply Jesus' words in Matthew 7:1-5 or Romans 12:10-18 to the patient's relationship with his mother?
9. In Letter 3, Screwtape notes that Wormwood's patient has tricked himself into praying for "an imaginary person": his mother's "soul," rather than the body-and-soul mother with whom he actually lives. Why do you think it is so easy to "spiritualize" our prayers, emptying them of an reference to our daily experiences and concerns?
10. In Letter 4, Screwtape tells his nephew, "teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment." Do you think we often judge the quality of our spirituality by how we feel? Is that biblical? How does this become a useful tool for Screwtape.
Tonight, read Letters 1-4 and complete J9.
Journal 9 (Preface and Letters 1-4)
Preface:
1. According to C. S. Lewis, what two mistaken beliefs about devils can human beings hold? What do you see as the dangers inherent in each view? What is your own belief about the literal existence or non-existence of devils? Why do you believe as you do?
2. The Screwtape Letters is an epistolary novel-that is, a novel told in the form of letters. Authors use this style to create verisimilitude - to make it look as real and true as possible. What details in the Preface allow Lewis to create verisimilitude?
3. Why do you think Lewis bothers to tell us that the narrator is unreliable?
After reading the letters
4. Start a list now of the scriptures that get twisted or parodied throughout the book.
5. How would you describe the strategy that Screwtape suggests Wormwood adopt in these four letters?
6. Why do you think Lewis used the name "Wormwood"? Consider a few verses: Jeremiah 9:15 Lamentations 3:15, Amos 6:12, and Revelation 8:10-11. What connotations does this name have?
7. In Letter 3, Screwtape implies that true conversion is not merely an internal process. What is to be one of the results of true conversion? Have you actually seen this in professing people around you?
8. How might you apply Jesus' words in Matthew 7:1-5 or Romans 12:10-18 to the patient's relationship with his mother?
9. In Letter 3, Screwtape notes that Wormwood's patient has tricked himself into praying for "an imaginary person": his mother's "soul," rather than the body-and-soul mother with whom he actually lives. Why do you think it is so easy to "spiritualize" our prayers, emptying them of an reference to our daily experiences and concerns?
10. In Letter 4, Screwtape tells his nephew, "teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment." Do you think we often judge the quality of our spirituality by how we feel? Is that biblical? How does this become a useful tool for Screwtape.
Monday, Sept. 18 ~ A Diabolical Turn of Events...
****REVISED****
Monday's HW:
Journal 9 (Preface and Letters 1-4)
Preface:
1. According to C. S. Lewis, what two mistaken beliefs about devils can human beings hold? What do you see as the dangers inherent in each view? What is your own belief about the literal existence or non-existence of devils? Why do you believe as you do?
2. The Screwtape Letters is an epistolary novel-that is, a novel told in the form of letters. Authors use this style to create verisimilitude - to make it look as real and true as possible. What details in the Preface allow Lewis to create verisimilitude?
3. Why do you think Lewis bothers to tell us that the narrator is unreliable?
After reading the letters
4. Start a list now of the scriptures that get twisted or parodied throughout the book.
5. How would you describe the strategy that Screwtape suggests Wormwood adopt in these four letters?
6. Why do you think Lewis used the name "Wormwood"? Consider a few verses: Jeremiah 9:15 Lamentations 3:15, Amos 6:12, and Revelation 8:10-11. What connotations does this name have?
7. In Letter 3, Screwtape implies that true conversion is not merely an internal process. What is to be one of the results of true conversion? Have you actually seen this in professing people around you?
8. How might you apply Jesus' words in Matthew 7:1-5 or Romans 12:10-18 to the patient's relationship with his mother?
9. In Letter 3, Screwtape notes that Wormwood's patient has tricked himself into praying for "an imaginary person": his mother's "soul," rather than the body-and-soul mother with whom he actually lives. Why do you think it is so easy to "spiritualize" our prayers, emptying them of an reference to our daily experiences and concerns?
10. In Letter 4, Screwtape tells his nephew, "teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment." Do you think we often judge the quality of our spirituality by how we feel? Is that biblical? How does this become a useful tool for Screwtape.
Monday's HW:
- Complete J8 (Book II Questions from this study guide.)
- Read the Preface of The Screwtape Letters and answer questions 1-3 in J9 below.
Journal 9 (Preface and Letters 1-4)
Preface:
1. According to C. S. Lewis, what two mistaken beliefs about devils can human beings hold? What do you see as the dangers inherent in each view? What is your own belief about the literal existence or non-existence of devils? Why do you believe as you do?
2. The Screwtape Letters is an epistolary novel-that is, a novel told in the form of letters. Authors use this style to create verisimilitude - to make it look as real and true as possible. What details in the Preface allow Lewis to create verisimilitude?
3. Why do you think Lewis bothers to tell us that the narrator is unreliable?
After reading the letters
4. Start a list now of the scriptures that get twisted or parodied throughout the book.
5. How would you describe the strategy that Screwtape suggests Wormwood adopt in these four letters?
6. Why do you think Lewis used the name "Wormwood"? Consider a few verses: Jeremiah 9:15 Lamentations 3:15, Amos 6:12, and Revelation 8:10-11. What connotations does this name have?
7. In Letter 3, Screwtape implies that true conversion is not merely an internal process. What is to be one of the results of true conversion? Have you actually seen this in professing people around you?
8. How might you apply Jesus' words in Matthew 7:1-5 or Romans 12:10-18 to the patient's relationship with his mother?
9. In Letter 3, Screwtape notes that Wormwood's patient has tricked himself into praying for "an imaginary person": his mother's "soul," rather than the body-and-soul mother with whom he actually lives. Why do you think it is so easy to "spiritualize" our prayers, emptying them of an reference to our daily experiences and concerns?
10. In Letter 4, Screwtape tells his nephew, "teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment." Do you think we often judge the quality of our spirituality by how we feel? Is that biblical? How does this become a useful tool for Screwtape.
Tuesday, Sept. 12 ~ Mere Christianity Book 1
Up Next: Mere Christianity. Here is a pdf if you need it. Feel free to read a bit if you'd like to prevent homework next week. Here is the study guide.
Go over Journal 6 (Preface tone signatures)
Get into Book 1
Journal 7 (MC Book 1 Questions)
1. “There has been a great deal of soft soap talked about God for the last hundred years. That is not what I am offering.” What, in your opinion, is Lewis offering us in Mere Christianity?
2. Do you agree with Lewis that we can all appeal to an objective sense of what is right and wrong – a God-given conception of the Moral Law?
3. How is the Law of Human Nature/Moral Law distinguished from other laws?
4. In our postmodern society, many argue that morality is relative to culture and upbringing. How might you answer them, with Lewis’ arguments in mind?
5. What does Lewis say about the limitations of:
(a) Science
(b) Psychoanalysis
Why, in his view, do neither of them pose a real challenge to belief in God? Do you agree with him that there is no conflict?
6. According to Lewis, Christianity only begins to make sense when we have realized a few hard facts about the kind of universe we live in. What, in his view, are the illusions that people have to give up before Christianity can begin to speak to them? Can you think of any other illusions people might have to dismantle before coming to God?
Go over Journal 6 (Preface tone signatures)
- EQ: Just from reading the preface, what do you think Lewis' goal is in writing this text? Is the tone he establishes effective for this goal.
Get into Book 1
- HW: Let's read Chapters 1 & 2 tonight (answer as many questions as you can below).
Journal 7 (MC Book 1 Questions)
1. “There has been a great deal of soft soap talked about God for the last hundred years. That is not what I am offering.” What, in your opinion, is Lewis offering us in Mere Christianity?
2. Do you agree with Lewis that we can all appeal to an objective sense of what is right and wrong – a God-given conception of the Moral Law?
3. How is the Law of Human Nature/Moral Law distinguished from other laws?
4. In our postmodern society, many argue that morality is relative to culture and upbringing. How might you answer them, with Lewis’ arguments in mind?
5. What does Lewis say about the limitations of:
(a) Science
(b) Psychoanalysis
Why, in his view, do neither of them pose a real challenge to belief in God? Do you agree with him that there is no conflict?
6. According to Lewis, Christianity only begins to make sense when we have realized a few hard facts about the kind of universe we live in. What, in his view, are the illusions that people have to give up before Christianity can begin to speak to them? Can you think of any other illusions people might have to dismantle before coming to God?
Monday, Sept.11 ~ EQ: Why was/is Mere Christianity so popular?
Today we will share our favorite quotes from The Abolition of Man and begin Mere Christianity.
- How does he establish a relatable tone in the preface?
- HW: Journal 6 ~ Finish reading the Preface and record at least five quotes/selections where you can see Lewis establishing a tone of credibility.
Block Day, Sept.7 ~ Abolition complete?
First, discuss J5 (Chapter 3 Questions)
Then read this article. Although this writer doesn't explicitly state what Lewis meant by "nature" he does capture a real example of how technology/science is used to objectify what should be free to live.
Then read this article. Although this writer doesn't explicitly state what Lewis meant by "nature" he does capture a real example of how technology/science is used to objectify what should be free to live.
- Do you think the illustrations in this article are adequate and true to Lewis' meaning in the book?
- The author uses "technology" interchangeably with "science." Do you think that is a fair substitute? How is should technology and morality be related?
Assignment: Best Bits from The Abolition of Man
- MLA style written assignment, typed and printed.
- Due Monday, Sept. 11
- Assignment: Please go back through the novel and find the six most meaningful quotes. Record the quote with proper parenthetical citation. Then describe what you take it to mean and why you believe this makes the cut for the top six most significant quotes in this broadcast. Explain why you personally believe it to be meaningful today and in your own life (personal pronouns okay for this assignment).
Up Next: Mere Christianity. Here is a pdf if you need it. Feel free to read a bit if you'd like to prevent homework next week. Here is the study guide.
Wednesday, Sept. 6 ~ "Man has nature whacked"
Discuss the first part of Chapter 3 up until the line "Man's final conquest has proved to be the abolition of Man."
Chapter 3 questions due tomorrow.
Chapter 3 questions due tomorrow.
Tuesday, Sept. 5 ~ Abolition Complete?
Go over J4 and start J5.
Warm-up Discussion:
a) What do you think society wants you to become? What is society training you to be? (consider the controllers in our own society.)
Warm-up Discussion:
a) What do you think society wants you to become? What is society training you to be? (consider the controllers in our own society.)
b) How are we "buying" knowledge and power at the cost of life, or our identity as humans with souls?
HW: Journal 5
(19) “Each advance [of Man over Nature] leaves him weaker as well as stronger.” In what way might our control over nature weaken us? Should there be limits on such progress?
(20) How far can present generations be said to control future ones?
(21) What role does Lewis see the Conditioners playing?
(22) Why does Lewis think the old kind of men are more likely to be abolished under the present system of education than at any other time in previous history?
(23) “If you will not obey the Tao, or else commit suicide, obedience to impulse (and therefore in the long run, to mere ‘nature’) is the only course left open.” What would be the consequences of attempting to follow this course (i.e. acting simply on impulse)?
(24) “If the eugenics are efficient enough there will be no second revolt.” Do you find Lewis’ chilling vision of a conditioned society plausible?
(25) “Outside the Tao there is no ground for criticizing either the Tao or anything else.” How does Lewis justify this?
(26) Did Lewis’ arguments in The Abolition of Man persuade you of the benefits of living by the standards of the Tao and trying to cultivate its values in education?
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