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.
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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