*Post about "The Lovely Bones" coming soon.
I decided to read this book 1. because it seemed like a quick read and 2. After reading The Great Divorce, I was interested to read something else of C.S. Lewis'. This book was recommended to me by several people as being very good but not as difficult as others. So I read it (which took me longer than I wanted mainly because I didn't priortize reading in my life) and loved it. The book is set up in the form of letters being written by Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood. They are both devils and Wormwood is a tempter working on getting the soul of a young man in England. Screwtape offers advice and techniques to help Wormwood achieve his goal in each of these letters.
It was so amazing how so many of the tactics that the devil may use as illustrated in this book are things I have experienced or am experiencing right now in my life. We hear it all the time that the devil works in very subtle ways and creeps temptations into our lives. It had never really sunk home until I read this book. As I read this book I thought about how the man or "patient" as screwtape refers to him will turn out. Will he give in to the temptation thereby damning his soul or will he overcome and turn to God?
One of my favorite parts of the book was when Screwtape was advising his nephew on how to use someone's "Unselfishness" against them. I found that my group of friends falls into this sort of thing. There is a story about how a group of people decide to have tea in the garden. One of the group makes it be known that he doesn't want to do that but out of his 'Unselfishness' he will for the sake of the others. But then the others don't want to give him the satisfaction of his 'Unselfishness' so they say they won't. Anyway "passions are aroused" and everyone ends up fighting but in the defense of the other person. I just thought that happens so much and had never thought about how it could ultimately affect me.
Other quotes of interest:
"One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth, He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself--creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sones. We want to suck in, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."
"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
9 comments:
Wow, what a terrific review. I am rethinking the rereading philosophy I've held for so many years. I just don't reread, but you've sorely tempted me to reread 'The Screwtape Letters'. I think I will.
According to my roommate and some college down in Cedar City its a classic. Which means that no matter how many times you read it you will always learn something new.
That last quote is especially poignant, isn't it. I bet the devil is infinitely pleased with himself at times, subtly leading people to hell without them even realizing it. It's the whole "how to boil a frog" philosophy.
I'm glad you enjoyed this book. It's true that every time I read it I find something new to appreciate.
I will learn to do my post on a book I've read before I lend it to you. This was a great post and now, I don't feel the need to do my own. I really enjoyed this book and, like you, related a lot of similarities to my own life. I think the devil sees me as an easy mark. Not only does this book give incredible insights into human nature, but it's a fun read. What more can you ask?
I started to reread 'Screwtape Letters' tonight. This will only be the 2nd book I've read twice besides the scriptures. And it already hit me in the gut, caught me off guard and letting me just who is winning this battle for my soul. Dash it all!
The key though is to be aware of the problems and be able to fix them. I think the devil seriously uses the trick of clouding our mind or driving our mind in other directions so as not to be able to let us focus on our faults and return to God.
Cassie, I think you are right. Many times Screwtape advises Wormwood to keep 'his patient' confused so he can't focus on the real issues.
Confusion! That explains everything. He sure has found the way to hook me because I am the most confused person I know. Well, almost.
One of my favorite books. I don't know why I liked it so much because it all rings painfully true.
It is great however, to see temptation as it really is. It all seems to boil down to will, doing God's or doing my own. It's getting easier to offer my will to God. The more we trust Him the easier it becomes.
Post a Comment