The Screwtape Letters - A Small Group Study

Review: Letter 23 talked about creating a  historical Jesus.  Did you think about who Jesus is this week instead of who he was or what the World would tell us he was? Outline: Screwtape has found a weak area in the patient's young woman. She looks down on those that do not share her belief. She thinks them less intelligent. She believes it based on faith, but it is more that she is a product of her environment. This spiritual pride is not of much use against her, but it could be used against the patient. Since the patient is a young Christian, it is easier to make him proud in this area. The group tends to add to the possibility of spiritual pride: The group is better educated and more intelligent than any other he has encountered He is mistaken about his place in the group. He is beginning to believe he is truly worthy of this group. The patient really thinks he knows what all the others are talking about. But those people are very forgiving and understanding to ...

Review: Letter 22 was mostly Screwtape complaining about Wormwood's blunder of allowing the patient to fall in love with a true Christian. Also discussed the 'noise' Satan brings into our lives and smelling of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. Did you get hit with any noise this week? Run into anyone who just reeked of the Holy Spirit? Outline: Screwtape is more composed than in his last letter. He is concerned about the patient really getting to know these new, true Christians. Talks about using the third type of power: The World, The Flesh, Angel of Light. Screwtape now has a new strategy to combat the situation. These new Christian friends seem very intelligent. Attack him in a way that borders between theology and politics. Get him to look at the "historical Jesus" based on biography of a past character. Tends to direct attention to something which does not exist. As we create a historical Jesus who is how we imagine he  was. Makes it look like Je...

Review: Letter 20 showed an end to direct attacks on the patient's chastity and Screwtape wanting to find the proper "type" of wife for the patient. It discussed sexual taste, how it has changed over time, and how it differs from want God wants for us. Letter 21 continues on the road to finding the proper woman for the patient. Also discusses the idea that we can say "mine" of nothing. It is all the Lord's in the first place. This includes time. And most importantly, we should avoid "My God" in relation to "my boots". This ties back into chastity on grounds that we do not really own our bodies. Did anyone read Song of Solomon? Record how they spent their time? Outline: Patient has fallen in Love with the worse type of woman Not in report wormwood submitted Strong Christian Two faced: faint at the sight of blood, but die with smile on her face Screwtape cries about unfairness of God. God provides us unlimited pleasures. ...

Review: Wants to find the right (wrong) woman for the patient. Best weapon is make patient think that he has no choice when it comes to temptation than to yield to it. Outline: During sexual temptation work on other peeves. Attack patient with confusion in making him think that he owns his own time, money, body, and even God. Anger/frustration when some one drops by unexpected. Must not try to argue the patient into believing this because there is not any logical argument. Keep his mind off of that. In the end either Satan or the Lord will claim us as 'mine'. Terminology: Tête-à-tête - private conversation between two people Chattels - an item of property, something you own  Pedantic - making a show of one's knowledge Titular - existing in title only, nominal Questions/Discussions: Stop and think how you spent your time today? Do you think you put in enough time for Christ? Where are some bad places to sleep or circumstances to fall asleep in? If...

Review: Is "being in love" good or bad? Depends on whether it is taking the patient closer to God or the Enemy. What did Screwtape admit he was wrong about? That God could not possibly love us. It's impossible. Angels/Demons cannot understand the relationship we have with the Lord. Outline: God has put an end to direct attacks on patient's chastity "The Enemy always does" Best weapon of Enemy is to make us think we have no hope other than yielding to the temptation. Still waiting on report about women to set the patient up with that would be favorable to Satan's position. Describes: Misdirection of sexual 'taste' and how that has changed over the years Describes 2 types of women: One which he would have no trouble telling God this is the one I love. There are times even with these women we can sin if they belong to someone else. The other which he just 'wants' or as Lewis says 'desires to desire' .Now in normal c...

Review: We confuse "being in love" with some sort of prerequisite for marriage and therefore excuse to marry anyone I want or not the one God wants me to marry. Outline: Screwtape admits he was wrong and asks Wormwood not to show letters to anyone. He had repeatedly said that God loves us humans, but that cannot be since unique things are in competition. Therefore, God must have an ulterior motive. Tells lie of how Satan left heaven over this point. Wormwood had asked whether "being in love" was a good state. Screwtape says that is question for patient; just use it to keep him away from God. So it depends on the patient: "I am saving myself" not because God wants him too, but because of pride (Gluttony of delicacy). Make him think it is "bad". Prone to emotion, romantic, who thinks it is irresistible. Make him think it is "good". Steer patient into an undesirable marriage (though God's invention) that could be useful to ...

Review: Gluttony of Excess and Gluttony of Delicacy Outline: God demands either complete abstinence or unmitigated monogamy. Satan has made the first very difficult over time. Working on the latter by making "being in love" a requirement for marriage; so when no longer in love, no longer married. Satan claims that everything is in competition, and absorbing the weaker. God uses what appears to be a contradiction: many, yet one. "the organism" many parts are made to cooperate. Looks at two philosophies as they pertain to Sex The demons' in which the stronger preys on the weaker. In God's they become a family, reproduction is part of this. Sexual Intercourse is significant. "Being in Love" should result from a marriage, not cause a marriage. Demons use confusion of above for two advantages: People who are not "in love" will avoid marriage, even though they can not control themselves. "Being in love" can be used ...