Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Screwtape XXVI-XXXI

Chapter XXVI: "Note, once again, the admirable work of our Philological Arm in substituting the negative unselfishness for the Enemy's positive Charity (141)."
The quote is saying that there is a bad form of unselfishness which is when we are being unselfish, but not because of our love for another person. It  acknowledges that there is a fine line between the two, negative unselfishness and the God's positive Charity, and it shows how easy it is to be unselfish without love.This is a reminder to me to make sure that I am being unselfish for the right reasons, with God's love as a motive.

Chapter XXVII:"False spirituality is always to be encouraged (148)."
This is the devil saying that he wants us to think that we are right with God, even when we are not. To me an example of this is how some people think that because they go to church, attend a Christian school, or that their parents are Christians, that they are a Christian.

Chapter XXVIII: "Prosperity knits a man to the World (155)."
Commonly, prosperity is linked to money and other physical possessions. If you had a lot of money or a lot of nice stuff, I think it would be harder to not make those things more important than God, and not place a heavy value on them.

Chapter XXIX: "The point is to keep him feeling that he has something, other than the Enemy and courage the Enemy supplies, to fall back on,(163)..."
This is showing how the devil encourages us not to completely just give our needs to God and trust Him. I think it is very easy to do this and try to rely on other things or people, in addition to God.

Chapter XXX: "The general rule which we have now pretty well established among them is that in all experiences which can make them happier or better only the physical facts are 'Real' while the spiritual elements are 'subjective'(168)."
This is talking about how the devil wants us to focus on what is "real", like it was said earlier in the book. He wants us to believe that spiritual things are not as real because they are not physical.

 Chapter XXXI: "Did you mark how naturally—as if he'd been born for it—the earthborn vermin entered the new life(172)?"
I assume this is referring to the patient dying. I think the question is saying that the patient was glad to die and that it was easy and natural because he was going home to be with God. For the "as if he'd been born for it" section, it relates to how we are made to bring glory to God and praise Him, so the best place for the patient, as well as all Christians, to do that would be heaven.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Screwtape XVIII-XXI

Chapter 18: "This impossibility He calls love, and this same monotonous panacea can be detected under all He does and even all He is—or claims to be.(94)"
 From Screwtape's perspective, love is an unlikely, undesirable, unchanging remedy. He also says that God is or at least says He is love, and that love appears to be the basis of all of God's actions. It is interesting how Screwtape view love. I think it is because of the "philosophy of Hell", which is basically selfishness, talked about in the previous paragraph.

Chapter 19: I am writing about the section where Screwtape talks more about love (bottom of 99-101). Screwtape really does not understand love, especially God's love for humans. He says,"We know that He cannot really love: nobody can: it doesn't make sense(101)". I partially agree with Screwtape on this. I cannot understand how God can love us because we, I, do not deserve His love at all.

Chapter 20: "...consequently you cannot use again what is, after all, our best weapon—the belief of ignorant humans, that there is no hope of getting rid of us except by yielding(105)."
This is saying that the devil's best weapon is making ignorant humans think the only way to get rid of temptation is to give in to it. I think that this kind of relates to the "safe way to Hell" because if you keep giving into sin to get rid of temptation, the sin would eventually not be a big deal anymore.

Chapter 21:"You must therefore zealously guard in his mind the curious assumption 'My time is my own'(pg112)."
 Screwtape's advice to Wormwood acknowledges the fact that humans think that they have complete ownership of their time. He says to keep that thought in a person's mind. I know that in my life I tend to have this mentality, so this reminds me that God is the one who actually owns and has control of my time.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Brainstorming for Analysis Ideas

1. Theme
2. Allusion
3. Flashback: Bottom of page 2 to the top of page 4: Screwtape recalls a patient he once had and how he needed to distract him.
4, Point of View
5. Personification: The Church is given human characteristics.examples: pg. 5: "I do not mean the Church as we see her spread out through all of time..."; pg. 33: "The Church herself is, of course, heavily defended..."
6. Metaphor: pg 37: "Humans are amphibians--half spirit and half animal."
7. Foreshadowing
8. Irony
9. Motif
10. Satire

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Chapters IX-XII

Chapter IX:  Why do our “trough periods” make us so vulnerable (Lewis, 43)?  Is this applicable to you?  
We are easier to tempt and are more likely to give into sin because, during "trough periods," things often seem hopeless and dark. Yes, this is applicable to my life. When I am having a hard day, I am much more susceptible to having a bad attitude and not showing God's love.

Chapter IX:  What does beautiful truth about pleasure does Screwtape share?  Make a list of pleasures. 
God created pleasures for humans to experience. My list of pleasures include the rain, sleeping in, listen to music, and yummy food.

Chapter X: What are your thoughts regarding “parallel lives” (Lewis, 51)?  What does this mean to you?
I think that living "parallel lives" is something that a lot of Christians struggle with, especially young Christians.Sometimes it just seems so much easier to leave our beliefs and faith out, when it is actually something that we should always be sharing. Personally, I sometimes have had to  remind myself to not fall into that.

Chapter XI: What are your thoughts on music and joy after reading this chapter?
I think that joy and music are related on a much deeper level than we normally think. Joy, as well as music, something that God hopes and allows for us to experience. I also thought it was comical on how music and joy are thought of by the devil.

  
Chapter XII: What is the “safest road to Hell” (Lewis, 61)?  Do you agree or disagree?  
The "safest road to Hell" is one that is gradually sloping and fairly easy to go along on. It is without sudden turns, milestones, and sign post. In other words, the "safe way to Hell" would be to start off with "small" sins, which gradually become like nothing. A person would then take on "bigger" sins and the process would repeat itself. Honestly, I don't know if I agree or not. I don't think that there is a "safe way to Hell", but I do think that on a gradual slope to Hell you are less likely to realize that you are on a path to Hell. The other side of this would be if you were to make a huge mistake and then you would quickly realize how much you have drifted away. I think this road would be more helpful in preventing one from going to Hell. 

Questions V-VIII

 Chapter V: What is Screwtape’s idea on the best way for humans to die?  Why?  
He thinks the best way for humans to die is in a nursing home surrounded by people who lie. Screwtape thinks this because he is a creature of deceit and he wants us to be unprepared for death because we are being lied to about it.

Chapter VI: How does “...malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary” (Lewis, 28)?  How does this apply to your life?  
That occurs when virtues become fantasy as opposed to being habit and malice moves in and becomes habit.  This is applies to my life because it shows me that I need to put my virtues into practice so that they become habit. Specifically, I need to learn to love and be patient when I don't feel like like so that it can become easier.

Chapter VII:  How do you picture the devil?  What does this chapter challenge you about regarding the spiritual warfare over your soul?
I am not exactly sure how exactly I see the devil. The first thing that does come to mind is the generic devil, a man in a red costume, with little horns, and a pitch fork. I'm pretty sure he doesn't look that, but I do think he looks absolutely terrifying. This chapter challenges me to be careful of things that become important to me.I think that is the best way to word what I am talking about. For example, I tend to make following rules really important, but loose sight of the reason that I am following rules and do it because I have to. I have to keep in mind that I am obeying rules because I want to honor God and be an example to others.

Chapter VIII: What is the “law of Undulation” (Lewis, 37)?  Give an example of this in your life.  
The "law of Undulation" is the pattern that occurs throughout a person's life in almost every aspect of it. Its is when we start off excited by something, it fades, and the process repeats itself, continuously. An example in my life is during Spiritual Emphasis Week. During the week, I am focused on and excited about God.  After a few weeks it kind of fades and I'm not as excited as I was before. Then when the next S.E.W. comes around, the same thing happens.

Chapter VIII: “Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys. (Lewis 40).  What are your thoughts on this?  
I think that being able to still do God's will, even when things are looking bad, is what all Christians should desire. I hope that if a difficult situation like that ever arises in my life, that I would be able to do make the right choice and obey God no matter what.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Chapters I-IV Questions

Dedication: Note the simple dedication.If you were to write a spiritual book,who would you dedicate it to? why?
I would probably dedicated it to my cousin. She is like a sister to me, especially because neither of us have any siblings. I would choose her because we talk about a lot of stuff, including spiritual matters, and she is just such a good example and an encouragement to me.

Chapter I: What does Lewis mean by "real life" throughout the chapter?
Lewis is talking about about all the things that are going on around us that tend to be distractions. Some forms of these things can appear as physical objects, our surroundings, and even ourselves. No matter what form its, our minds can easily become clouded. 

Chapter II: What do you think about the following quote? "The Enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour."
 I think the quote is interesting because I have never thought of that before. I suppose it is like a test to see if you are really serious or passionate about what you have just begun. In my personal experience, I see that this quote does actually hold to what it says.
 
Chapter II: What are your thoughts on church? Is it something you "do" every week?
I think church is a vital part of Christian life. It is where we can learn more about God and fellowship with other believers. I do go to church every week.

Chapter III: What are your "daily pinpricks"?
One of my "daily pinpricks" are when people, for example my parents, try to have a conversation first thing in the morning, right when I get up. I am not a morning person and they know that, but they talk to me anyway. Another "daily pinprick" of mine is when people ask you to do stuff or ask to borrow something, when your obviously busy or using that object.

Chapter IV: What are your thoughts on prayer? Compare your prayer life to this chapter.
I think prayer is very important. It is important because you are strengthening your relationship with God because your consciously thanking Him, asking for His help, or simply just talking to Him, like you would to a friend. Similar to what Lewis was writing about concerning childlike prayer, I find that I sometimes do that when I am placed in an uncomfortable situations and I pray a generic prayer. I found it interesting  when the book talked about how we pray for selfish things. I realize that a lot of the time I pray for things that I want and maybe not exactly what God wants. I do not pray to God like He is object though. I pray to Him like He is there.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Questions


1. I like to write if I have something to write about and I wish I were a better writer. The last piece I wrote was a paragraph for Bible class. I journal occasionally and text.
2. I like reading if it is an interesting book.The last book I read was Faith of Our Founding Fathers. I went to the library as a child, but i wouldn't say I went frequently.I can't think of a favorite novel, but enjoy reading regular fiction, as well as historical fiction. My favorite children 's book is probably Guess How Much I Love You.
3.I think technology is mostly good and very useful. I'm not a gamer, and I have a Facebook, but I don't actily use it.
4. I think learning is good and important. I learn best visually, but sometimes it varies depending on what it is. I usually lean towards book reports, but it depends on what the book report or project is on.
5. I want to take this class because I enjoy reading and the class seemed interesting and challenging. The online aspect also appealed to me.