Screwtape Letters Flashcards
Setting
World war 2;
Hell
1838-1945
Theme
Spiritual struggle; deception
Main characters
Screwtape; Wormwood; patient; Satan; God
Why was Screwtape angry that the patient had a girlfriend
The girlfriend was a very innocent, perfect Christian
Why he was mad that the patient died?
He died too early because he still had a relationship with God
How would a preoccupation with the physical side of reality and ignorance of the spiritual be foundational for diabolical strategy?
It distracts you from spending time with God. You’re denying His love with secular things
How do tempers use hypocrisy and disappointment with other Christians as a snare
They make us have a flawed view of the church so we are disappointed by it.
What is there about feelings that Screwtape likes when seeking to twist prayer
He likes it when we focus in personal gain. We want to “feel good”.
What is the surprising devilish attitude toward war?
Men are prepared to be killed in war so Screwtape would rather have them die in hospitals where they aren’t prepared
Why would the devils want us to be preoccupied more with the future than the present
The suspense and anxiety of the future barricade man’s mind from God.
Pacifism and patriotism were the chief opportunities for turning Christianity into a “means” at the time of WWII. What are some of the ways in which Christianity might be treated in the same way today?
Christianity becomes more of a title instead of an actual relationship with God.
How is it that sex and sensuality are especially powerful diabolical tools during times of darkness and depression?
When people are depressed, they focus more on the physical side of relationships and forget God’s true purpose for love.
How is it that the diabolical use of peer pressure can turn us into first-order hypocrites?
People can start living 2 parallel lives with different characteristics just to satisfy different people.
How is it that a joke can be a means of justifying bad behavior
When used with humorous exaggerations, things like cruelty can be disguised as funny
Why is it valuable for wormwood to encourage church attendance, despite it’s spiritual snares
The patient thinks he’s a good Christian because he’s going to Church but his spiritual life hasn’t changed
What fresh insight does Screwtape provide into the way that God works.
He wants you to be yourself and not care what others think.
What is God’s goal for humanity and all virtues?
He wants us to recognize ourselves and everybody as glorious and excellent things. He wants into get rid of our selfish thoughts:
Explain what is wrong with the future.
The devil tries to get into imagine crazy things about the future like hell on earth
How do devils seek to twist sex do that we don’t live according to God’s standards
They try to make us think that having multiple partners is okay and that we’re in love when we really arent
One devilish agenda is to destroy devotional life. How do they do that?
They create a false image of Jesus in our minds so we can worship Him properly
How can peer pressure be both positive and negative?
It can bring us closer to God. It can make you think you’re a better Christian just because you’re a part of a group
What specific and practical ways to pray can we discern from screwtapes advice
Praise and communion with God is true prayer. He tells us to pray for the sick and for our daily bread
Why does Screwtape prefer to see that Wormwood’s patient lives through the war to middle age and beyond.
Because the patient is close to God and it will be easier to pull him away in the middle ages.
Why has God created a world of dangers?
He wants us to develop courage because it is not just a virtue, but the form of every virtue.
What are the benefits of fatigue?
The demons cause us to expect relief earlier than possible do we get discouraged and we may find secret resentment or anger.
How does Screwtape help us to
grasp what death really means and why it’s even beneficial
Death is our escape from this cruel world. Screwtape describes it like waking up from a nightmare
3 evil strategies
Irritating habits;
Twisted sexual desires;
Noise
3 good strategies
Disappointment;
Pleasure;
Love
