More Letters that were Taped with Screws

'ello men, long time no see! Here are a few "guidance questions" for the reading this week:

Chapter 4
1) What topic does this chapter focus on?
2) What is the "best thing" Screwtape tells to Wormwood about what to do with his patient?
3) What different methods does Screwtape give to Wormwood to use on his patient?
4) Do we have any of the habits that Screwtape writes about? Can we identify with what is being written in this chapter?

Chapter 5
1) What is the big event that happens in this chapter?
2) What are Screwtape's concerns about this event? What makes him glad?
3) Here's a phrase that blew me away. It's in the second to last paragraph in the chapter: "And how disastrous for us is the continual remembrance of death which _____ enforces. One of our best weapons, contented worldliness, is rendered useless. In ______ not even a human can believe that he is going to live forever." What does this quote show you as being one of the main modes of temptation and deception that we come under?

Chapter 6
This was a slightly confusing chapter for me, so I hope our conversation can clear these things up
1) What role does fear play in this chapter? How does Screwtape encourage Wormwood to use fear?
2) Are there any parallels to us in terms of how fear affects the way we live and interact with God?

Chapter 7
1) What type of world does Screwtape want to create? (He talks about this in the first paragraph)
2) What does Screwtape want the church to become?
3) The final paragraph is fascinating. What becomes of religion (Christianity) when it is swallowed by those issues Screwtape writes about? Do we see any parallels today with what Screwtape is writing about? How does our faith become affected by what is going on around us?

Week 1 Discussion Questions

Yo fools. This is a little late in the week to have prepared for Saturday, but maybe we'll go over them depending on what you guys bring. Anyway, this will be a good indicator of what to expect from discussion questions in the future.

Letter 1:

Why does Screwtape tell Wormwood that argument and logic are not the way to lead a man astray?
How did Screwtape lead his atheist patient away from becoming a believer?
Why are demons supposed to avoid teaching their patients?

Letter 2:

Even though Wormwood’s patient has become a Christian, how does Screwtape say that they can win him back to “Our Father Below”?
Why is the church an ally to the demons? Why is it a disappointment to humans?
Why does God leave man to reach His goals for him on his own? Why doesn’t He carry him there?
What thought is it that seems impossible for Wormwood to keep out of his patient’s head? What does Screwtape say about this thought?

Letter 3:

How does Screwtape say Wormwood should use the patient’s relationship with his mother?
How does Screwtape instruct Wormwood to render his patient’s prayer life useless? What things does he have the patient pray for and what things does he have the patient avoid?
How does Screwtape say that facial expressions and tone of voice can be used to separate the patient and his mother more and more?


God bless you all and see you Saturday!

Pat

Hey guys,

I was digging around on the internet and I found a site that gave a list of all of the chapters of the book with a summary title for each one. So here they are; I hope this will help guide each of us through the book a bit.

1. Preventing Conversion
2. The Church
3. The Family
4. Prayer
5. The War
6. War & Fear
7. Extremes
8. The Law of Undulation
9. Temptation in Trough Periods
10. Acquaintances
11. Laughter
12. The Safest Road to Hell
13. Repentance
14. Humility
15. Time
16. Attending the Parish Church
17. Gluttony
18. Sexual Temptation, Marriage & Family
19. God's Love and Being "In Love"
20. Sexual Temptation, Continued
21. Ownership
22. "Losing in Love"
23. Theology, Politics & "The Historical Jesus"
24. The Christian "Inner Ring"
25. Change
26. Unselfishness
27. Prayer, Free Will & Old Books
28. Life & Death
29. Cowardice & Courage
30. Reality
31. The Ultimate Failure & Victory