Letter 8

Screwtape starts out by saying, " So you have great hopes that the patient's religious phase is dying away." I found this quote to be interesting in that I am sure if someone was observing our religious ways as a society, we would often seem as if our religious phase, too, were dying. At Carthage alone, many people use the excuse of college to no longer go to church, to commit acts of sin, and not really follow any religious affiliation. Would we too, be considered losing our religion? He goes on to explain how humans are half spirit half animal. Killing one's spirit would ultimately be what makes screwtape win.

Letter Twelve of Screwtape

In this letter screwtape is praising Wormwood of his accomplishments but worried about the time in which it is taking him to 'win over' his patient. The letter begins by being almost happy that the patient is still a churchgoer because it allows him to feel as if he is still acting Christian while still getting into his head. Wormwood's goal is to make the patient sin. No matter how small the sin is if he continues to sin he is doing his job. I found this interesting because everyone does indeed sin. It is nearly impossible to live your life without sin. But instead of disowning your religion God is supposed to forgive your sins. Screwtape states "Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick." I found this quote interesting in that he is basically saying take any road nessasary to do what needs to be done.

Letter four

I am finding the Screwtape letters in general a lot more interesting now that we had a chance to discuss it in class and it is becoming a lot less confusing of a read. I found letter four exceptionally interesting in what he chose to talk about. On page 16 Screwtape states, " It is funny how mortals always picture us putting things into their minds; in reality our best work is done by keeping things out." Thinking about this is true in that many people would view Satan as corrupting people by placing in just thoughts into their heads instead of just attempting to keep God and the Bible out. I think Screwtape viewing prayer as painful is an interesting take. Prayer is supposed to be Christians connection with God and he is tying it with agony and pain. Being able to stop Christians from this prayer would indeed be cutting off their ties with God. Although I dont really know what I agree with in terms of Christianity I do find the way C.S. Lewis writes very interesting. I think what makes him an excellent writer is that one can take what they want from a book like this whether they be highly relgious or anti- Christian.