Screwtape Letters Flashcards 8-13

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Questions and Answers

How does Screwtape describe the composition of a human?

Half spirit half animal.

What is the law of undulation?

The life of a human is a series of peaks and troughs.

Where do fiends receive training?

Training college.

What does the Enemy view as true loyalty?

Adherence to faith during trying times. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of prayer pleases the Enemy the most?

Prayer during periods of spiritual dryness. Signup and view all the answers

When is the fiend's mission in the greatest danger?

When the patient exercises free will and chooses loyalty to the Enemy. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the best fiend tactics to use during spiritual dullness?

Sexual exploits. Signup and view all the answers

When does sex work best in the fiend's favor?

When sex is bereft of love, as a remedy for emotional pain. Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of all pleasure, including sex?

The Enemy. Signup and view all the answers

How can a fiend best use the pleasures the patient experiences?

Encourage the forbidden uses of pleasure. Signup and view all the answers

What does Screwtape suggest is a good strategy for ongoing fiend work?

Get the patient to think in terms of phases. Signup and view all the answers

What does the thought 'religion is all very well up to a point' lead to?

Moderated religion is no religion at all. Signup and view all the answers

What type of friendships should Wormwood encourage for the patient?

People that are bright, skeptical, wealthy, and worldly. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the language department of Hell?

Corrupt the meaning of a word, thereby corrupting the idea. Signup and view all the answers

What does Screwtape believe to be an elementary fact?

Humans tend to become whatever they pretend to be. Signup and view all the answers

According to Screwtape, which old wisdom is mostly dismissed in the modern world?

People should be prudent about choice of friends and associates. Signup and view all the answers

What have the Enemy's servants taught for 2000 years as the greatest temptation?

Worldliness. Signup and view all the answers

How should Wormwood try to develop permanent deceit in the patient?

Encourage self-perception as a complex person superior to others. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the laughter of joy and fun no good to the devils?

It is related to heaven. Signup and view all the answers

What are the best sorts of jokes?

Jokes that excuse acts of cruelty or cowardice. Signup and view all the answers

What is an excellent way to insulate the heart from the Enemy?

Flippantly pass off everything as subject matter for jest. Signup and view all the answers

What are heavenly pleasures that reflect love of friends and family for one another?

Joy and fun. Signup and view all the answers

When does humor least serve the fiend's mission?

When the patient knows actions matter more than words. Signup and view all the answers

When does humor always work toward a destructive purpose?

When humor involves a lack of chastity. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Screwtape advise it is good the new Christian is still going to church?

Keeps him from noticing his faith is slipping away. Signup and view all the answers

Why is a major sin by the patient not always helpful?

Awakens the patient to just how lax he has become. Signup and view all the answers

Why is subtly by degrees Screwtape's preferred method of temptation?

The world will creep into a person unnoticed. Signup and view all the answers

What will cause a person to retreat from the Enemy into the darkness of nothing?

Accumulation of many small sins. Signup and view all the answers

What usually brings a person to hell?

Small betrayals of your true self. Signup and view all the answers

What is Screwtape's description of the safest road to hell?

A gentle slope without turns, milestones, or signposts. Signup and view all the answers

What are the pleasures that awaken the patient to repentance?

Reading a book and taking a walk. Signup and view all the answers

What is the means to allow awakening in the patient?

Stillness of the soul. Signup and view all the answers

Why are sincere likings tools of the Enemy?

Sincere likings make the person true to himself or herself. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Screwtape have little regard for a patient's feelings?

Feelings are seldom important; actions are what matter. Signup and view all the answers

What is the worst outcome for the fiend when a patient awakens to self and renewal?

Realizes the true self of a human belongs to God. Signup and view all the answers

How does Screwtape summarize that it is fine if the patient only feels renewed?

In the long run, the more he feels and the less he acts, the less he will be able to feel. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Composition of Humans

Screwtape describes humans as being half spirit and half animal, highlighting the dual nature of human existence.

Law of Undulation

The human life experience consists of a series of peaks and troughs, indicating fluctuations in emotions and faith.

Training of Fiends

Fiends undergo training at a "training college," emphasizing a formal structure to their evil education.

True Loyalty to the Enemy

Genuine loyalty is seen as remaining true to faith during challenging times, contrasting with superficial devotion.

Most Pleasing Type of Prayer

Prayer during periods of spiritual dryness is considered most pleasing to the Enemy, showcasing dedication in difficult moments.

Danger in Free Will

A fiend's mission faces significant risk when a patient exercises free will and chooses loyalty to the Enemy, highlighting the power of choice.

Tactics During Spiritual Dullness

One effective tactic for fiends during spiritual dullness is to encourage sexual exploits, distracting the patient from deeper issues.

Sex Without Love

Sex is most advantageous for fiends when it is devoid of love, serving as a remedy for emotional pain rather than a connection.

Origin of Pleasure

All pleasures, including sexual ones, originate from the Enemy, emphasizing a divine source of joy.

Corrupting Pleasures

Fiends can best manipulate patient experiences by encouraging forbidden uses of pleasure, leading to spiritual degradation.

Strategy of Phases

Screwtape advises getting the patient to think in phases, fostering a mindset of temporal progress that distracts from eternal truths.

Moderated Religion

The belief that “religion is all very well up to a point” leads to a form of moderated religion that lacks genuine faith.

Ideal Friendships

Wormwood should encourage the patient to befriend bright, skeptical, wealthy, and worldly individuals, steering him away from virtuous relationships.

Language Department of Hell

The language department's role is to corrupt meanings of words, thereby twisting ideas and concepts.

Humanity's Pretensions

Screwtape posits that humans tend to become what they pretend to be, indicating the power of self-identity.

Wisdom of Friendship

The advice to be prudent about friend choices is often dismissed in modern society, yet remains vital.

Temptation of Worldliness

The greatest temptation taught by the Enemy’s servants for 2000 years has been worldliness, indicating its enduring allure.

Cultivating Deceit

To instill permanent deceit in patients, Wormwood should encourage self-perception as complex and superior to others.

Laughter and Joy

Joyful laughter is detrimental to devils as it connects humanity to heavenly experiences.

Best Jokes

Jokes that excuse acts of cruelty or cowardice are deemed the most effective for the fiends’ purposes.

Insulating the Heart

Insulating the heart from the Enemy can be achieved by trivializing serious matters through humor and jest.

Heavenly Pleasures

Heavenly pleasures that express love for friends and family include joy and fun, indicating their importance to spiritual life.

Humor's Role

Humor serves the fiends least when the patient understands that actions matter more than words.

Humor at a Destructive Purpose

Humor associated with a lack of chastity is always directed towards destructive ends.

Church Attendance

Screwtape advises that it is beneficial for the new Christian to continue attending church to avoid noticing his waning faith.

Impact of Major Sins

A major sin may not always be constructive as it can awaken the patient to their spiritual laxity.

Subtle Temptation

Temptation by gradual degrees allows worldly influences to enter unnoticed, making it a preferred tactic.

Darkness of Nothing

Accumulating many small sins can lead a person to retreat into darkness, far from the Enemy.

Path to Hell

The road to hell is described as a gentle slope, lacking decisive turns or milestones, allowing for undetected moral decline.

Awakening to Repentance

Engaging in activities like reading a book or walking can awaken the patient to the need for repentance.

Allowing Awakening

The stillness of the soul is essential for facilitating spiritual awakening in the patient.

Sincere Likings

Sincere likings are tools of the Enemy, as they promote authenticity and truthfulness in individuals.

Importance of Actions

Screwtape disregards patients' feelings, prioritizing actions as the true measure of character.

Worst Outcome for Fiends

The most severe outcome for a fiend occurs when a patient awakens to their true self, realizing it belongs to God.

Renewal and Feelings

Screwtape concludes that if the patient only feels renewed without action, they will ultimately lose their ability to feel in the long run.

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Description

Test your understanding of C.S. Lewis's 'The Screwtape Letters' through these flashcards covering chapters 8 to 13. Each card presents critical concepts and insights from the text, focusing on the nature of humanity, the law of undulation, and the training of fiends. Perfect for revising essential ideas and preparing for discussions.