Chapter 14: Humility

In Chapter 14, Screwtape did a great job in describing what humility can do for a person. The patient has realized that it is not perpetual virtue or grace for life that his desires, but instead the daily pleasures while escaping the daily temptations. It seems as if life is much easier and you can be much happier if you do not expect to receive the world, but you must realize that good things can come each and everyday. However, Screwtape, being the educated person that he is on the Enemy and his work, knows what comes of humility and tells Wormwood to try to use pride as a way to distract the patient. Further from this Screwtape states that Wormwood can make the patient believe that in the end humility is merely believing that your talents are less valuable than they really are.

Screwtape then describes Gods meaning of humility is loving yourself as much as you love others. God does not want us to think less of ourselves and our talents, but he also does not want us to dwell on them. The key to mastering humility is not thinking about it, but merely appreciating yourself as much as you do your neighbors and God. I feel like this would be a difficult skill to have, however with making yourself aware of others talents and also of your own talents, over time I believe we can all become more humble.

Chapter 8

Wow, I really liked this chapter. First of all it was fairly easy to comprehend which is a plus, but also it just spoke about God the way I have always thought about him and then more. Although Screwtape is trying to bash God, he is really praising him. Screwtape paints this amazing picture of God, for I love when he says "He is full and flows over" but explains himself as "empty and would be filled". This is so true ,God wants to full us but does not need to be filled in return; however evil and the devil does not fill us but only takes from us. God wants to love and be there for us, but he does not expect anything in return but love!
It is so interesting how Screwtape describes the way in which God responds and acts towards people. He does not come to them and fill them with astonishment so they will follow. Instead, God comes to us at first, but then he allows us to live our lives and choose to follow him. He also is not only there for the peaks in our lives but more for the hard times. He wants to walk with us when times are rough not just be there for the good times. However, Screwtape brings up the point that hard times also bring opportunities for evil to make its way into our lives. This chapter really touched on significant things dealing with the differences between God and evil.

Chapter 4

Screwtape describes quite well how Christians can easily be led astray when they actually believe they are a devote member of their faith. The first way in which Screwtape advises his nephew to distract his patient is through prayer. I can see how this strategy could work very well because I could see someone believing they are praying or talking with God, but in fact they are so distracted. Often people pray or speak to God simply to ask for things, make themselves feel better, or feel sorry for themselves. Instead of praying to be close with God, they are being selfish. The type of prayer that Screwtape describes is an interesting way to look at the misuse of prayer, for he describes prayer through reflection or silence. However, a lot of Christians do not have the faith and devotion to pray in this manner, so instead of being closer to God they are being pushed farther away.

Screwtape then switches to the misuse of the image of God as a way to separate man from his faith. I see where he is going with this strategy, for if you do not think of God our creator and Father, but instead you think of God as a picture or the crucifix you can create a huge gap between Him and yourself. God is more than an image but a being who is our protector who cares and loves for us. Although Screwtape suggests this to his nephew he warns him that God is always there, so if his patient begins praying and seeing God in the right light God will be there waiting with open arms. I think that it is very true that no matter when someone turns to God he will always be there.

Chapter 2

The Screwtape Letters were very interesting to me but a little confusing at first. The chapter that truly touched me was chapter two.This chapter touched on a lot of problems seen in the past and presently within different Christian churches. If an individual makes the decision to become religious that does not ultimately mean he or she will follow this lifestyle forever. If they have not been exposed to the church before, the initial shock of the traditions, others their, and the way it makes them feel can quickly turn them away. When attending mass I get very distracted by others and their different identities that I am often not fully participating. There is a difference between being a part of a religion physically by going to church and spiritually allowing yourself to connect with God. If one is able to get pass these common set backs and awkward feelings and allow themselves to be apart of the faith it can be a great thing in their lives. However, individuals can try to pretend they are committed to their religion, but deep down they will know the truth and will eventually fall to the dark side. This is a struggle for many people trying to decide on a faith and following a specific religion.