Screwtape Letters

[tinytim]

I know, I know you are saying, "not another Lewis thread", but stay with me for a minute.

What do you think of this book?

I don't want this thread hi-jacked by discussing whether Lewis was a heretic or not, please stay on topic.

It has been a couple years since I read it, and I liked it, as did my youth group.
We got into some good discussions about how Satan works, and what to avoid.

What are your opinions?
(on the book, not Lewis!)

 

[Mark Osgatharp]

TinyTim,

A pastor friend gave me a copy of that book years ago and told me it gave a good understanding of how demons work. I tried to read some of it and found it to be bone silly.

You could learn a lot more about how demons operate by watching the average TV preacher.

Mark Osgatharp

 

[Michael52]

It has been a while since I read it, but I thought it was pretty good. I have enjoyed everything Lewis has written, at least all that I have read.

Naturally it is a bit fanciful and brings in a lot of conjecture (ie "dramatic liscense"). This is done, however, in such a way that we need not confuse it with scripture. I think it is designed to make us think and truly examine what we can glean from scripture about satan and his crowd. For me, it did that quite well.

 

[tinytim]

You know Mark, I agree with you about the TV preacher comment. But I still liked the book. I thought it was interesting. Although I had to keep reminding myself that it was written from evils' point of view. I normally don't think that way.

 

[whatever]

Very interesting and thought provoking book. It speculates on a lot of areas where we are given little or no details but I have no problem with that. There is much in it that reflects Biblical teaching concerning spiritual warfare and the nature of temptation.

 

[Paul of Eugene]

In the introduction to the book, Lewis writes that he is not going to reveal how he got ahold of the correspondence, but it is a method that isn't all that hard to use. . .

I've managed to unconver the method and tried it out a little bit with only moderate success so far. But I did get this one little blurb from Screwtape himself . . .

(fragmented text, difficult to read, followed by) "And don't let ANYBODY ever read that Book about me by C S LEWIS! Too many of our secret plans are revealed there . . . "

 

[nate]

I thought it was an excellent read. Really interesting.

 

[Aaron]

I heard it called "the psychology of temptation," and it really is.

 

[Bro. James]

How does one understand a book without understanding the background of the author?

Every paradigm has a unique set of nuances and definitions.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

[Boanerges]

Originally posted by Mark Osgatharp:
TinyTim,

A pastor friend gave me a copy of that book years ago and told me it gave a good understanding of how demons work. I tried to read some of it and found it to be bone silly.

You could learn a lot more about how demons operate by watching the average TV preacher.

Mark Osgatharp

and their supporters....what a strong delusion

 

[Boanerges]

Originally posted by tinytim:
You know Mark, I agree with you about the TV preacher comment. But I still liked the book. I thought it was interesting. Although I had to keep reminding myself that it was written from evils' point of view. I normally don't think that way.

Evil is not blatant..evil occurs in subtle shades of grey...a little compromise here and there, and then before you know it, you are defending and promoting the stuff that sucked you in..

 

[Mark Osgatharp]

Paul said that the Spirit expressly spoke to him, telling him that in the later times some would depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. He went on to specify the demon inspired doctrines that would be taught:

1. Forbidding to marry.

2. Commanding to abstain from animal flesh.

With the Holy Spirit as our guide, it is plain to see that Catholics, with their "celibate" priests and nuns, or PETA with their humanization of animals, give us a real look into the work of demons.

Mark Osgatharp

 

[whatever]

Where does "Screwtape Letters" forbid marriage and the eating of tasty animals? I guess I need to read it again.

 

[Artimaeus]

I liked it. Thought provoking, clever writing, and an interesting twist on a little explored subject.

 

[just-want-peace]

Been 30+ years since I've read it, but thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now if you can't read it with the understanding that it's not FACT, but simply one man's idea of the "inner workings of the dark kingdom", then you will probably consider it a crock of bovine excrement!

Take it for what it is: a work of the imagination of a man who sees the slyness of the devil and his methods and attempts to relate these tactics into an understandable tale for information.

Don't try to make it into a commentary on the scripture re:the working of satan, cause it ain't that!

 

[tinytim]

Originally posted by whatever:
Where does "Screwtape Letters" forbid marriage and the eating of tasty animals? I guess I need to read it again.

I think what Mark is saying is that you can just look around and see the results of demonic activity. You don't need to read the book to see it. If I'm wrong, Mark, correct me.
I agree that we can look around and see it. I also agree about the celibate priests, and PETA.

Although I like the imagery of the book, I agree that we don't NEED to read it to see demonic activity. But it did make me think about how Satan works.

 

[whatever]

Originally posted by tinytim:
I think what Mark is saying is that you can just look around and see the results of demonic activity. You don't need to read the book to see it. If I'm wrong, Mark, correct me.

Yeah, I figured that was what he meant, but in the OP you had asked for discussion of the book. I was just trying to steer discussion back to the book. But if you don't mind, who am I to argue? I'll go back to sleep now ...

 

[Helen]

Screwtape Letters is an outstanding look at human nature, above all. It is totally worth the read. The main thrust of the book is that Screwtape is trying to teach his demonic nephew simply to use human nature to his advantage.

Please note what Lewis writes in the preface:
"Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar. Not everything the Screwtape says should be assumed to be true even from his own angle."

It's a fascinating book.

 

[tinytim]

Yeah, that was what was confusing to me. Trying to decipher what was lies and false-lies from Screwtape.

I was slow, but i figured it out... I think.

Oh, and thanks Whatever. I don't want this turned into a pro/con Lewis debate.