The Screwtape Letters—chapters 1-3:
It seems that the setting of the letters was in the European War where the battle and oppression of Christianity occurred to stop the spread of it across Europe. During the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution occurred, the influx of modern arts, literature, architecture, music and culture from other countries had infiltrated and highly influenced the people there. Because of the rise in science technologies and materialism, it produced a parallel of the opposite extreme, a religious uproar--the war between Christianity and the Church which was Catholic. The Church was about money and, therefore, polarized toward the revolution. Christianity opposed materialism and focused more on spirituality and the soul. The “half-finished sham, Gothic erection” on the new building estate observed by the patient clearly depicted the era of the setting as well as the lack of religious influence.
My thoughts are: It is more important to focus on “real life” or “stream” experiences than on universal issues because you need to fix your own life before you can adequately fix the world. Also, if each individual fixes their own life, it could prevent some of the universal issues. If we keep it real, living in an ordinary world, then the devil cannot distort what is actual, only if we are delusional or extreme can he distort.
I observed that the people (patients) had to see things to believe it and proof was required. There is reference to “the devil being a liar and not a pure spirit as well as arguing being the devil’s ground.” Additionally, a warning of not using science as a defense against Christianity was emphasized. The letters definitely convey the two errors to “falling about the devils”--“disbelieving in their existence and believing and feeling an excessive and unhealthy interest in them” in which the author ensures through his advise to Wormwood’s handling of his patient Glubose. In order for neither one of the two errors to occur, Glubose was monitored in the Enemy’s camp to deprogram him from his new found Christianity in order for them to reprogram him the Enemy’s way. And, to further break him down, they used the relationship with his mother through fault finding and arguments so that everything that Glubose was trying to accomplish with his mother--saving her soul and healing her of the rheumatism--never happened.
My thoughts are: Enemy’s camp dehumanized patients mentally and physically. The author’s emphasis on Christianity was a mockery to expose Christians as hypocritical (double standard). The patient was fooled by his neighbors’ appearance rather than seeing that they were not really Christian internally and putting him to the “test.” He was also made to “self-examine” himself and his mother to keep him busy and to relinquish both of them from the blame. This method is very demonic. It is the devil’s job to play with a Christian’s mind and cause them to make bad decisions through confusion, disappointment, deception, and a wavering (fogged) mind. The patient was serious undermined and manipulated like a pawn in a chess game--strategically maneuvered.
My personal reactions are: The methods used on the patient were demeaning to Christianity and humans, diabolical and treacherous. Their goal was accomplished, however, the mental and emotional torment that the others went through at their expense was repulsive.
I feel that these methods are counter-productive and sub-human. And, I am utterly repulsed by it because I experienced a similar situation in my life; however, I did not react in the same manner. I viewed it as the devil was “playing a vicious game” and he needs to “stop his nonsense!”
My questions are: What is the productiveness in all of this? Or, is that the point, there is not any productivity that is suppose to come from all of it?