Screwtape Letters Chapter 1 Summary
The first letter in the Screwtape Letters is about how society believes in different things. They are many philosophies in the world. Some of these include contemporary and conventional. C.S. Lewis mentions a person named Jargon. Lewis tells Wormwood to convince Jargon not to look at the material side of things but rather the immaterial side of things. Lewis then explains that people should be above arguing. Basically to just accept the reasons for life and not question anything. Later, Lewis explains how people are “enslaved” to the “pressure of the ordinary”. Lewis means that people are forced to believe things rather than letting their mind wander out of the ordinary. Following this summary is the last paragraph of Letter One paraphrased;
Do you see the point? People find it hard to believe things that are unfamiliar to the while the familiar things in life are right in front of them. Do not use science as a way to defend Christianity. Encourage Jargon to think about nonmaterial parts of life. If Jargon needs to be involved in science keep him with the economic and sociology side of since. Do not let him read science but let him think he gets it all from talk and reading is just investigating his ideas. Remember you are there to “fuddle him”. It is our job to teach, remember that.
Lewis believes that humans hold two mistaken beliefs about devils which are not believing and believing in devils. There are countless dangers in believing in devils and without believing in a devil may lead people down a wrong path to making bad choices. I believe that there is a Devil. I believe that he is in hell waiting for the bad souls to come down to him where he can torture them for eternity. It does follow what I believe when it comes to God. I believe that God is an all powerful being who forgives us when we are truly sorry. When we are not truly sorry he sends us to hell. I believe about a Devil and a God because there are both good and bad people in the world. Also, because I am a Roman Catholic and that is what I have been taught through thirteen years of Catholic grade school.
Screwtape sees an argument as problematic because the Devil is more tempting then doing good. For example, you happen to be walking down the street with a friend when you pass an old lady struggling to carry her bags. Logic would say, help the old lady and be saved for the rest of your life or screw today and maybe tomorrow you can do good. Where as the Devil would say you could help the old lady but we will be late for the football game so what you want to do.
Virtues are less impressive to devils when patients know them because when patients begin to think of others. When patients think of others they think less about them selves. The devils twist humility by telling his nephew to be proud for being humble. By doing this he will eventually become not humble. The true nature of humility is being humble and coy. Virtue relates to the meaning of life because moral people do not try to hurt others and live a truth filled life.
He can twist the patient’s faith by making him believe that his faith is just among a group of people. He can make the person question their own beliefs. Peer pressure has both a positive and negative growth in finding one’s own meaning of life. A positive growth because one can find their own meaning of life through their own spiritual adventure. A negative growth because people can pressure you into believing something just to fit in. The influence of my parents has helped me to let myself find my meaning of life by letting me be who I want to be. They guide me on the right path, but when it comes to making life altering decisions they allowed me to make the decision. The influence of others of a negative force in discovering life’s meaning comes from the fact that people want to fit in. When a group of people shuns you for believing something most people will cave to the group even if it means doing something they do not believe in.
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