Letter #9
The “Law of Undulation” – continued.
In the advanced trough lesson,
Screwtape has even better ways to exploit them (us).
My dear Wormwood,
I hope my last letter has convinced you that the trough of dullness or ‘dryness’ through which your patient is going at present will not, of itself, give you his soul, but needs to be properly exploited. What forms the exploitation should take I will now consider.
In the first place I have always found that the trough periods of the human undulation provide excellent opportunity for all sensual temptations, particularly those of sex. … To get the man’s soul and give him nothing in return—that is what really gladdens Our Father’s heart. And the troughs are the time for beginning the process.
9.1) Do you think Screwtape’s statement, To get the man’s soul and give him nothing in return—that is what really gladdens Our Father’s heart is true or false?
Consider Satan’s “gift” to Eve – what did he actually give Adam and Eve?
Consider Satan’s “gift” to Jesus – what did he actually offer Him?
But there is an even better way of exploiting the trough; I mean through the patient’s own thoughts about it. … If you can once get him to the point of thinking that ‘religion is all very well up to a point’, you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing.
9.2a) Screwtape tells Wormwood that, during his patient’s dry spell, You have only got to keep him out of the way of experienced Christians. Why?
9.2b) What does Screwtape mean when he writes – A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing?
Another possibility is that of direct attack on his faith. … You see the idea? Keep his mind off the plain antithesis between True and False. Nice shadowy expressions—‘It was a phase’—‘I’ve been through all that’—and don’t forget the blessed word ‘Adolescent’.
Your affectionate uncle
SCREWTAPE
9.3) Screwtape writes – Another possibility is that of direct attack on his faith. … Of course there is no conceivable way of getting by reason from the proposition ‘I am losing interest in this’ to the proposition ‘This is false’. But, as I said before, it is jargon, not reason, you must rely on.
Given that faith cannot be derived strictly from reason – and one cannot get from “losing interest” to “this is false” – what good is reason? Does it have value – or is it irrelevant?
Vocabulary:
innocuous – The health and spirits which you want to use in producing lust can also, alas, be very easily used for work or play or thought or innocuous merriment.
innocuous – having little or no adverse or harmful effect; harmless
Concomitant – And it is also to be noted that the trough sexuality is subtly different in quality from that of the peak—much less likely to lead to the milk and water phenomenon which the humans call ‘being in love’, much more easily drawn into perversions, much less contaminated by those generous and imaginative and even spiritual concomitants which often render human sexuality so disappointing.
Concomitant – existing or occurring with something else, often in a lesser way; accompanying; concurrent: an event and its concomitant circumstances.
Anodyne – You are much more likely to make your man a sound drunkard by pressing drink on him as an anodyne when he is dull and weary than by encouraging him to use it as a means of merriment among his friends when he is happy and expansive.
Anodyne – a medicine that relieves or allays pain
Redolent – Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable.
Redolent – suggestive; reminiscent (usually followed by of ): verse redolent of Shakespeare.
Ardours – Let him assume that the first ardours of his conversion might have been expected to last, and ought to have lasted, forever, and that his present dryness is an equally permanent condition.
Ardours – intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal
Antithesis – Keep his mind off the plain antithesis between True and False.
Antithesis – the direct opposite
Hi! Just wanted to say thanks so much for your great study questions on the Screwtape Letters. My Bible study group is currently going through the book, and it’s been so helpful to have your insights. Your guide is much deeper and more thought-provoking than many I’ve found, and I really appreciate it!
Hi Lydia – you’re most welcome. The Screwtape Letters has so much to say – it’s great that you’re going through it with a Bible Study group. Everyone can benefit from each other’s perceptions and experiences. Have a most blessed study!
chris