Book discussion: The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis

[Tamara]

Hello everyone! This is a popular quote from "The Screwtape Letters" By C.S Lewis, you have probably heard it before:

“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,..."

Anyone have thoughts or comments on this? Feel free to speak your thoughts even if you haven't read the book. This is open to everyone!

[David]

The road to hell is paved with socially acceptable sins, not shocking sins. The key is to use the Bible as a construction level to measure our life and the road we're traveling. I need to be better at analyzing my own life like that.

I tend to want to fit into society more, which means that I'm reluctant to analyze my own life because I know that it doesn't line up with the Biblical "level".

[Hannah]

This quote reminds me of a sermon the high school pastor at my church shared with us on "The Assassin of Character Creep" (the series was ninja-themed). You think you're doing good as a Christian when really you've been on a slow, downward spiral towards stuff you never even dreamed of being a part of. Like you said, David, we as a society have only helped this "assassin" because many things that we should not be participating in are now a cultural norm.

[Chris]

Like David said, "The road to hell is paved with socially acceptable sins, not shocking sins." People slip with small things. I would add that since this is written by C.S. Lewis from the point of view of a demon, Screwtape, who is giving advice to a younger demon, what he means by "the safest road to Hell" is that this is the primary way Satan works against us.

[Tamara]

Great thoughts everyone! I agree with everything you said. It's sometimes hard to know if your starting down the slippery slope, it's not a steep cliff or hill. We have to keep alert! When we start compromising that's when we're in the most danger. There are no "signposts" as C.S lewis puts it. I pray none of us ever find ourselves starting down that path.

[Ebby]

I love The Screwtape Letters. One of my favorites is letter 8, where the topic of undulation first comes up. In it is this quote that I adore: "Humans are amphibians - half spirit, and half animal...As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time. This means that while their spirit can be directed to an eternal object, their bodies, passions, and imaginations are in continual change, for as to be in time means to change."

[Sylvia]

On the "socially acceptable sins" - I think one of the most startling letters in Screwtape is #17 - which addresses a very socially accepted, even socially valued, sin.

"One of the great, achievements of the last hundred years has been to deaden the human conscience on that subject [gluttony], so that by now you will hardly find a sermon preached or a conscience troubled about it in the whole length and breadth of Europe."

What are some other "socially accepted sins?" Where have our own consciences been deadened because of sins that have crept even into the culture of our church communities?

[Tamara]

I would say another "socially acceptable sin" would definitely be pride. Pride these days is usually seen as a sign of wealth or prosperity, which of course is accepted. This is only a sin in certain circumstances, when it involves haughtiness it leads to cruel and sinful actions. I have often found myself in such a position of pride in my achievements that I forget that God is the one who helped me succeed in the first place. God hates a proud and haughty heart, that alone should be enough for us to take care that pride never enters our lives.

[Hannah]

One more "socially acceptable sin" that I feel is EVERYWHERE is sex out of wedlock. Especially in a public high school, I hear about it all the time. In fact, on the swim team I'm one of the odd ones out for not having sex with people all the time.

[Tamara]

Alright everyone, what is your favorite C.S Lewis qoute? (It doesn't have to be from The Screwtape Letters if you haven't read it).

[Daniel]

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."

As a reader and author, I love this quote because of how much I love reading good books and writing. There's so much truth in his words about how books refreshing our lives and I don't think it's a coincidence that the most refreshing book out there is the Bible. It just makes sense that God's primary way of communicating to mankind is through words, not pictures or film, but simple, clear words in a book. =)

[Tamara]

This qoute from The Screwtape Letters really hit me hard.

"The great thing is to prevent his doing anything. As long as he does not convert it into action, it does not matter how much he thinks about this new repentance. "

It made me want to get right out there and tell people about Christ. As well it should. We CANNOT be passive Christians. We need to take action, not just sit around comfortably waiting for God to do everything. Satan wants us to be inactive, that means we should be doing all we can, and more, to spread the gospel and fight against Satan's lies. This is a wakeup call to all those claiming Christ, but giving nothing for His sake.

[Tamara]

Thanks, and well said to you as well!!! I totally agree!!