SCREWTAPE LETTER 9

TEMPTATION

• Screwtape is going to teach Wormwood how to exploit the Patient's soul
• It's easier to sensually tempt during low points in a human's life (especially with sex)
• It will be easier to give in because his inner world is cold, drab, & empty

TRUE LOVE VS. TROUGH LOVE

• trough sexuality is much less likely to lead to being in love
• much more likely to be drawn into perversions

PLEASURE

• Screwtape notes that God created pleasure
• all they can do when dealing with pleasure is to...
• tempt the human to take pleasure in a way in which God has not intended.

DECEIVING THE PATIENT

• He tells Wormwood that he can keep knowledge out of the Patient's mind by...
• letting him think that this trough stage is permanent

HE EXPLAINS HOW TO DO IT WITH 2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE:

• The despondent type who can be tempted to despair.
• The wishful-thinking type who can be assured that all is well.

THE LAST WAY TO EXPLOIT THE PATIENT'S SOUL

• Attack his faith
• persuading him that his religious phase is going to end eventually
• (like all other phases.)

WHAT DOES THIS LETTER TEACH US?

• Avoid sensual temptations, especially when we are at our low
• Avoid taking part in the pleasures God has created in ways he has forbidden
• Avoid believing that religion is a phase in our lives that will not last.
• Have faith that we will get past the hard times
• Don't give up because of hard times

Screwtape acknowledges that when humans are at a peak in their lives, they are strong enough to avoid temptations, which he sees as a threat. This is why he tells Wormwood to tempt the Patient during this trough period.

Screwtape acknowledges the fact that pleasure was created by God and that the Devil is incapable of creating pleasure. He says that they can only tempt the humans to use this pleasure in the wrong ways, ways that are forbidden by God, in order to exploit their souls using pleasure.

Screwtape says that the soul can be exploited if Wormwood tempts the Patient so much that he grows an increasing desire for pleasure in the wrong ways. He notes that this damnation of the Patient's soul makes the Devil happy.

How is this relevant to us?
This can apply to us high school students when we are stressed out about our teenage lives. Sometimes we resort to drugs, alcohol, smoking or sex when we need something to distract us from the stress.

Tough times are a phase; our relationship with God lasts forever.

THE END