Screwtape Letter Reflection

Let me start by saying I really have enjoyed this class and have learned a lot and not been able to process some of the material because of the volume. I wish I could have had this class a long time ago because it would have helped me answer so many of the questions about my background and my faith in high school. So many students and teachers would ask me why I did not cut my hair or why I wore long skirts all the time and all I could tell them was it was what I believe is right. So of them also were curious about my church background and I simply did not know the answers to their questions. So many open doors for witnessing and so many opportunities lost. I only pray it will not be so in the future now that I have taken this class.
This
I especially enjoyed the Screwtape Letters excerpt you included in our notes. I am a huge C.S. Lewis fan and have listened to the Chronicles of Narnia so much I can quote much of the radio theatre dramatization. I have not listen to or read the Screwtape Letters in entirety and I found the theories of evil easier to grasp after reading the letter you included in our notes. I love to read fictional works that have theology and philosophy woven into the story because it is usually easier for me to grasp an abstract theological or philosophical idea when an illustration or story is given. I understand now more than ever that one has to be careful how far they take illustration because in many concepts such as the Trinity the allegory eventually breaks down, but it helps me wrap my mind around some concepts better. I found it interesting to discuss these theories in class and mull them over in one’s mind because will you may never reach a black and white theory or decision it helps you to see where other peoples view points and world views come from and to present holiness Christianity in a more favorable
I find it interesting that while the Middle Eastern societies rejected God they clearly could not erase religion from their societies, so in order to have political power and explain natural phenomena and the age old philosophical questions like where humans came from they invented stories that their leaders were gods or simply made up stories about gods. However in all of them except the biblical account of creation all their gods were no morally better than humans and the leading political regimes often changed the creation story to show they had power. My favorite illustration was the one you included on the handout about finding a wimple widget in your garden and trying to explain how it worked and why. I just love the word picture and the description wimple widget.