Chap 5

I found Chapter 5 of the chapters of the assigned reading the most interesting in which the reader finds out that the Europeans have started another of their wars, presumably World War II. Wormwood is "'delirious with joy'" at this fact, and I found it frighteningly true that war would cause such an effect. Although America is technically "at war" right now in Iraq, there is a difference between being at war and in war. We as a country on a whole do not feel the negative effects of the war around us on a day to day basis, except for reading in the paper about the soldiers that died that day abroad. I imagine being in the center of a war such as WWII would have such a profound effect upon one's religious beliefs. Being in a constant state of fear and seeing friends and family die around you, being in the center of the war, such as the "patient" in London is currently, would almost certainly be a depressing event that would make you truly question your beliefs about God and how He would allow all this death and suffering to happen around you. I imagine that in World War II (or any other major war for that matter), people who actually experienced the war on a first-person basis would be extremely susceptible for losing their faith as Screwtape and Wormwood are getting so excited about in the chapter.

Overall, I just found Chapter 5 to be interesting as it kind of brought out the idea that events such as war could have a large impact on a person's religious beliefs by seeing death and suffering around one's self on a daily basis.

Chap 1-3

I found The Screwtape Letters to be an interesting read. I was hooked right from the introduction, based on the fact that is quite unlike any other book I've ever read. First off, I felt it was really unique to be telling a religious story from the opposite viewpoint - the side of the Devil and his minions rather than God himself. Every religious books seems to be from the Christian standpoint, so it was kind of a change to see things the other way around for once. I felt that because the book took such an unique viewpoint, it is full of humor, which makes it an even more accesible read. My favorite line from the first three chapters was on page 6, "Provided that any of those neighbours sing out of tune, or have boots that squeak, or double chins, or odd clothes, the patient will quite easily believe that their religion must therefore be somehow ridiculous." The only real question I have regarding the first few chapters is an allusion at the end of Chapter 3, "Remember the elder brother in the Enemy's story?". I'm wondering exactly who the elder brother of God is. Anybody have any insight into this?