{"id":77781,"date":"2020-10-06T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=77781"},"modified":"2020-12-10T09:57:21","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T16:57:21","slug":"pwj-s4e05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2020\/10\/06\/pwj-s4e05\/","title":{"rendered":"PWJ: S4E5 &#8211; TSL 1 &#8211; &#8220;State of Confusion&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/S4E05-YouTube-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/S4E05-YouTube-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/S4E05-YouTube-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/S4E05-YouTube-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/S4E05-YouTube-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/S4E05-YouTube.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today I was joined by guest co-host, <a href=\"http:\/\/trenthorn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trent Horn<\/a>, to discuss the first of Screwtape&#8217;s letters where the senior demon discusses reason and rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>S4E5: Letter #1 &#8211; &#8220;State of Confusion\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/PWJ-S4E05.mp3\" target=\"_blank\">Download<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/PWJ-S4E05.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/TheEagleAndChildPodcast\" target=\"_blank\">manually<\/a>, or\u00a0any place where good podcasts can be found (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/the-eagle-and-child-podcast-restless-pilgrim\/id1289456381\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes<\/a>,\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Ixvobfgi2wk4rkdegdnbdqjjh44?t=The_Eagle_and_Child\" target=\"_blank\">Google Play<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Pints-with-Jack\/dp\/B08K57WLYB\/\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/podcast-detail\/wqkqe-5e798\/The+Eagle+and+Child\" target=\"_blank\">Podbean<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/s?fid=159766&amp;refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\">Stitcher<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/tunein.com\/radio\/The-Eagle-and-Child-p1079872\/\" target=\"_blank\">TuneIn<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/itunes1289456381\/pints-with-jack\" target=\"_blank\">Overcast<\/a>), as well as on\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCcYFlFuyOmYL6LcuicqzULw\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a>. The roadmap for Season 4 is\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/pints-with-jack-season-4\/\">available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More information about us can be found on our website,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pintswithjack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">PintsWithJack.com<\/a>. If you\u2019d like to support us and get fantastic gifts,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/pintswithjack\">please join us on Patreon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The roadmap for Season 4 is&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/pints-with-jack-season-4\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"74416\">available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Time Stamps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">00:00:00 \u2013 <em>Entering \u201cThe Eagle &amp; Child\u201d\u2026<\/em><br>00:00:14 \u2013 <em>Welcome<\/em><br>00:00:42 \u2013 <em>Guest Co-host Introduction<\/em><br>00:02:14 \u2013 <em>Chit-Chat<\/em><br>00:07:23 \u2013 <em>Song-of-the-week<\/em><br>00:07:57 \u2013 <em>Quote-of-the-week<\/em><br>00:08:12 \u2013 <em>Drink-of-the-week<\/em><br>00:10:29 \u2013 <em>Toast<\/em><br>00:11:18 \u2013 <em>Chapter Summary<\/em><br>00:12:18 \u2013 <em>Discussion<\/em><br>00:59:13 \u2013 <em>Trent Horn<\/em><br>01:00:08 \u2013 <em>&#8220;Last Call&#8221; Bell and Closing Remarks<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>YouTube Version<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yefahFt7Jgs?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>After Show Skype Session<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Matt and Andrew shared their own thoughts on this chapter of <em>The Screwtape Letters<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OzrsMhxkwOA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Show Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Today\u2019s episode is named after the song <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KnHw_1h0-fE\">State of Confusion<\/a> by The Kinks:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KnHw_1h0-fE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cWoke up in a panic, Like somebody fired a gun I wish I could be dreaming, But the nightmare&#8217;s just begun. There&#8217;s flooding in the basement, There&#8217;s water all around. There&#8217;s woodworm in the attic And the ceiling just fell down. I&#8217;m in a state (state) Of confusion (whooooh). I&#8217;m in a state (state) Of confusion (whooooh).\u201d<\/p><cite>State of Confusion, The Kings<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Honourable mentions included <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fpmTe3TDdVU\">You spin me round<\/a> by Dead Or Alive and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yO2n7QoyieM\">Dazed and Confused<\/a> by Led Zeppelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I introduced my guest co-host, Trent Horn:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Trent serves as a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, where he specializes in teaching Catholics to graciously and persuasively engage those who disagree with them. You may have seen him debating the existence of God with Alex O\u2019Connor \u201cThe Cosmic Skeptic\u201d, Abortion with David Boonin, Socialism with Sam Rocha, or Eternal Security with James White. He has master\u2019s degrees in the fields of theology, philosophy, and bioethics. Trent runs his own podcast, which includes a pun in its name, The Counsel of Trent where he talks not only about theology and philosophy, but also about Severely Underappreciated Films How to win at the video game Oregon Trail How to survive natural disasters How to have the best day at disneyland He writes and publishes a new book seemingly every few weeks. Past titles include Counterfeit Christs Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today\u2019s Tough Moral Issues Answering Atheism Hard Sayings The Case for Catholicism Persuasive Pro-Life as well as What the Saints never said. I invited Trent onto this episode because we are going to be discussing a letter from Screwtape which relates to many things related to Trent\u2019s work as an apologist: words, reason, science, and argument.<\/p><cite>Biographical details of Trent Horn<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I spend much of my time pointing out incorrect Lewis quotations. Trent has done something similar in his book <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/What-Saints-Never-Said-Misquotes\/dp\/1683570693\" target=\"_blank\">What the Saints never said<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I shared the quote-of-the-week:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>\u201cJargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church\u201d<\/em><\/p><cite>The Screwtape Letters, Letter #1<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The drink-of-the-week was <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.sprouts.com\/shop\/categories\/125?page=2\" target=\"_blank\">Sprouts Chocolate Milk<\/a> and we toasted Trent&#8217;s unborn son:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>John-Paul, we raise our glasses to your good health and imminent arrival. May your delivery be swift and safe and may you give your two older brothers a good run-for-their-money. Cheers!<\/em><\/p><cite>Toast for John-Paul Horn<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chapter Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I then summarized Screwtape letter&#8217;s in a hundred words:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Screwtape\u2019s correspondence begins by encouraging his nephew to use jargon, rather argument, to secure his human, explaining that argument awakens the Patient\u2019s reason and moves the struggle onto God\u2019s own ground. Wormwood is told to impress upon his Patient what Screwtape calls &#8220;the pressure of the ordinary\u201d, the stream of immediate sense experiences, so as to distract the Patient from matters eternal. Screwtape illustrates this by telling the story of one of his former patients reading in the British Museum. The Senior Devil concludes by underscoring for his nephew that he is there to fuddle his Patient, not teach him.<\/p><cite>100-Word Chapter Summary<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jargon and Logic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Trent and I spoke about the use and dangers of jargon, as well as the life of the intellect and the purpose of logic.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape begins the letter by talking about what the Patient is reading. As Lewis says in his spiritual biography:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cA young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading\u201d<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Surprised By Joy<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The Senior Devil recalls a time a few centuries ago when people were more logical:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>At that time the humans still knew pretty well when a thing was proved and when it was not; and if it was proved they really believed it. They still connected thinking with doing and were prepared to alter their way of life as the result of a chain of reasoning.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8230;but their work has meant that they no longer need to argue:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Your man has been accustomed, ever since he was a boy, to have a dozen incompatible philosophies dancing about together inside his head. He doesn\u2019t think of doctrines as primarily \u201ctrue\u201d or \u201cfalse\u201d, but as \u201cacademic\u201d or \u201cpractical\u201d, \u201coutworn\u201d or \u201ccontemporary\u201d, \u201cconventional\u201d or \u201cruthless\u201d. Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this reason, he shouldn&#8217;t concern in making the Patient think that materialism is &#8220;true&#8221; or &#8220;false&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Make him think it is strong, or stark, or courageous \u2014 that it is the philosophy of the future. That\u2019s the sort of thing he cares about.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I mentioned that &#8220;the philosophy of the future&#8221; connects to Lewis&#8217; &#8220;war&#8221; with Owen Barfield about his Chronological Snobbery. I commented that Screwtape&#8217;s comments here make me think of advertising. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We referred to dystopian literature such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Animal-Farm-George-Orwell\/dp\/0451526341\">Animal Farm<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/1984-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell\/dp\/0451524934\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1984<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Brave-New-World-Aldous-Huxley\/dp\/0060850523\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brave New World<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape explains that argument is the wrong way to go:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The trouble about argument is that it moves the whole struggle onto the Enemy\u2019s own ground. He can argue too\u2026<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8230;even the act itself has possibilities which worry Screwtape:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>By the very act of arguing, you awake the patient\u2019s reason; and once it is awake, who can foresee the result? Even if a particular train of thought can be twisted so as to end in our favour, you will find that you have been strengthening in your patient the fatal habit of attending to universal issues and withdrawing his attention from the stream of immediate sense experiences.&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Rather than argument, he wants Wormwood to distract the Patient:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Your business is to fix his attention on the stream. Teach him to call it \u201creal life\u201d and don\u2019t let him ask what he means by \u201creal\u201d&#8230;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This &#8220;stream&#8221; put me in mind of our Social Media news feeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Incarnation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape alludes to the Incarnation, saying that it gave God (&#8220;the Enemy&#8221;) an unfair advantage:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Remember, he is not, like you, a pure spirit. Never having been a human (Oh that abominable advantage of the Enemy\u2019s!) you don\u2019t realise how enslaved they are to the pressure of the ordinary.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I asked Trent whether it&#8217;s fair to say that God received an advantage from the Incarnation, alluding to a few passages in Scripture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death\u2014that is, the devil\u2014 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham\u2019s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.<\/p><cite>Hebrews 2:14-17<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.<\/p><cite>Mark 2:51<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape illustrates his point by telling an anecdote about a previous Patient:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>I once had a patient, a sound atheist, who used to read in the British Museum. One day, as he sat reading, I saw a train of thought in his mind beginning to go the wrong way. The Enemy, of course, was at his elbow in a moment. Before I knew where I was I saw my twenty years\u2019 work beginning to totter. If I had lost my head and begun to attempt a defence by argument I should have been undone. But I was not such a fool. I struck instantly at the part of the man which I had best under my control and suggested that it was just about time he had some lunch<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I pointed out that the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britishmuseum.org\/about-us\/british-museum-story\/architecture\/reading-room\" target=\"_blank\">British Museum Reading Room<\/a> is beautiful and quiet.  Screwtape wants to get him out of there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Once he was in the street the battle was won. I showed him a newsboy shouting the midday paper, and a No. 73 bus going past, and before he reached the bottom of the steps I had got into him an unalterable conviction that, whatever odd ideas might come into a man\u2019s head when he was shut up alone with his books, a healthy dose of \u201creal life\u201d (by which he meant the bus and the newsboy) was enough to shew him that all \u201cthat sort of thing\u201d just couldn\u2019t be true.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape then underlines the point:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;they find it all but impossible to believe in the unfamiliar while the familiar is before their eyes. Keep pressing home on him the ordinariness of things.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I referred to Lewis&#8217; sermon <em>The Weight of Glory<\/em> where he explains that our desires are too weak:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I commented that Screwtape gets control of his Patient through his stomach and explained that this is why fasting is so important in the Christian tradition:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8220;[Fasting is] an apprenticeship in self-mastery&#8230; is a training in human freedom&#8230; [E]ither man governs his passions and finds peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy&#8221;<\/p><cite>Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2339<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Science<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>As Screwtape begins to wrap-up, he comments on the Patient&#8217;s relationship to science:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;do not attempt to use science (I mean, the real sciences) as a defence against Christianity. They will positively encourage him to think about realities he can\u2019t touch and see. There have been sad cases among the modern physicists. If he must dabble in science, keep him on economics and sociology; don\u2019t let him get away from that invaluable \u201creal life\u201d. But the best of all is to let him read no science but to give him a grand general idea that he knows it all and that everything he happens to have picked up in casual talk and reading is \u201cthe results of modern investigation\u201d.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I said that this reminded me of something Peter Kreeft said in a lecture about <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/qFjjA_Pt4AQ?t=350\">Arguments for God\u2019s existence<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cThere are relatively few atheists among neurologists and brain surgeons and among cosmetologists and astrophysicists, but there are many atheists among sociologists, psychologists and historians. The reason seems obvious. The first studied divine design, the second human un-design\u201d<\/p><cite>Peter Kreeft, Arguments for God\u2019s existence<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape concludes the letter by underscoring Wormwoods main job:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&nbsp;Do remember you are there to fuddle him. From the way some of you young fiends talk, anyone would suppose it was our job to teach!<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unscrewing Screwtape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>During &#8220;Unscrewing Screwtape&#8221;, we went through the spiritual lessons from the chapter:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Connect thinking and doing<\/li><li>Know what is proved and unproved<\/li><li>Do not blindly believe all advertisements<\/li><li>Think in terms of true and false<\/li><li>Take time for quiet reflection, in beautiful surroundings to consider universal, eternal things. <\/li><li>Take an interest in science and realities which you can\u2019t see with your naked eye! Read books by believing scientists. We referenced a few books <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Language-God-Scientist-Presents-Evidence\/dp\/1416542744\">The language of God &#8211; Francis Collins<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Particles-Faith-Catholic-Navigating-Science\/dp\/1594716579\">Particles of faith &#8211; Stacy Trasancos<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Modern-Physics-Ancient-Faith-Stephen\/dp\/0268021988\" target=\"_blank\">Modern Physics, Ancient Faith &#8211; Stephen Barr<\/a>, or <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fortunate-Universe-Finely-Tuned-Cosmos\/dp\/1107156610\" target=\"_blank\">A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos &#8211; Luke Barnes<\/a>. I&#8217;d also suggest anything by Fr. Spitzer and from the Magis Center (<a href=\"https:\/\/magiscenter.com\/\">https:\/\/magiscenter.com\/<\/a>)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Trent spoke about being overwhelmed by seemingly endless questions he referred to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hilbert%27s_paradox_of_the_Grand_Hotel\" target=\"_blank\">Hilbert&#8217;s Hotel<\/a>. He also alluded to this passage from <em>Mere Christianity<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>When the most important things in our life happen we quite often do not know, at the moment, what is going on. A man does not always say to himself, &#8220;Hullo! I&#8217;m growing up.&#8221; It is often only when he looks back that he realises what has happened and recognises it as what people call &#8220;growing up&#8221;.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Book III, Chapter 12)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find out more<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You can find out more about Trent at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trenthorn.com\" target=\"_blank\">TrentHorn.com<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.TrentHornPodcast.com\" target=\"_blank\">TrentHornPodcast.com<\/a>, his <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/counseloftrent\" target=\"_blank\">Patreon account<\/a>, his <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/trhorn100\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube channel<\/a>, on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.catholic.com\/search.php?search_query=trent+horn&amp;section=product\" target=\"_blank\">Shop.Catholic.com<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Trent-Horn\/e\/B00ESKK21A\">Amazon.com<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Providence eLearning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YTeRM2x72-0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today I was joined by guest co-host, Trent Horn, to discuss the first of Screwtape&#8217;s letters where the senior demon discusses reason and rhetoric.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":78281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3111],"tags":[5012,2969,355,4438,4822,1922],"class_list":["post-77781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-c-s-lewis-2","tag-featured","tag-satan","tag-the-eagle-and-child-podcast","tag-the-screwtape-letters","tag-trent-horn"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/S4E05-Blog-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77781"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79055,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77781\/revisions\/79055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}