{"id":78641,"date":"2020-12-01T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=78641"},"modified":"2020-12-10T09:43:15","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T16:43:15","slug":"pwj-s4e15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2020\/12\/01\/pwj-s4e15\/","title":{"rendered":"PWJ: S4E15 &#8211; TSL 9 &#8211; &#8220;Danger Zone&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/S4E15-YouTube-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/S4E15-YouTube-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-78852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/S4E15-YouTube-1.png 860w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/S4E15-YouTube-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/S4E15-YouTube-1-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In last week&#8217;s letter, Screwtape described the law of Undulation. In today&#8217;s letter, he explains how to exploit the trough periods during the undulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>S4E15: Letter #9 &#8211; &#8220;Danger Zone\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;(<a href=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PWJ-S4E15.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PWJ-S4E15.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<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Timestamps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">00:00 \u2013 <em>Entering \u201cThe Eagle &amp; Child\u201d\u2026 <\/em><br>00:15 \u2013 <em>Welcome <\/em><br>04:49 \u2013 <em>Song-of-the-week <\/em><br>07:24 \u2013 <em>Quote-of-the-week <\/em><br>08:03 \u2013 <em>Drink-of-the-week <\/em><br>10:30 \u2013 <em>Patreon Toast <\/em><br>11:27 \u2013 <em>Chapter Summary <\/em><br>12:19 \u2013 <em>Discussion <\/em><br>47:35 \u2013 <em>Unscrewing Screwtape <\/em><br>50:45 \u2013 <em>&#8220;Last Call&#8221; Bell and Closing Remarks<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">YouTube Version<\/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\/45MEqITl8mw?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\">After Show Skype Session<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I shared some advice from Lewis to a woman who was suffering:<\/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\/I0n8XnomGag?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\">Show Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opening Chit-Chat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I asked Matt to guess the number of episodes we&#8217;ve released so far. At the time of recording we had released 157 episodes and had 270,000 downloads.<\/li><li>Matt shared about recently reconnecting with one of his former teachers and I shared an email from my High School Extra English teacher:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>I hope you are keeping well in these difficult times. I have been clearing out some papers and things and I found these two poems by David which I thought you would like.&nbsp; I think they are lovely. He wrote them in 1992 when I was encouraging him to write poetry in the Japanese style which is very short!<br><br>Water rushing through my mind<br>Washing all thoughts away<br>leaving harmony.<\/p><p>The light of the sun<br>Giving new energy<br>Releasing my sorrows.<\/p><cite>Email from my Dyslexia teacher<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Season 2 I would write a haiku for each chapter, so it was nice to read our some which I wrote at the age of ten or eleven!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Song-of-the-week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It was really hard trying to come up with a song this week.<\/li><li>Last week in Letter #8 Screwtape told us about the law of Undulation, how the patient\u2019s affections wax and wane, so it was named the episode after the Red Hot Chilli Peppers\u2019 song, <em>Love Rollercoaster.<\/em><\/li><li>Today we\u2019re studying Letter #9 where the Screwtape explains how to exploit the \u201cTrough\u201d periods in the patient\u2019s life. I initially thought today\u2019s episode would be called <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=k2C5TjS2sh4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cIt must have been love (but it\u2019s over now)\u201d<\/a><\/em>, the 80\u2019s classic from <em>Roxette<\/em> which appeared on the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0100405\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pretty Woman<\/a><\/em> soundtrack\u2026<ul><li>\u2026but at church this morning I was thinking about the patient\u2019s vulnerability during these Trough periods&#8230;so I thought it better to name today\u2019s episode after a song from a different soundtrack. The movie is <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0092099\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Top Gun<\/a><\/em> starring Tom Cruise and the song is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yK0P1Bk8Cx4\">Danger Zone<\/a> by Kenny Loggins:<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\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\/yK0P1Bk8Cx4?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<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quote-of-the-week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The quote-of-the-week came from this letter:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em><em><em>\u201cDo not let him suspect the law of undulation. Let him assume that the first ardours of his conversion might have been expected to last, and ought to have lasted, forever, and that his present dryness is an equally permanent condition\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drink-of-the-week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The quote-of-the-week was <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glenmorangie.com\/en-us\/our-whiskies\/nectar-dor\" target=\"_blank\">Glenmorangie Nectar D\u2019or<\/a>.<ul><li><em><strong>Color:<\/strong> Lemony gold<\/em><\/li><li><em><strong>Nose:<\/strong> Dessert wine, honey, soft fruits, and spice<\/em><\/li><li><em><strong>Body:<\/strong> Medium<\/em><\/li><li><em><strong>Palate:<\/strong> Golden raisins and dates, gingerbread,  and custard, balanced by lemon notes.<\/em><\/li><li><em><strong>Finish:<\/strong> Long and spicy, with developing citrus fruits.<\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Patreon Toast<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>One of the benefits for Gold-level supporters on Patreon is that we toast one of them each episode. Today we are toasting<strong><em> Cindy Keen<\/em><\/strong>:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Cindy, if you are in a spiritual trough or if you experience one in the future, we pray it\u2019s an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord and become one of his dearest friends!<\/p><cite>Patreon Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chapter Summary<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Letter #9 was first published in The Guardian on 27th June, 1941 and here is my 100-word summary:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Screwtape explains how to exploit the \u201ctrough\u201d periods in the patient\u2019s life\u2026 Distorted sensual temptations during this time can be effective due to the patient\u2019s weak defences. Another strategy is to make the patient assume the slump is permanent. If a pessimist, he must be kept away from Christians and Scripture and instead attempt to reclaim his initial fervour through sheer will-power. If an optimist, he should be taught to be content with the Trough and even come to doubt his initial fervour. Alternatively, the patient must assume that the current dullness somehow means that his faith is false.<\/p><cite>One-hundred word summary of Chapter 9<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discussion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Recap<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today\u2019s letter is a direct continuation from last week\u2019s letter. If you recall, Wormwood thought that, through his own efforts, the patient\u2019s religious phase was coming to an end. Screwtape instead explained this recent downtown in the patient\u2019s religious fervour through the law of Undulation. This is the idea that humanity\u2019s temporal nature means that it\u2019s in a constant state of chance. As a result, the patient\u2019s interest in his work, his affection for his friends, his physical appetites, all go up and down, peaks and troughs. Screwtape begins today\u2019s letter with a brief recap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>I hope my last letter has convinced you that the trough of dulness or \u201cdryness\u201d through which your patient is going at present will not, of itself, give you his soul, but needs to be properly exploited. What forms the exploitation should take I will now consider.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Sensuality<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what should Wormwood concentrate on during these trough periods? Screwtape says that they are excellent times for sensual temptations, particularly related to sex. Screwtape says that this might seem surprising. After all, would the exuberance and appetite of the peak periods be more fruitful? But he says\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;you must remember that the powers of resistance are then also at their highest [in the Peak periods]\u2026 The attack has a much better chance of success when the man\u2019s whole inner world is drab and cold and empty.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape says there\u2019s another advantage to sexual temptation during trough periods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;Trough sexuality is subtly different in quality from that of the Peak \u2014 much less likely to lead to the milk and water [insipid] phenomenon which the humans call \u201cbeing in love\u201d, much more easily drawn into perversions, much less contaminated by those generous and imaginative and even spiritual concomitants [accompaniment] which often render human sexuality so disappointing.&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He says this is true not just for sex, but for all the \u201cdesires of the flesh\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>It is the same with other desires of the flesh. You are much more likely to make your man a sound drunkard by pressing drink on him as an anodyne [pain-killer] when he is dull and weary than by encouraging him to use it as a means of merriment among his friends when he is happy and expansive.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is true for me as a comfort eater! I\u2019m not thinking about the future. I just want to feel happy <strong>now<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>On Enemy Territory<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape continues talking about pleasure and he ends this section by saying something which really shocked me when I first read this book a couple of decades ago (yes, I\u2019m old!). Screwtape seems to regard pleasure as something dangerous for Hell!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy\u2019s ground. I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We so often think of pleasures as something dangerous and sinful, but Screwtape blames God entirely! However, Screwtape had read St. Augustine so he explains to his nephew what they must do. Long-time listeners to the podcast will have heard us say something like this often\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden. Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent [suggestive] of its Maker, and least pleasurable.&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape wants the pleasure to always be diminishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>To get the man\u2019s soul and give him nothing in return \u2014 that is what really gladdens our Father\u2019s heart. And the troughs are the time for beginning the process.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lewis explains this idea more explicitly in <em>The Four Loves<\/em> where he says that a temperate man will enjoy an occasional glass of wine as a treat.&nbsp; In contrast, the alcoholic gains little except brief relief from his cravings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>For the temperate man an occasional glass of wine is a treat\u2026 But to the alcoholic, whose palate and digestion have long since been destroyed, no liquor gives any pleasure expect that of a relief from an unbearable craving.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves (Chapter 2)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Matt has started reading the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/World-Ice-Fire-History-Westeros\/dp\/0553805444\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Game of Thrones<\/a><\/em> book and I mentioned that I&#8217;m re-reading <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Silent-Planet-Space-Trilogy-Paperback\/dp\/0743234901\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Out of the silent planet<\/a><\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Exploiting <\/strong><\/strong>the Trough<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, the first way of exploiting the Trough was through sensual temptation. Screwtape now gives what he thinks is a superior way of exploiting the Trough. This second way relates to how the patient thinks about the Trough itself. As William O\u2019Flaherty noted in our interview, the first step is to keep things out of the patient\u2019s mind, in this case the law of undulation. Screwtape doesn\u2019t want the patient to be conscience of the fact that they had these very natural ebbs and flows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>As always, the first step is to keep knowledge out of his mind. Do not let him suspect the law of undulation.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, Screwtape wants him to think about his current Trough in this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Let him assume that the first ardours of his conversion might have been expected to last, and ought to have lasted, forever, and that his present dryness is an equally permanent condition.&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple errors! Initial ardour should have lasted forever! Instead this dryness will last forever instead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape wants these misconceptions exploited differently, depending upon whether the patient is an optimist or a pessimist. He goes on to explain how to handle each situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>The Pessimistic Patient<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He says pessimists are becoming rarer (interesting observation), but that they\u2019re easier to handle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You have only got to keep him out of the way of experienced Christians (an easy task now-a-days), to direct his attention to the appropriate passages in scripture, and then to set him to work on the desperate design of recovering his old feelings by sheer will-power, and the game is ours.&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mature Christians will encourage him and also explain the law of undulation! We suggested that <em>&#8220;the appropriate passages in scripture&#8221;<\/em> is about ripping verses out of context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape wants the patient to white-knuckle it because his will will eventually fail. Back in Season 1, Lewis told us in <em>Mere Christianity<\/em> that this was not the way to go:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>It is simply no good trying to keep any thrill: that is the very worst thing you can do. Let the thrill go &#8211; let it die away &#8211; go on through that period of death into the quieter interest and happiness that follow &#8211; and you will find you are living in a world of new thrills all the time.<\/em><\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Book III, Chapter 6)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>The Optimistic Patient<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, there\u2019s one approach if the patient is a pessimist. What if he\u2019s an optimist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>If he is of the more hopeful type, your job is to make him acquiesce in the present low temperature of his spirit and gradually become content with it, persuading himself that it is not so low after all.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, he should be taught to become content with the Trough and to never expect there to be a peak again. Screwtape can then get him even to doubt his initial fervour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>In a week or two you will be making him doubt whether the first days of his Christianity were not, perhaps, a little excessive. Talk to him about \u201cmoderation in all things\u201d&#8230; A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all \u2014 and more amusing<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Direct attacks on faith<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alternatively, Wormwood could be a bit more overt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>When you have caused him to assume that the trough is permanent, can you not persuade him that \u201chis religious phase\u201d is just going to die away like all his previous phases?<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape points out that this isn\u2019t actually logical:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Of course there is no conceivable way of getting by reason from the proposition \u201cI am losing interest in this\u201d to the proposition \u201cThis is false\u201d. But, as I said before, it is jargon, not reason, you must rely on.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hell\u2019s philology department can help out here through jargon. In particular, the word \u201cphase\u201d. Screwtape is particularly counting on the superiority which people tend to feel about \u201cphases\u201d they gone through because they\u2019re in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You keep him well fed on hazy ideas of Progress and Development and the Historical Point of View, I trust, and give him lots of modern Biographies to read? The people in them are always emerging from Phases, aren\u2019t they?<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape will speak about the Historical Point of View towards the end of the book and we\u2019ll talk about it more there. For the time being, let\u2019s focus on the word \u201cprogress\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>There is no sense in talking of &#8216;becoming better&#8217; if better means simply &#8216;what we are becoming&#8217; \u2014 it is like congratulating yourself on reaching your destination and defining your destination as &#8216;the place you have reached&#8217;. Mellontolatry, or the worship of the future, is a fuddled religion.<\/em><\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock (\u201cEvil and God\u201d)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also encountered it in <em>Mere Christianity<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em><em>&#8230;progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.<\/em><\/em><\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once again, Screwtape doesn\u2019t want him to think about truth values, only jargon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em><em>You see the idea? Keep his mind off the plain antithesis between True and False. Nice shadowy expressions \u2014 \u201dIt was a phase\u201d \u2014 \u201dI\u2019ve been through all that\u201d \u2014 and don\u2019t forget the blessed word \u201cAdolescent\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regarding that last word \u201cadolescent\u201d&#8230; Since Matt hasn\u2019t finished Narnia, I\u2019ll just say this\u2026 Susan Pevensie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Screwtape Unscrewed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Do <\/strong>remember you are vulnerable during the troughs<\/li><li><strong>Don&#8217;t<\/strong> be fooled into cheap pleasure when you&#8217;re in a trough<\/li><li><strong>Don&#8217;t<\/strong> lose hope and think that troughs are permanent<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> seek healthy pleasure<\/li><li><strong>Don\u2019t<\/strong> think that pleasure is wrong.<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> remember that \u201cevery good and perfect gift [comes from God]\u201d (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=James%201%3A17&amp;version=RSVCE\" target=\"_blank\">James 1:17<\/a>)<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> build up a community around you<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> \u201cremember your first love\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Revelation+2%3A4-5&amp;version=RSVCE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Revelation 2:4-5<\/a>)<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> spend time in God\u2019s word<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> think clearly<\/li><\/ol>\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\/EZwt81BhRtw?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>In last week&#8217;s letter, Screwtape described the law of Undulation. In today&#8217;s letter, Screwtape explains how to exploit the trough periods in the undulation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":78853,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3111],"tags":[4660,5012,274,2969,5757,4438,4822],"class_list":["post-78641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-andrew-lazo","tag-c-s-lewis-2","tag-david-bates","tag-featured","tag-law-of-undulation","tag-the-eagle-and-child-podcast","tag-the-screwtape-letters"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/S4E15-Blog-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78641","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=78641"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79040,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78641\/revisions\/79040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}