{"id":80903,"date":"2021-04-27T00:15:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T07:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=80903"},"modified":"2021-04-25T15:54:14","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T22:54:14","slug":"pwj-s4e58","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2021\/04\/27\/pwj-s4e58\/","title":{"rendered":"PWJ: S4E58 \u2013 TSL 29 \u2013 &#8220;Fearless&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/S4E58-TSL-29-YouTube.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/S4E58-TSL-29-YouTube.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-80913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/S4E58-TSL-29-YouTube.png 860w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/S4E58-TSL-29-YouTube-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/S4E58-TSL-29-YouTube-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we near the end of the collection of letters from Uncle Screwtape, Matt and David discuss one of his final letters where he talks about bravery and cowardice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>S4E58: &#8220;Fearless&#8221;<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/PWJ-S4E58.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/PWJ-S4E58.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-51396fab-e50d-4cf5-92e3-e840026c934b\">If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/TheEagleAndChildPodcast\" target=\"_blank\">manually<\/a>, or&nbsp;any place where good podcasts can be found&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/the-eagle-and-child-podcast-restless-pilgrim\/id1289456381\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes<\/a>,&nbsp;<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>,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/podcast-detail\/wqkqe-5e798\/The+Eagle+and+Child\" target=\"_blank\">Podbean<\/a>,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/s?fid=159766&amp;refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\">Stitcher<\/a>,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/tunein.com\/radio\/The-Eagle-and-Child-p1079872\/\" target=\"_blank\">TuneIn<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/itunes1289456381\/pints-with-jack\" target=\"_blank\">Overcast<\/a>), as well as on&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCcYFlFuyOmYL6LcuicqzULw\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a>. The roadmap for Season 4 is&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/pints-with-jack-season-4\/\">available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-a56ad4a8-f43a-4986-8d5f-09ffa487daa4\">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\" id=\"block-2882b493-f1aa-48ab-8db6-3c40f02265fc\">Timestamps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">00:00 \u2013 <em>Entering \u201cThe Eagle &amp; Child\u201d\u2026 <\/em><br>00:12 \u2013 <em>Welcome <\/em><br>00:43 \u2013 <em>Chit-Chat <\/em><br>08:56 \u2013 <em>Song-of-the-week<\/em><br>10:40 \u2013 <em>Quote-of-the-week <\/em><br>11:18 \u2013 <em>Drink-of-the-week <\/em><br>12:48 \u2013 <em>Patreon Toast <\/em><br>13:25 \u2013 <em>Chapter Summary<\/em><br>14:17 \u2013 <em>Discussion<\/em><br>51:16 \u2013 <em>Unscrewing Screwtape<\/em><br>53:45 \u2013 <em>The Other C.S. Lewis Podcast?<\/em><br>54:42 \u2013 <em>\u201cLast Call\u201d Bell and Closing Thoughts <\/em><br>56:06 \u2013 <em>The C.S. Lewis Podcast<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-256e7e4a-897b-43e2-a2ed-609bf087c84b\">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\/tivhG436tTs?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\" id=\"block-a885e324-ccf9-42f2-9e03-3f3eb5dc7d6b\">After Show Skype Session<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler 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\/fohHrrNhiW0?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\" id=\"block-27508392-5bf9-4ea7-9a6d-34a4e3476c70\">Show Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chit-Chat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>This is the first episode we\u2019ve recorded after the conclusion of Lent and the arrival of Easter.\u00a0<ul><li>I mentioned that in Byzantine parishes during this season we greet each other with \u201c\u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bd\u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u201d, a Greek phrase which means <em>\u201cChrist is risen!\u201d<\/em> and the response \u201cA\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03ce\u03c2 \u03b1\u03bd\u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7!\u201d which means <em>\u201cIndeed He is risen!\u201d<\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Marie and I spent our Easter in Wisconsin with family. Matt shared his experience at the Easter Vigil. I quoted something which we said in Season 1 of our podcast:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Faith is hanging in the darkness what you&#8217;ve seen in the light<\/p><cite>David &amp; Matt, Season 1<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8230;as well as a line from George MacDonald in <em>The Great Divorce:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;both good and evil, when they are full grown, become retrospective. <\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce (Chapter 9)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I shared a few quotations related to fashions which I recently discovered:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The Truth is the truth even if nobody believes it, and a lie is still a lie, even if everybody believes it<\/p><cite>Archbishop Fulton Sheen<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cChristianity is always out of fashion because it is always sane; and all fashions are mild insanities. When Italy is mad on art the Church seems too Puritanical; when England is mad on Puritanism the Church seems too artistic. When you quarrel with us now you class us with kingship and despotism; but when you quarrelled with us first it was because we would not accept the divine despotism of Henry VIII. The Church always seems to be behind the times, when it is really beyond the times; it is waiting till the last fad shall have seen its last summer. It keeps the key of a permanent virtue.\u201d<\/p><cite>G.K. Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>\u201cFallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.\u201d<\/em><\/p><cite>G.K. Chesterton, Illustrated London News (April 19, 1930)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Song-of-the-week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>On to the song-of-the-week\u2026 Today\u2019s letter deals with the topics of virtue and vice, bravery and cowardice. Listener John Marr suggested\u2026<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LWz0JC7afNQ\">\u201cThe Killing Moon\u201d<\/a> by Echo and the Bunnymen<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=j3BLHd3fT_c\">\u201cI Don\u2019t Want to be a Hero\u201d<\/a> by Johnny Hates Jazz<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>&#8230;and the epic rock anthem, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bWcASV2sey0\">\u201cHolding Out for a Hero\u201d<\/a> by Bonnie Tyler<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>I very nearly went with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4\">Brave<\/a>, by Sarah Baraeilles, a great pick-me-up song, but in a moment of weakness, I decide to throw Matt a bone and, since we\u2019re nearly done with the book, I chose\u2026.a Taylor Swift song, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7lLigiVgJsE\" target=\"_blank\">Fearless<\/a>:<\/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\/7lLigiVgJsE?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>You take my hand and drag me head first, fearless <br>And I don&#8217;t know why but with you <br>I&#8217;d dance In a storm in my best dress, fearless<\/p><cite>Taylor Swift, Fearless<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quote-of-the-week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The quote-of-the-week is\u2026<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;[God] sees as well as you do[, Wormwood,] that courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point&#8230;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drink-of-the-week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Matt drank <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.masterofmalt.com\/whiskies\/oban\/oban-little-bay-whisky\/\" target=\"_blank\">Oban Little Bay Scotch<\/a>:<ul><li><strong>Nose:<\/strong>\u00a0Dried apple chips, floral herbs and chopped mint, candied orange and a touch of milky coffee.<\/li><li><strong>Palate:<\/strong>\u00a0Those fancy chocolates with the flakes of sea salt, pound cake topped with demerara sugar and cinnamon. Citrus returns on the mid-palate.<\/li><li><strong>Finish:<\/strong>\u00a0Spiced with cinnamon and ginger.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>I drank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dewars.com\/us\/en\/double-aged-whiskies\/dewars-12-year-old-whisky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dewars 12<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Patreon Toast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Well, let\u2019s toast a Gold-level supporter\u2026 <strong><em>Monique Stam<\/em><\/strong>:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>In the moment of weakness, may you always surrender to God and receive the virtue of courage and fortitude to overcome any vice or temptation.<\/p><cite>Toast for Monique Stam<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chapter Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>So here\u2019s my one-hundred word summary for Letter #29, which was first published in <em>The Guardian <\/em>on <strong><em>14th November, 1941<\/em><\/strong>\u2026<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Given impending air raids, Screwtape addresses whether they should tempt the patient\u2026 \u2026to cowardice \u2026to pride by means of courage (but they can\u2019t do that because they can\u2019t tempt humans to any kind of virtue) \u2026or tempt him to hatred of the Germans. They choose this option, muddling the patient\u2019s thinking, and strengthening his hatred through fear. Unfortunately, fear also runs the risk of awakening the patient, yielding self-knowledge and, even worse, giving rise to repentance. Finally, Screwtape hopes to\u2026 \u2026aggravate the man\u2019s shame to produce despair, \u2026.foster superstitions, \u2026 \u2026and ultimately to catch the man by surprise.<\/p><cite>Chapter Summary of Letter #30<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-27508392-5bf9-4ea7-9a6d-34a4e3476c70\">Discussion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Impending Air Raids: Cowardice, courage or hatred?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>We open today\u2019s letter with the revelation that German air raids are certain to come to the patient\u2019s town. Screwtape wants his nephew to consider their demonic \u201cpolicy:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Are we to aim at cowardice \u2014 or at courage, with consequent pride \u2014 or at hatred of the Germans?<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Option #2: Courage<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape ignores Cowardice for the time-being. He first of all focuses on the second option, aiming at couraging for the sake of the consequent pride. Screwtape says this isn&#8217;t a good choice, because&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Our research department has not yet discovered&#8230;how to produce any virtue.\u00a0<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Throughout this season we\u2019ve often commented on how the devils always have to twist things. Up until now we\u2019ve focussed on the twisting itself, but here we see the necessity of the raw material so that devils can actually do something. Screwtape explains:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>To be greatly and effectively wicked a man needs some virtue. What would Attila have been without his courage, or Shylock without self-denial<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>We identified the people mentioned in this qutoation:<ul><li>Attila is \u201cAttila the Hun\u201d, warrior and leader of the 5th Century Hun Empire. He features in both <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4yKjTW8Kk8c\" target=\"_blank\">Night At The Museum<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Q8UGAbAPPkk\" target=\"_blank\">Bill and Ted&#8217;s Most Excellent Adventure<\/a>.<\/li><li>Shylock is a character from William Shakespeare\u2019s <em>The Merchant of Venice<\/em>.\u00a0In the play he loans money to Antonio, under the agreement that if Antonio defaults on the loan, Shylock gets to take a \u201cpound of flesh\u201d as payment.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>We talked about how the devils can\u2019t supply virtue to the patient in order to convert it to vice.\u00a0Virtue can only come from God and this means that God constantly has a foothold in the patient\u2019s life which they can\u2019t entirely extricate. I think there\u2019s also a sobering insight here that virtue can be transformed to vice\u2026 which explains why you can never have too much prudence. <\/li><li>When speaking about twisting virtue, Matt alluded to <em>Mere Christianity<\/em>:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>When we have understood about free will, we shall see how silly it is to ask, as somebody once asked me: &#8220;Why did God make a creature of such rotten stuff that it went wrong?&#8221; The better stuff a creature is made of \u2014 the cleverer and stronger and freer it is \u2014 then the better it will be if it goes right, but also the worse it will be if it goes wrong. A cow cannot be very good or very bad; a dog can be both better and worse; a child better and worse still; an ordinary man, still more so; a man of genius, still more so; a superhuman spirit best \u2014 or worst \u2014 of all.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Book II, Chapter 3)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Option #3: Hatred<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>So, if you recall, Screwtape presented three strategies: Cowardice, Courage, and Hatred.\u00a0We\u2019ve discovered that Courage is a non-starter, so Screwtape now turns to Hatred&#8230;<\/li><li>He notes that they can easily tempt to hatred, particularly during turbulent times of danger and when the patient is fatigued. However, given that the patient is a Christian he knows he shouldn\u2019t hate, so what should Wormwood do if he resists the temptation to Hate? Screwtape suggests that they do what they do best&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;muddle him. Let him say that he feels hatred not on his own behalf but on that of the women and children, and that a Christian is told to forgive his own, not other people\u2019s enemies. In other words let him consider himself sufficiently identified with the women and children to feel hatred on their behalf, but not sufficiently identified to regard their enemies as his own and therefore proper objects of forgiveness.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>This is one of the most unpopular of Christian doctrine &#8211; forgiveness. In <em>Mere Christianity<\/em> Lewis says that everyone thinks it\u2019s lovely idea until they have to do it themselves, and then howl with pain! If listeners will recall, there is an important distinction Lewis makes\u2026<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>Christianity does not want us to reduce by one atom the hatred we feel for cruelty and treachery. We ought to hate them. Not one word of what we have said about them needs to be unsaid. But it does want us to hate them in the same way in which we hate things in ourselves: being sorry that the man should have done such things, and hoping, if it is anyway possible, that somehow, sometime, somewhere, he can be cured and made human again.<\/em><\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Book III, Chapter 7)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Option #1: Cowardice<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape transitions by saying that hatred is best paired with Courage\u2019s counterpoint, Fear. So, returning to the three options Screwtape outlined at the beginning of the letter: Cowardice, Courage, and Hatred. He discounted Courage, he spoke about Hatred, and now Screwtape talks about Cowardice&#8230;<\/li><li>He explains that most vices have some pleasure to them&#8230; except cowardice.\u00a0He points out that a frightened man is likely to make himself feel better by nurturing hatred.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The more he fears, the more he will hate. And Hatred is also a great anodyne for shame. To make a deep wound in his charity, you should therefore first defeat his courage.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>So, Screwtape wants to discourage Courage, but that\u2019s problematic because he says fostering cowardice is tricky.\u00a0He says that the devils can often make people proud of their vices, but this can\u2019t really be done with cowardice because God allows calamities (such as a war or natural disasters) which show the necessity and beauty of courage.\u00a0As a result, cowardice is the one remaining vice about which humans genuinely feel shameful. Not only that, there\u2019s a real danger in inspiring cowardice\u2026\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The danger of inducing cowardice in our patients, therefore, is lest we produce real self-knowledge and self-loathing with consequent repentance and humility.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape is rather bitter that, during World War I (the war in which Lewis himself fought)&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;thousands of humans, by discovering their own cowardice, discovered the whole moral world for the first time. In peace we can make many of them ignore good and evil entirely; in danger, the issue is forced upon them in a guise to which even we cannot blind them.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape comments that&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>This, indeed, is probably one of the Enemy\u2019s motives for creating a dangerous world \u2014 a world in which moral issues really come to the point.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>We spoke about whether anyone is ever really pleased with their own cowardice. I suggested that we will sometimes recast it as intelligence. As an example, I referred to the play, <em>A Man For All Seasons<\/em> by Robert Bolt. I (badly) quoted two lines from the character  COMMON MAN:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You know the old adage? &#8220;Better a live rat than a dead lion,&#8221; and that&#8217;s about it.<br><br>I&#8217;m breathing . . . Are you breathing too? . . . It&#8217;s nice, isn&#8217;t it? It isn&#8217;t difficult to keep alive, friends just don&#8217;t -make trouble &#8211; or if you must make trouble, make the sort of trouble that&#8217;s expected. Well, I don&#8217;t need to tell you that. Good night. If we should bump into one another, recognize me.<\/p><cite>A Man For All Seasons, Robert Bolt<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Matt referred to <em>Mere Christianity <\/em>where Lewis suggests if you want to find out how bad you are, to try and be good:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Book III, Chapter 11)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Quoting <em>The Problem of Pain<\/em>, I suggested that our own weakness puts us back into contact with reality and leads to self-knowledge:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (Chapter 6)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>In speaking about Cowardice, Screwtape talks about its counterpoint, Fortitude, in our 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>&#8230;courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point&#8230;. A chastity or honesty, or mercy, which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The Pilate here, of course, refers to Pontius Pilate, who was the 5th Prefect of Judea, between AD 26-36.\u00a0He is probably best known for being pressured by a mob to sanction the execution for a popular Jewish Rabbi.<\/li><li>So, Fortitude is essential, that\u2019s why it\u2019s one of the Cardinal Virtues which Lewis outlines in <em>Mere Christianity<\/em>. I quizzed Matt on the Cardinal Virtues. I didn&#8217;t mention it in the episode, but here&#8217;s the mental picture I have to help me remember them.<ul><li>The brain relates to right choices (i.e. prudence)<\/li><li>The arm relates to strength (i.e. fortitude)<\/li><li>The scales relate to right and wrong (i.e. justice)<\/li><li>The stomach relates to what we consume (i.e. temperance)<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-80982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues-90x90.png 90w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues-75x75.png 75w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/The-Cardinal-Virtues.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Responding to shame<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>As I\u2019ve mentioned before, the consequences of our sin are themselves a mercy from God. He lets us reap what we sow, to see the falsity of sin. This is why Screwtape is nervous about inspiring cowardice:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>it is therefore possible to lose as much as we gain by making your man a coward; he may learn too much about himself!\u00a0<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape\u2019s suggests that, instead of \u201cchlorforming the shame\u201d which comes from cowardice, instead of trying to numb it they should aggravate it and produce Despair:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>This would be a great triumph. It would show that he had believed in, and accepted, the Enemy\u2019s forgiveness of his other sins only because he himself did not fully feel their sinfulness \u2014 that in respect of the one vice which he really understands in its full depth of dishonour he cannot seek, nor credit, the Mercy.\u00a0<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Unfortunately for Wormwood, Screwtape thinks that the patient is too well-formed at this point to succumb to despair&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;he knows that Despair is a greater sin than any of the sins which provoke it.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Here he\u2019s not talking about mental illness, but the mindset that my sin is greater than God, beyond His capacity to forgive and heal.<\/li><li>I recommended my usual <em>Casting Crowns <\/em>song:<\/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\/9cKm_mYVPQE?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<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Matt recommended a newer song by the same band:<\/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\/hktP9LHaRI0?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<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Fostering Cowardice<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape ends the letter with a bit of a HOW TO in temptations to cowardice:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The main point is that precautions have a tendency to increase fear.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>We discussed what Screwtape means by &#8220;precautions&#8221;. I suggested that it referred to the carrying gas masks, building an air raid shelter, putting up blackout curtains etc.\u00a0Screwtape says that the problem with using these precautions to inspire fear is that they soon become routine. When they become routine, the fear starts to diminish.\u00a0<ul><li>I compared this to going on a plane the first time and learning about the evacuation procedures. However, the nervousness which inspired the first time gradually diminishes&#8230;<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Screwtape suggests that it would be fruitful to have the patient always think about what he can do to make himself safer. This will give rise to superstitions&#8230;and Screwtape says&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The point is to keep him feeling that he has something, other than the Enemy and courage the Enemy supplies, to fall back on, so that what was intended to be a total commitment to duty becomes honeycombed all through with little unconscious reservations.\u00a0<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The point of all this is to make him think that the worst can\u2019t ever really come to the worst. He can then be caught off-guard:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8230;at the moment of real terror, rush it out into his nerves and muscles and you may get the fatal act done before he knows what you\u2019re about. For remember, the act of cowardice is all that matters; the emotion of fear is, in itself, no sin and, though we enjoy it, does us no good,<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (Letter #29)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>This reminds me of the rats from <em>Mere Christianity<\/em>, suddenly turning on the lights in a cellar reveals the rats that are there, likewise, when we\u2019re caught off-guard, our inner character is revealed.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Unscrewing Screwtape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Do<\/strong> pray for and foster the virtue of Fortitude. It will be necessary to be a virtuous person.\u00a0<\/li><li><strong>Do not<\/strong>&#8230; abandon virtue when it is inconvenient and risky<\/li><li><strong>Do not<\/strong>\u2026 give into despair. Your sin cannot be greater than God\u2019s mercy.<\/li><li><strong>Do not<\/strong>\u2026 rely solely upon yourself &#8211; trust in God<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> &#8230;remember that virtue can be twisted into vice. This is why need prudence!<\/li><li><strong>Do not<\/strong> let fear turn in to vice like anger or hatred<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> \u2026watch your temper when you\u2019re tired<\/li><li><strong>Do not<\/strong>\u2026 rationalize away hateful thoughts. Christ commands us to love our enemies!<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong>\u2026 know yourself<\/li><li><strong>Do<\/strong> beware of fear, as it often feeds hatred. This warning can be reformulated several ways:<ul><li><em>\u201cFear is the path to the dark side\u201d<\/em><\/li><li><em>\u201cFear leads to anger \u2026 anger leads to hate \u2026 hate leads to suffering.&#8221;<\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\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\/91_G8iaokk8?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>Wrap-up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>At the end of the episode we play the trailer for the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/cslewispodcast.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">new C.S. Lewis podcast<\/a> from Premier Christian Radio:<\/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\/fxeve_qeBM0?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<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I recently interviewed one of the co-hosts, Ruth Jackson, on our YouTube channel:<\/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\/1sb36l_OEyU?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>Fr. Jeffrey Doyle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No more videos!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we near the end of the collection of letters from Uncle Screwtape, Matt and David discuss one of his final letters where he talks about fear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":80970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3111],"tags":[5012,2969,2271,4438,4822],"class_list":["post-80903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-c-s-lewis-2","tag-featured","tag-screwtape","tag-the-eagle-and-child-podcast","tag-the-screwtape-letters"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/S4E58-Blog.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80903","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=80903"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80992,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80903\/revisions\/80992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}