{"id":81281,"date":"2021-06-01T00:15:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T07:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=81281"},"modified":"2021-06-10T16:23:41","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T23:23:41","slug":"pwj-s4e68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2021\/06\/01\/pwj-s4e68\/","title":{"rendered":"PWJ: S4E68 &#8211; SPAT 1 &#8211; &#8220;Three courses of Hell&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/S4E68-SPAT-Part-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/S4E68-SPAT-Part-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/S4E68-SPAT-Part-1.png 860w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/S4E68-SPAT-Part-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/S4E68-SPAT-Part-1-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today we begin the sequel to <em>The Screwtape Lettters<\/em>, which is <em>Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/em>. David is joined by Dr. Brenton Dickieson to unpack the opening paragraphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>S4E68: Screwtape Proposes A Toast (Part 1 &#8211; &#8220;Three Courses of Hell&#8221;)<\/strong> (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/PWJ-S4E68.mp3\" target=\"_blank\">Download<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/PWJ-S4E68.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\">00:10 \u2013 <em>Entering \u201cThe Eagle &amp; Child\u201d\u2026 <\/em><br>00:15 \u2013 <em>Welcome <\/em><br>00:52 \u2013 <em>Dr. Brenton Dickieson <\/em><br>03:36 \u2013 <em>Song-of-the-week <\/em><br>04:55 \u2013 <em>Quote-of-the-week <\/em><br>05:27 \u2013 <em>Drink-of-the-week <\/em><br>07:12 \u2013 <em>Patreon supporter toast <\/em><br>07:41 \u2013 <em>Chapter Summary <\/em><br>08:27 \u2013 <em>Discussion <\/em><br>51:01 \u2013 <em>\u201cLast Call\u201d Bell<\/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\/niuGtey_Cus?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<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">David interviewed Stuart Hunt, the creator of a YouTube channel he&#8217;s recently been enjoying, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCc8t1rPEzCO8OXO2MPcITGw\" target=\"_blank\">Into the Wardrobe<\/a>&#8230;<\/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\/6SKNbWGuU30?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\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Chit-Chat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Dr. Dickieson gave a life-update since <a href=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2020\/11\/03\/pwj-s4e9\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"78435\">being on the show previously<\/a>. He&#8217;s been working on a Screwtape discussion group at his church and he&#8217;s also been reading <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Screwtape-Letters-Marvel-Comics\/dp\/0840762615\" target=\"_blank\">the Marvel Comic version of Screwtape<\/a>. He&#8217;s also looking for a publisher for a new book, <em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/apilgriminnarnia.com\/2021\/05\/27\/gorman-lewis-cata\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Shape of the Cross in C.S. Lewis\u2019 Spiritual Theology<\/a><\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Song-of-the-week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Rather than do the hard work of picking a song-of-the-week which matches thematically with the subject matter, since Screwtape is proposing a toast, we\u2019d just pick an appropriate toasting song! Today&#8217;s song-of-the-week is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2H5uWRjFsGc\">Tubthumping<\/a> by the band Chumbawamba:<\/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\/2H5uWRjFsGc?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>He drinks a Whiskey drink, he drinks a Vodka drink<br>He drinks a Lager drink, he drinks a Cider drink<br>He sings the songs that remind him of the good times<br>He sings the songs that remind him of the best times<\/p><cite>Tubthumping, Chumbawamba<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Quote-of-the-week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The quote-of-the-week comes from this section of <em>Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/em>\u2026<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>Your dreaded Principal has included in a speech full of points something like an apology for the banquet which he has set before us. Well, gentledevils, no one blames him. But it would be in vain to deny that the human souls on whose anguish we have been feasting tonight were of pretty poor quality. Not all the most skillful cookery of our tormentors could make them better than insipid.<\/em><\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Drink-of-the-week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The drink-of-the-week is for me is a <strong>rum and coke<\/strong>. Dr. Dickieson was drinking a <strong>Starbucks Earth Blend coffee<\/strong>, as well as <strong>a Dalwhinnie 15<\/strong> from <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etchedlaserart.com\/pints-with-jack.html\" target=\"_blank\">his PWJ glass<\/a>!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Patreon Toast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>We toasted Abby, a gold-level <a href=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2021\/05\/27\/pwj-s4e67\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"81285\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Patreon<\/a> supporter:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>Abby, may you always be your own person, not simply one the crowd. Instead, we pray you become what Screwtape describes as one of those horrible phenomena, one of the great Saints of our time. Cheers!<\/em><\/p><cite>Patreon Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Chapter Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>So, on to today\u2019s section of <em>Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/em>. Here is my one-hundred word summary of the section we\u2019re going to be looking at today:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Screwtape proposes a toast at the Tempters\u2019 Training College Annual Dinner, addressing the faculty and graduating students. <\/p><p>He notes that earlier, the Principal of the College, Slubgob, basically apologised for the poor standard of souls they consumed that night. Screwtape doesn\u2019t disagree and reminisces about previous years when they got to feast on really great sinners. <\/p><p>He reviews the night\u2019s meal: A municipal authority with Graft sauce, Casserole of Adulterers, and Trade Unionist stuffed with sedition. He concludes that, while the quality was indeed low, the quantity was magnificent.<\/p><cite>Summary of Part 1 of Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Preparation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>David asked Brenton about the origins of Screwtape\u2019s toast, how we should read it, and what mistakes we should avoid. <ul><li>Dr. Dickieson mentioned that the toast <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.saturdayeveningpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/satevepost\/screwtape-proposes-a-toast-SEP.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">originally appeared in the Christmas edition of The Saturday Evening Post<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>David admitted he doesn&#8217;t think it&#8217;s as good as Screwtape&#8217;s letters.<\/li><li>Dr. Dickieson noted that the text is harder to personalise. He also asked how Lewis knew about the United States.<\/li><li>David suggested that it might be fun to speak to a Joy Davidman scholar if they see her influence in the toast.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Setting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The text of <em>Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/em> actually begins with a something akin to stage directions:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The scene is in Hell at the annual dinner of the Tempters\u2019 Training College for young devils. The principal, Dr. Slubgob, has just proposed the health of the guests. Screwtape, a very experienced Devil, who is the guest of honour, rises to reply&#8230;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Dr. Dickieson mentioned that he had proposed <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/apilgriminnarnia.com\/2016\/05\/02\/letchcraft\/\" target=\"_blank\">a similar kind of toast<\/a> at another dinner.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>David said that when he once gave a talk on Screwtape at a parish, he would put on a pair of devil horns when he was quoting a passage from Screwtape so that the listeners would know that what he was saying was not necessarily true.<ul><li>Brenton asked wheher all of Screwtape&#8217;s comments are upside-down or wrong. <\/li><li>He also asked whether we take something away from the text if we portray Screwtape as a comic figure. David quoted the epigraphs from Luther and Thomas Moore in <em>The Screwtape Letters<\/em>:<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cThe best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.<em>&#8220;<\/em><\/p><cite>Luther<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cThe devill . . the prowde spirite . . cannot endure to be mocked.\u201d<\/p><cite>Thomas More<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">The Address<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\"><strong>The Faculty<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape begins his toast by addressing those present&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Mr. Principal, your Imminence, your Disgraces, my Thorns, Shadies, and Gentledevils:&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>There\u2019s a play here on words&#8230;<ul><li>Rather than \u201cEminence\u201d, he uses &#8220;Imminence&#8221;<\/li><li>Rather than &#8220;highness&#8221;, he uses \u201cnearness\u201d<\/li><li>Rather than &#8220;Graces&#8221;, he uses &#8220;Disgraces&#8221;<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>&#8220;Thorns&#8221; and &#8220;thistles&#8221; are mentioned here because they\u2019re associated with the devil &#8211; they\u2019re barren, allude to the curses from The Fall, as well as the crown of thorns. Brenton also pointed out that in the movie <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Omen\">The Omen<\/a>, the son of the Devil is called Damien Thorn.<\/li><li>\u201cShadies\u201d sounds like &#8220;ladies&#8221; and is also a play on the Roman word \u201cshades\u201d (ghosts).<\/li><li>Rather than &#8220;Gentlemen&#8221; he says &#8220;Gentledevils&#8221;<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\"><strong>The Graduates<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape explains that it\u2019s customary on these occasions to address the graduating devils soon to be heading to earth.  He reminisces about his own graduation and reminds these new graduates that they had better be successful\u2026 <ul><li>This idea was clearly communicated towards the end of Screwtape&#8217;s Letters<\/li><li>In response to Brenton&#8217;s comments about devouring (and the Dementors from <em>Harry Potter<\/em>), David mentioned the line in <em>Till We Have Faces<\/em> where Ansit says:<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>They say the loving and the devouring are all one, don&#8217;t they?<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces (Part II, Chapter 1)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">The state of play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape then says that he wants to paint a picture of the state-of-play with regards to the spiritual war &#8211; he wants to give something akin to The State of The Union Address in the United States. <ul><li>He says he doesn\u2019t want to reduce the terror and anxiety which acts as the <em>\u201clash and spur\u201d<\/em> to all of their endevours, but he says that he does want to lay out a <em>\u201cmoderately encouraging view of the strategical situation as a whole\u201d<\/em>. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Meals of Yesteryear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape points out that the Principal of the college, Slubgob, offered something like an apology for the banquet food. Screwtape admits that&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u2026it would be in vain to deny that the human souls on whose anguish we have been feasting tonight were of pretty poor quality. Not all the most skillful cookery of our tormentors could make them better than insipid.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Screwtape reminisces on meals of yesterday:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Oh, to get one&#8217;s teeth again into a Farinata, a Henry VIII, or even a Hitler! There was real crackling there; something to crunch; a rage, an egotism, a cruelty only just less robust than our own.&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Who are these people?<ul><li><strong>Hitler<\/strong>, hopefully doesn\u2019t need too much introduction. <\/li><li><strong>Henry VIII<\/strong> was the 16th Century king of England who split from Rome and declared himself to be the head of the Church in England. He married six times.<\/li><li><strong>Farinata degli Uberti<\/strong> was a 13th Century Italian aristocrat military leader who was the head of the anti-Papal, Ghibelline faction. You encounter him in Dante\u2019s <em>Inferno<\/em>. Here\u2019s a key to Lewis\u2019 work that we sometimes miss as we focus on the details of an argument, a scene, or a cultural critique. Lewis read Dante as providing not so much a map of the afterlife but rather a narrative spiritual theology, what Lewis calls the <em>\u201cimaginative interpretation of spiritual life.\u201d<\/em> (Preface, 111).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape goes on to discuss the meal that they\u2019ve just consumed\u2026<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">The Night&#8217;s Meal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Municipal Authority with Graft Sauce<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape describes the first course&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>There was a municipal authority with Graft sauce. But personally I could not detect in him the flavour of a really passionate and brutal avarice such as delighted one in the great tycoons of the last century. Was he not unmistakably a Little Man\u2026 a grubby little nonentity who had drifted into corruption, only just realizing that he was corrupt, and chiefly because everyone else did it?&nbsp;<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The word \u201cGraft\u201d has a bunch of different meanings. Here David thinks it refers to the corrupt use of money. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Casserole of Adulterers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape moves to the second course&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Then there was the lukewarm Casserole of Adulterers. Could you find in it any trace of a fully inflamed, defiant, rebellious, insatiable lust? I couldn&#8217;t. They all tasted to me like undersexed morons who had blundered or trickled into the wrong beds in automatic response to sexy advertisements, or to make themselves feel modern and emancipated, or to reassure themselves about their virility or their \u201cnormalcy,\u201d or even because they had nothing else to do. Frankly, to me who have tasted Messalina and Cassanova, they were nauseating.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Who were these people?<ul><li><strong>Casanova<\/strong> was the famous 18th Century Italian womaniser.<\/li><li><strong>Messalina<\/strong> lived in the 1st Century. She was known for her promiscuity and was the 3rd wife of the Emperor Claudius. She was executed for plotting against her husband.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>David and Brenton questioned how much of Screwtape&#8217;s comments are exaggeration. <ul><li>Dr. Dickieson referred to Betty Friedan&#8217;s book, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Feminine_Mystique\" target=\"_blank\">The Feminine Mystique<\/a>.<\/li><li>David spoke about the increasing intrusion of adverts.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Trade Unionist stuff with sedition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape reviews the final course of the meal&#8230;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The Trade Unionist stuffed with sedition was perhaps a shade better. He had done some real harm. He had, not quite unknowingly, worked for bloodshed, famine, and the extinction of liberty. Yes, in a way. But what a way! He thought of those ultimate objectives so little. Toeing the party line, self-importance, and above all mere routine, were what really dominated his life.<\/p><cite>C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Brenton spoke about the holocaust, the Shoah. He referred to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Eichmann-Jerusalem-Banality-Penguin-Classics\/dp\/0143039881\" target=\"_blank\">Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil<\/a> by Hannah Arendt who was sent to cover the trial of Adolph Eichmann. Hannah Arendt found not a great evil genius, sadistic, drooling for pain, but an ordinary, rather boring, bureaucrat who preferred good organization and helpful systems. <ul><li>From Screwtape\u2019s point of view, if Eichmann was a great genius he might have been awakened to the evil he was doing. Systematic evil is easy to perpetuate from the perspective of a demon; making someone a real in-the-bones bigot takes a great deal of work&#8211;and there is always the risk of awakening.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">Meal Assessment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Screwtape says that tonight\u2019s menu was in one sense, deplorable, but in another way, full of hope and promise! He says that the quality was terrible, but the quantity was impressive.&nbsp;I\u2019m not sure if I believe Screwtape is really satisfied with this assessment. Both David and Brenton weren&#8217;t convinced that Screwtape actually believes this.<ul><li>It reminded David of the episode of The Office, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/echw3pjRZNo?t=38\" target=\"_blank\">when Michael Scott is trying to impress everyone and ends up buying lots of pizza from a place nobody likes<\/a> (Alfredo\u2019s Pizza Cafe vs Pizza by Alfredo).<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-9a5c05ab-2df3-4086-b1f7-70d12e5536d9\">More Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Dr. Brenton Dickieson can be found on, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bdickieson\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrentonDana\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a>, and his blog, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com\" target=\"_blank\">A Pilgrim In Narnia<\/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\/x44JJVP61aM?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<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\/qCPv156G82c?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 we begin the sequel to The Screwtape Lettters, which is Screwtape Proposes A Toast. David is joined by Dr. Brenton Dickieson to unpack the opening paragraphs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":81533,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3111],"tags":[5649,2969,2271,5913,4438],"class_list":["post-81281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-brenton-dickieson","tag-featured","tag-screwtape","tag-screwtape-proposes-a-toast","tag-the-eagle-and-child-podcast"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/S4E68-Blog.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81281","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=81281"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81724,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81281\/revisions\/81724"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}