Screwtape Letters Part 3

This finishes the book so it's extra long!

• Social Gospel. The 'historical' Jesus who was a chiefly a humanitarian is to be encouraged, since if we can't get him to use Christianity as a means to personal advancement, let it be to achieve social justice. First get a man to value social justice as a thing The Enemy demands, then to value Christianity as the best means for that good society. (pg 126)
• Social vanity. Under the influence of love, he may still think himself unworthy of the girl, but not of the others. Make him mistake the contrast between this circle that delights and the one that bores as Christians versus unbelievers, but feel he deserves those who in charity have accepted him as his right.  (pg 130-132)
• Christianity and... This is the state of mind we want. If they must be Christians, give them an agenda: psychology  healing, health or reform. Slowly substite the faith itself as a framework for advancing their noble cause. (pg 135)
• Courtship. "The time for sowing seeds which will grow into domestic hatred." Problems they have "solved" merely postponed. Make them establish as Law the degree of charity that at present is sprouting out of enchantment. Let A argue in favor of B's supposed wishes, while B does the opposite. As it is impossible  to determine wishes, with luck they will do something neither wants, while both feel self-righteous for their unselfishness and a secret grudge against the other for not being more vehement. (pg 141)
• "I wish Slumtrimpet could do something about that undermining that young women's sense of the ridiculous." It looks like Lewis approves of silliness, haha. (pg 145)
• "How valuable time is may be gauged by the fact the Enemy allows us so little of it." What humans call a normal life is the exception, and the Enemy apparently wants some, but few, to have to resist us to a full age. (pg 157)
• Regards to physical weariness caused by the great war (or attacks on patience, chastitity, and fortitude). Let his resolution be not to bear whatever comes (the Enemy chooses to send his way) but to bear it for a reasonable period. The fun is to make the man yield just when relief was almost in sight. If he meets the girl, make use of the fact that fatigue makes a women talk more and men less. (pg 167)
• Religion. "It will be an ill day for us if what most humans call 'religion' ever vanishes from the earth." A relationship with God will accomplish what an unlimited number of rules and relics cannot hope to even start. (pg 209)
• Word of the day: coeval means contemporary.