I failed to mention this in my last post: Christ unites the two parts of the man by having them each defeat the evil representation of the opposing side. When John defeated the evil of intellectual stoicism, he received the strength of will and determination to make him "hard." When Vertue defeated the evil of sensuality, he caught fire and finally understood what it meant to desire, to want, to have a passion and feeling for something.
I think that's rather profound.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Pilgrim's Regress (another CS Lewis)
I've never read Bunyan, though I think I probably should. Yet I understood much of this story because of experiences (mostly intellectual I admit) from school. Many of the philosophies that John is exposed to I have studied to some extent and was therefore had a grounding intellectually for the story.
I didn't write periodic impressions because, honestly, I didn't feel like it. Unlike The Screwtape Letters, the chapters flowed into each other with the moving of the story, and though I could have stopped and mused, I chose instead to get the whole thing down and then comment once and for all.
With this partially autobiographic tale, Lewis paints a very vivid picture of the dualism of man. On the one hand there was John, the "natural man," given to impulse and desire, seeking for fulfillment, but discovering that every time he thinks he has found the object of his desire, it is in fact a diabolical counterfeit. The submitting of his will to the demands of these objects would only deaden the actual desire. On the other hand there was Vertue, or John's conscience personified as another character. Lewis characterized Vertue as "traditional morality," that sense within each of us to live by rigidity and obedience for the sake of obedience. The mere thought that any reward or punishment may be in the end of the journey was abominable to Vertue--that took away the purity of choice for choice's sake.
In the end Christ united the two halves, as He does in each of our lives. I like Lewis's idea of the Desire being the end in itself, that there is a "divine discontent" in each of us (as Elder Maxwell would say). A celestial homesickness as it were. If this drives us, and not to any worldly object (read idol) in particular, but instead to the Source of the Desire, we will find ourselves within the outstretched arms of the Savior.
I didn't write periodic impressions because, honestly, I didn't feel like it. Unlike The Screwtape Letters, the chapters flowed into each other with the moving of the story, and though I could have stopped and mused, I chose instead to get the whole thing down and then comment once and for all.
With this partially autobiographic tale, Lewis paints a very vivid picture of the dualism of man. On the one hand there was John, the "natural man," given to impulse and desire, seeking for fulfillment, but discovering that every time he thinks he has found the object of his desire, it is in fact a diabolical counterfeit. The submitting of his will to the demands of these objects would only deaden the actual desire. On the other hand there was Vertue, or John's conscience personified as another character. Lewis characterized Vertue as "traditional morality," that sense within each of us to live by rigidity and obedience for the sake of obedience. The mere thought that any reward or punishment may be in the end of the journey was abominable to Vertue--that took away the purity of choice for choice's sake.
In the end Christ united the two halves, as He does in each of our lives. I like Lewis's idea of the Desire being the end in itself, that there is a "divine discontent" in each of us (as Elder Maxwell would say). A celestial homesickness as it were. If this drives us, and not to any worldly object (read idol) in particular, but instead to the Source of the Desire, we will find ourselves within the outstretched arms of the Savior.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Musings on Screwtape 5
You have let a soul slip through your fingers. The howl of sharpened famine for that loss re-echoes at this moment through all the levels of the Kingdom of Noise down to the very Throne itself.
In an earlier letter, Screwtape calls hell the Kingdom of Noise and revels in the wonder of noise. It is this that sparks a memory of a talk I once heard at the MTC. Henry B. Eyring spoke of the "gift of quiet," and his sentiments struck a chord with me. He said something to the effect of, "You will know, someday, why it is that your parents asked you to turn your stereo down." I know that now! There is something about quiet that enables us to see more clearly; we are faced with reality which often, for me, brings a sense of what I need to repent of. It may be uncomfortable at first, but when acted upon brings that other antonym of noise: Peace.
In an earlier letter, Screwtape calls hell the Kingdom of Noise and revels in the wonder of noise. It is this that sparks a memory of a talk I once heard at the MTC. Henry B. Eyring spoke of the "gift of quiet," and his sentiments struck a chord with me. He said something to the effect of, "You will know, someday, why it is that your parents asked you to turn your stereo down." I know that now! There is something about quiet that enables us to see more clearly; we are faced with reality which often, for me, brings a sense of what I need to repent of. It may be uncomfortable at first, but when acted upon brings that other antonym of noise: Peace.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Musings on Screwtape 4
It is the business of these great masters to produce in every age a general misdirection of what may be called sexual 'taste'. This they do by working through the small circle of popular artists, dressmakers, actresses and advertisers who determine the fashionable type. The aim is to guide each sex away from those members of the other with whom spiritually helpful, happy, and fertile marriages are most likely.
"In every age" is so absolutely true. What was fashionable in 1941 when this was written is certainly different from now, but those principles remain. And how many young people do we see who are infatuated with the images of those on television or in fashion or gossip magazines and who ignore their peers who would indeed aid them spiritually in a very happy marriage?
As a result we are more and more directing the desires of men to something which does not exist--making the role of the eye in sexuality more and more important and at the same time making its demands more and more impossible. What follows you can easily forecast!
In our age of photoshop and digital imaging, this has never been more true. These impossible demands can only lead to disappointment in lust. What a terrible place to be.
"In every age" is so absolutely true. What was fashionable in 1941 when this was written is certainly different from now, but those principles remain. And how many young people do we see who are infatuated with the images of those on television or in fashion or gossip magazines and who ignore their peers who would indeed aid them spiritually in a very happy marriage?
As a result we are more and more directing the desires of men to something which does not exist--making the role of the eye in sexuality more and more important and at the same time making its demands more and more impossible. What follows you can easily forecast!
In our age of photoshop and digital imaging, this has never been more true. These impossible demands can only lead to disappointment in lust. What a terrible place to be.
The Continual Evolution of this Blog
I've been out on the blogosphere a lot lately and have found that the availability of blogs having to do with Mormonism is rather large. My contributions there are likely best served in the comment threads. As for this blog, I think I have found my niche, it will benefit me inasmuch as it should keep me reading and thinking. And it may just be the source of thoughtfulness in others. If so, wonderful.
So the format will be simple now. I will offer thoughts on passages from books I am reading and record monthly home teaching videos.
That's it.
I like it. It feels good.
So the format will be simple now. I will offer thoughts on passages from books I am reading and record monthly home teaching videos.
That's it.
I like it. It feels good.
Musings on Screwtape 3
Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact?
Pride in humility, one of Satan's most beloved tactics I'm sure. I'm deeply impressed with the description of real humility in this chapter, though. Humility has everything to do with looking outside of oneself to God and to neighbor. Humility can be glad because of accomplishment, but not any more glad than if another had done what was done. Humility is a recognition of talents and a grateful use of those talents. Humility is never self-absorbed, it does not focus the attention on the imperfections of the individual, whether real or supposed, but instead focuses on the service that can be rendered to others. Humility is in very deed blessedness.
Pride in humility, one of Satan's most beloved tactics I'm sure. I'm deeply impressed with the description of real humility in this chapter, though. Humility has everything to do with looking outside of oneself to God and to neighbor. Humility can be glad because of accomplishment, but not any more glad than if another had done what was done. Humility is a recognition of talents and a grateful use of those talents. Humility is never self-absorbed, it does not focus the attention on the imperfections of the individual, whether real or supposed, but instead focuses on the service that can be rendered to others. Humility is in very deed blessedness.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Musings on Screwtape 2
Two from chapter 9
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's 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. 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 of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula.
This has certainly been the case from the beginning, and yet with media as it is today I wonder if it feels more widespread than in past generations. The accessibility of pornography, just to cite one example, is immediate and varied in its forms. One can experience this "ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure" in record time these days, going from one website to another and never feeling quite satisfied; in fact feeling less and less satisfied with each encounter, and yet desiring more and more. This is the deadening influence over the spirit that Satan loves--desensitization coupled with insatiable lust. Addiction feeds on dead senses, whereas true enjoyment of pleasures ordained of God actually satisfies without consuming the mind, heart, and life of the individual.
A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all--and more amusing.
I don't doubt that hypocrisy thrills the adversary much more than outright rejection of all that is good and holy.
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's 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. 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 of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula.
This has certainly been the case from the beginning, and yet with media as it is today I wonder if it feels more widespread than in past generations. The accessibility of pornography, just to cite one example, is immediate and varied in its forms. One can experience this "ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure" in record time these days, going from one website to another and never feeling quite satisfied; in fact feeling less and less satisfied with each encounter, and yet desiring more and more. This is the deadening influence over the spirit that Satan loves--desensitization coupled with insatiable lust. Addiction feeds on dead senses, whereas true enjoyment of pleasures ordained of God actually satisfies without consuming the mind, heart, and life of the individual.
A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all--and more amusing.
I don't doubt that hypocrisy thrills the adversary much more than outright rejection of all that is good and holy.
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