Chapter IX
Why do our “trough periods” make us so vulnerable (43)? Is this applicable to you?
When Screwtape talks about the troughs, I believe that he is talking about the times in our lives where we just stray away from God. Not always because we want to, but because we just forget to pursue Him. A person is always moving in their relationship with God. They're either going toward Him, or just slowly going backwards. These "backward" or "trough" times make us vulnerable because we forget and stray away from God and go towards our fleshly pleasures. This is majorly applicable to me because of the fact I can forget about God on a daily basis. I'm not trying to boast in my sinfulness, but I do boast on God's love for constantly loving me even though I forget about Him. I need to learn to just keep my head in check, and realize that I need Him.
What beautiful truth about pleasure does Screwtape share? Make a list of pleasures.
God made "pleasure." It is not the demons or the devil who made the pleasure, but God. I believe, by what this is saying, that you can still grow in your relationship with "pleasure." That sounds contradictory at it's front, but there's something deeper. I believe it's the overcoming of that pleasure that bring you closer to God. When God gives you the strength to annihilate that pleasure then you rejoice in his strength and your weakness.
I have many pleasures. Some of which are the pleasure...
1. To cheat in school.
2. To sleep in chapel.
3. To talk back to irritating teachers.
4. To be mean to irritating friends.
5. To swear.
There's many others, but I do have to learn from these and self-evaluate how I live.
Chapter X
What are your thoughts regarding “parallel lives” (51)? What does this mean to you?
To me, "parallel lives" happen to most people sooner or later. Sometime in our life we get caught up in the wrong crowd and we tend to copy what they do so that "that crowd" will like us. This is not always a bad thing because sometimes people can get caught up with "good crowds" with "good habits." More often than not, it doesn't happen this way. Most of the time people get caught up in the "cool/bad crowd" and they start to develop these bad habits with them. But, when the "cool/bad crowd" isn't around then it's easy to going back to a little "goodie goodie" around parents or maybe just other friends.
I can get caught up in this so much. Especially for me, I would say it's easier for me. Why? Because I'm an actor and so to copy other people habits or emotions can be a second nature for me. This is bad because I really have to go through my life and filter out what is bad. To even have a best friend accountable for how I live is helpful too.
Chapter XI
What are your thoughts on music and joy after reading this chapter?
Music and joy is as what I thought it was. Happy. Screwtape cannot stand music and joy because it "promotes charity, courage, contentment, and many other evils."
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Lewis 5-8
Chapter V
What is Screwtape’s idea on the best way for humans to die? Why?
I will admit that this part was sort of confusing. I interpret this as Screwtape wants every human to die by way of not knowing when they will die. Therefore, they will not come to know the "enemy" because they don't think that they're on their death bed. Lewis uses the example of men going to war and thinking they're going to die. So those men are prepared for death, as in, some of those men chose to be with the "enemy" because they want to go to heaven when they die.
Chapter VI
How does “...malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary” (28)? How does this apply to your life?
The way that Lewis is speaking of is that malice becomes real when you start to become mean and "hate" others that do wrong to you. Benevolence becomes imaginary when the only people you are "good" to is the people in the window of your favorite drive through food place. This affects me because when I examine myself, I can be exactly like this. I become so use to my friends that maybe I "joke" around too much and am just mean. On the other hand, I'm never mean to those people in Mc. Donalds who give me the large french fries even though I'll never see them again. What I'm trying to get at is that you should do good to all men, doesn't matter who they are.
Chapter VII
How do you picture the devil? What does this chapter challenge you about regarding the spiritual warfare over your soul?
I feel like Screwtape is actually teasing me because I think like what he was teasing. I think that devils are these gross looking, red suited demons with pitchforks and horns on their head. Mostly, because that is what society has painted devils to look like. I really need to keep in check, and really just remind myself that I am in a spiritual warfare because sometimes I do forget. I am like a pacifist in the way that I just let things go because it's just "what happens." I need to remember that I have to keep fighting.
Chapter VIII
What is the “law of Undulation” (37)? Give an example of this in your life.
"... the repeated return to a level from which they repeatedly fall back, a series of troughs and peaks."
When I read this, I think that it means as humans we never want to just go through life but to grow through life. Therefore, when we sin or do something bad, as Christians we try to stray away from that sin and grow in God. Although, we are likely to repeat the same mistake. This is where the "Law of Undulation" come in. For myself, I cheat in school. Weather it be just trying to finish up some math homework at lunch time or just got lazy. I know it's wrong, and I really try to stop it and just do it myself. Though, when another busy week comes by it's just so much easier to cheat.
“Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys” (40). What are your thoughts on this? The way I interpret this is that as Christians we become hardwired to try to do God's commands. Through life, maybe we forget why we're doing it and we just do it. Screwtape doesn't like this either because in essence it's still obeying the "enemy." Although, from a Christian perspective I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's not good either. It's not good because you have no thought in your brain that you're trying to glorify God with what you're doing. Therefore, it's honestly pointless.
What is Screwtape’s idea on the best way for humans to die? Why?
I will admit that this part was sort of confusing. I interpret this as Screwtape wants every human to die by way of not knowing when they will die. Therefore, they will not come to know the "enemy" because they don't think that they're on their death bed. Lewis uses the example of men going to war and thinking they're going to die. So those men are prepared for death, as in, some of those men chose to be with the "enemy" because they want to go to heaven when they die.
Chapter VI
How does “...malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary” (28)? How does this apply to your life?
The way that Lewis is speaking of is that malice becomes real when you start to become mean and "hate" others that do wrong to you. Benevolence becomes imaginary when the only people you are "good" to is the people in the window of your favorite drive through food place. This affects me because when I examine myself, I can be exactly like this. I become so use to my friends that maybe I "joke" around too much and am just mean. On the other hand, I'm never mean to those people in Mc. Donalds who give me the large french fries even though I'll never see them again. What I'm trying to get at is that you should do good to all men, doesn't matter who they are.
Chapter VII
How do you picture the devil? What does this chapter challenge you about regarding the spiritual warfare over your soul?
I feel like Screwtape is actually teasing me because I think like what he was teasing. I think that devils are these gross looking, red suited demons with pitchforks and horns on their head. Mostly, because that is what society has painted devils to look like. I really need to keep in check, and really just remind myself that I am in a spiritual warfare because sometimes I do forget. I am like a pacifist in the way that I just let things go because it's just "what happens." I need to remember that I have to keep fighting.
Chapter VIII
What is the “law of Undulation” (37)? Give an example of this in your life.
"... the repeated return to a level from which they repeatedly fall back, a series of troughs and peaks."
When I read this, I think that it means as humans we never want to just go through life but to grow through life. Therefore, when we sin or do something bad, as Christians we try to stray away from that sin and grow in God. Although, we are likely to repeat the same mistake. This is where the "Law of Undulation" come in. For myself, I cheat in school. Weather it be just trying to finish up some math homework at lunch time or just got lazy. I know it's wrong, and I really try to stop it and just do it myself. Though, when another busy week comes by it's just so much easier to cheat.
“Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys” (40). What are your thoughts on this? The way I interpret this is that as Christians we become hardwired to try to do God's commands. Through life, maybe we forget why we're doing it and we just do it. Screwtape doesn't like this either because in essence it's still obeying the "enemy." Although, from a Christian perspective I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's not good either. It's not good because you have no thought in your brain that you're trying to glorify God with what you're doing. Therefore, it's honestly pointless.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Personal Introductory Video
Gmail: cschoniwitz@gmail.com
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/cschoniwitz/
Google Sites: https://sites.google.com/site/honorsbritliterature/
Blogger: http://honorsbrit-lit.blogspot.com/
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Copyright
To copyright is against the law. No doubt about that. Copyrighting is so easy to do, but it is stealing. Would you go into a store, and steal a pack of gum? That is essentially what copyrighting is. I've done it before, but I'm not proud of it. Copyrighting is a world wide epidemic, and people do need to stop because it hurts the artist and ultimately is wrong.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Lewis 1-4
Chapter I
Give an example or two about situations in which you are "...attending to universal issues and withdrawing...attention from the stream of immediate sense experiences" (2).
What are you passive about because of the "ordinariness of things" (4)? Is it your family? Your life? Your church or school?
What does Lewis mean by “real life” throughout the chapter?
Chapter II
What kind of clarity do you think Hell provides (7)? I think hell provides the clarity of mind. Not only the clarity, but the regret of mind. Regret of why you didn't trust in God on earth while you had the chance.
What do you think about the following quote? "The Enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour" (7). I think that it is true. We get so bombarded by the things that bring us down that thats all we tend to focus on.
What are your thoughts on church? Is it something you “do” every week? I believe church is a main place where you grow spiritually. Yes, I go to church on sundays and wednesday nights.
Chapter III
What are your "daily pinpricks" (11)? For myself, spiral paper eats at something deep inside me.
Give an example or two of situations in which you have neglected the obvious (12).
How does Screwtape suggest making prayers “innocuous” (12-13)? What kind of sin is this referencing? I interpret this as a sin by which we become apathetic towards prayer and God.
Chapter IV
What does Lewis suggest when he says “...whatever their bodies do affects their souls” (16)?
Give an example or two about situations in which you are "...attending to universal issues and withdrawing...attention from the stream of immediate sense experiences" (2).
1. Sitting down on lunch table and doing homework
2. Having someone come over but taking a nap.
What are you passive about because of the "ordinariness of things" (4)? Is it your family? Your life? Your church or school?
I'm passive about family, church, and school. When you start soon things daily and constantly then you just "get use to it."
What does Lewis mean by “real life” throughout the chapter?
I took it more as the nephew should just stall and confuse him with daily things. The hard things that we have to deal with in life. Make sure that the patient does not focus on who can fix those tough things.
Chapter II
What kind of clarity do you think Hell provides (7)? I think hell provides the clarity of mind. Not only the clarity, but the regret of mind. Regret of why you didn't trust in God on earth while you had the chance.
What do you think about the following quote? "The Enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour" (7). I think that it is true. We get so bombarded by the things that bring us down that thats all we tend to focus on.
What are your thoughts on church? Is it something you “do” every week? I believe church is a main place where you grow spiritually. Yes, I go to church on sundays and wednesday nights.
Chapter III
What are your "daily pinpricks" (11)? For myself, spiral paper eats at something deep inside me.
My "daily pin pricks" probably have to be when someone eats ice cream with a spoon, and they put it in their slimy little mouth and they bring it out with ice cream still on it.
Give an example or two of situations in which you have neglected the obvious (12).
I usually neglect the obvious when I don't exercise for a while and then I know I'm out of shape. I know I can't just go and fight when I'm so out of shape, but I usually don't care and do it anyway.
How does Screwtape suggest making prayers “innocuous” (12-13)? What kind of sin is this referencing? I interpret this as a sin by which we become apathetic towards prayer and God.
Chapter IV
What does Lewis suggest when he says “...whatever their bodies do affects their souls” (16)?
I interpret this as whatever sins you're body does, then that's how your mind and soul really is. You're sould gets corrupted by you're bodies wants and desires.
What are your thoughts on prayer? Compare your prayer life to this chapter. My prayer life is tough. I'm much of a do it myself kind of person. So when I hear that things are beyond my power, I get angry. It's hard for me to constantly sit down and pray, but I just need to remember that with God nothing is impossible.
What are your thoughts on prayer? Compare your prayer life to this chapter. My prayer life is tough. I'm much of a do it myself kind of person. So when I hear that things are beyond my power, I get angry. It's hard for me to constantly sit down and pray, but I just need to remember that with God nothing is impossible.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Q & A
A. What are your thoughts on writing? (What was the last piece you wrote? Why do you write? Do you journal? Text? Post on Facebook? Win any awards in Elementary school?) Honestly, writing is not my favorite thing to do in the world. I like to express myself, but not in the art of writing. I love to text my friends. That is probably the area in my life where I write the most.
B. What are your thoughts on reading? (What was the last book you read? Did you take frequent trips to the library as a child? What is your favorite novel? Favorite children's book?) I hate reading with everything that I am! But, there comes a time in every young man's life where he finds an amazing book (Hunger Games) and just can't out it down. So to answer that question, I would say that I like to read if the book can grasp my attention.
C. What are your thoughts on technology? (What kind of hardware and software do you use? Are you a gamer? Active in social networking sites? Paranoid about identity and security?) I am a technology nerd. I love to go and sign up for the latest and greatest social networking site. Unless, you have a best friend that you have a bet with to see who can stay away from social networking sites the longest.
D. What are your thoughts on learning? (How do you best learn? Audio, visual, or kinesthetic? Do you believe in projects or book reports? Do you like tests and quizzes?) I like to learn. I like to learn a lot. Especially about things that intrest me. I am A.D.D. so a lot of things intrest me. I like to learn hands on and ears on. I'm not into the test and quizzes as much as I am into making video projects for my grade. I also love extra credit!
E. Why do you want to take this course? I want to take this course because I do want to challenge myself while still having fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)