Pleasures

The book Screwtape Letters is from the immagination of C.S. Lewis.  But, that man had a stong understanding of theology, and I think he touched on some profound truths.

 

In that book, Lewis immagins a senior demon, Screwtape, teaching his apprentice demon, Wormwood, how to be a good tempter and lead people away from "the enemy", God.  I thought this quote from the book would be a good follow up to my sermon this past sunday on sex.  Screwtape addresses Wormwood about pleasures and say, “Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy, normal, and satisfying form, we are in a sense on the enemies (God’s) ground. I know we have won many a souls through pleasure, but 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 partake of the pleasures which enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees which he (God) 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 reflective of its maker, and least pleasurable. To get the fellow’s soul and give him nothing in return, that is what really gladdens our father’s (Satan) heart.”