Johnson will do whatever he thinks God wants him to do. This actually means Johnson's God will tell him to do what Johnson wants to do. Gotta love that kind of god....which Johnson surely does seem to do.
Johnson will do whatever he thinks God wants him to do. This actually means Johnson's God will tell him to do what Johnson wants to do. Gotta love that kind of god....which Johnson surely does seem to do.
"Do not fail to use the patientтАЩs religion against him. Tell him that the Old Man would not be where he is were it not the will of the Enemy.
"Now, that this last point is so ridiculous that it could blow up in your face if you do not handle it with great care. A moment of sober consideration will reveal it to be utter twaddle. (After all, what human beings think their opponents are appointed by the Enemy Himself?)
"Because this is such fragile nonsense, you must plant the idea quickly and then just as swiftly prevent your patient from examining the logical contradiction at its core. Instead, impress upon him that he can and should serve the Old Man as a way of serving the Enemy. Convincing humans to do evil in the name of the Enemy is still one of our finest maneuvers, and you will find it highly enjoyable."
Really appreciate these references to Tom's variation on Screwtape Letters, which I thought was really well done. The original Screwtape Letters is perennially and stingingly relevant. Lewis said it was both one of the easiest things and least pleasant things to write that he ever did.
Johnson will do whatever he thinks God wants him to do. This actually means Johnson's God will tell him to do what Johnson wants to do. Gotta love that kind of god....which Johnson surely does seem to do.
From Tom Nichols' take on The Screwtape Letters:
"Do not fail to use the patientтАЩs religion against him. Tell him that the Old Man would not be where he is were it not the will of the Enemy.
"Now, that this last point is so ridiculous that it could blow up in your face if you do not handle it with great care. A moment of sober consideration will reveal it to be utter twaddle. (After all, what human beings think their opponents are appointed by the Enemy Himself?)
"Because this is such fragile nonsense, you must plant the idea quickly and then just as swiftly prevent your patient from examining the logical contradiction at its core. Instead, impress upon him that he can and should serve the Old Man as a way of serving the Enemy. Convincing humans to do evil in the name of the Enemy is still one of our finest maneuvers, and you will find it highly enjoyable."
Really appreciate these references to Tom's variation on Screwtape Letters, which I thought was really well done. The original Screwtape Letters is perennially and stingingly relevant. Lewis said it was both one of the easiest things and least pleasant things to write that he ever did.
Yeah, I imagine getting to Screwtape's headspace is a dark place to be. At the same time, it's such a fascinating read.
I think the phrase Lewis used was "spiritual cramp."
This is from part 7 of Nichols' series. The link for that is here.
https://www.thebulwark.com/the-screwtape-letters-part-7/
The whole series is here:
https://www.thebulwark.com/tag/screwtape/
I had no idea that was on the Bulwark!
Best part of the Bulwark commentariat: the reading recommendations
Worst part of the Bulwark commentariat: keeping up with the reading recommendations
And by Johnson's God you mean TFG, right?
TFG is the son of Johnson's god.