"epic" poem/allegory of Genesis 2-3 1. From Chapter I, discuss how Satan might have felt
waiting outside the garden on the day that God breathed life into man. Discuss Miller's portrayal of Satan on that day, and his conversation with God. What do you learn about Satan's character? How is it the same as or
different from Lewis' Screwtape?
2. From Chapter II ff.., discuss the importance of man worshipping God, according to Miller. In what ways do we, and can we, worship God today?
3. From Chapter III (p. 20 & 26), discuss the difference between the philosophy "I touch, therefore I am" (Tango ergo sum), versus the philosophy of Descartes, "I think
, therefore I am" (Cognito ergo sum). Which one do you believe is more important to man's spiritual well-being? Explain.
4. From Chapters IV & V, what was the purpose of God's gift of "love's full
ecstasy" to Regis and Regina? What did Satan predict man would do with this gift? Today we live in a culture that believes lust and love are one and the same thing. How does this perversion affect our understanding
of God's love and our desire to worship Him?
5. From Chapter VI, explain what Miller means when he says, "All being bears a weight/Proportioned to its size." What was God's burden when He created man
to choose, and what is man's burden when he makes choices?
6. From Chapter VII, discuss the difference between the "power of love" as taught by God, versus "the love of power" as encouraged by
Satan. How is love like power's opposite, humility, and how is knowledge, power?
7. From Chapter VIII, explain what Miller means when he says, "Love smiles./Hate grins." Also, what is it that Satan
tells Regina about clothes? Discuss the truth in what he says (p.60). Has there ever been a time when this was not true except for in the Garden of Eden?
8. From Chapter IX & X, Satan poisons Regina's imagination
with a lust for power, for beauty, for wealth, and for him! He promises that he will give her all of these things if she will call love, hate. Miller calls this the greatest sin. Explain. How is it that we do this?
Recall Chapter XVIII (p. 114) when she begins to question God's decisions. According to Miller, what should man do to avoid this?
9. From Chapters XII & XIII, God placed a spade and a hoe under the morning tree,
while Satan placed a crown and a mirror under the sunset tree. Discuss the sin of vanity and its results. How does your own vanity cause you to sin? Discuss in what ways work might be the opposite of vanity. Discuss how
it became easier for Satan to appeal to Regina once she had more self-awareness, or vanity.
10. From Chapter XIV, discuss how it is that hate comes easier than love, or is this one of Satan's lies?
11. From Chapter
XV, both Regis and Regina ask God to remove Satan from the garden, but God tells them that he is there only by their request: "He came here at your will./He will go of his accord/When you desire him gone" (p.
100). They denied this saying that they had never asked him in this place. God reminds them that what they harbor in their hearts their tongues would scorn to speak aloud." How often in our hearts do we call
on Satan to enter our lives, even though we would deny that we do? What might be an example of this?
12. From Chapters XVI - XIX, discuss the effect that spending time with Satan has on Regina. The Biblical account
never relates how long it took Satan to convince Eve to eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. How long do you think it might have taken someone who walked and talked with God so regularly?
How long do you think it might have taken you? Why?
13. From Chapter XX, discuss Satan's explanation as to why Regis would eat the forbidden fruit after he finds out that Regina has eaten it: "He will not permit
in you/What he does not find within himself." Is there any truth to this in terms of how we choose mates for ourselves? Why do you think Satan might have spent so much time with Regina (Eve), and less with
Regis (Adam)? What was her weakness that made her find Satan so appealing?
14. From Chapters XIX and XX, Satan tells Regina that in disobedience there is often ecstasy and exhilaration, and after eating the forbidden
fruit she felt this ecstasy, though for only a moment, until she suddenly felt both alone and naked, which she knew to be God's judgment. Discuss why it is that committing a sin can be so exhilarating, and what it means
to be "alone" and "naked."
15. Chapter XXI is Regina's lament, or her requiem for love. A "Requiem" is a song for the dead. Why is this such a fitting title for this work?
16.
From Chapter XXII, one thing this work does is make it more understandable as to why Adam ate the forbidden fruit. Discuss Miller's interpretation of the choice that lay before Regis. Why did he choose his wife instead
of his Father? What choice do you think you would have made? What choice do you think your spouse would make? Have you ever been tempted to "fall short" when a loved one has? Discuss a situation when this
might be a particularly difficult temptation.
17. In Chapter XXIII the World-Hater mocks the Earthmaker for what His creation has done by being allowed to choose. He says that "Now they hate so far only me/But
soon perhaps each other/And, oh, the glorious hate of all their descendants." While their fallenness delights Satan, God still feels love, and thus gives them both reassurance. Do you see the story (of Adam and
Eve) as a happy one or as a tragedy? Explain.
18. Do you like what Calvin Miller has done to the story of Adam and Eve from Genesis, or not? What would you change about it if you were writing it? What would you
particularly want to keep? Explain both answers
