matthew94
December 29th, 2003, 5:20:23 PM
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS
BY C.S. LEWIS
“The devil…the prowde spirite…cannot endure to be mocked.” -Thomas More
Whether you believe in demons or not, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is an interesting read to say the very least. In his book, Lewis writes 31 fictional letters from one demon to another. The author of the letters, uncle Screwtape, shares advice with his demon nephew Wormwood on how to distract and discourage a young man from faith in the God of Christianity.
The book begins with the human subject starting to entertain thoughts of becoming a Christian. Despite Wormwood’s efforts and Screwtape’s advice, the human male converts to Christianity very early on in the book. But Screwtape assures his nephew that all hope is not lost. Many new converts are reclaimed for the dark side. With marked insight into the human mind, Screwtape discusses various issues and strategies of reclamation. All the while the human subject is going about life, dealing with his faith, family, friends, and world. The letters cover the following topics:
I. REASON-why Demons don’t want to use argument
II. CONVERSION-why there is still hope for demons after it
III. THE MUNDANE-how demons capitalize on the end of a spiritual high
IV. PRAYER-how it can be distorted and not be communication
V. WAR-whether demons should attempt to make men pacifists or patriots
VI. WORRY-how demons intend to cause men to focus on the future
VII. EXTREMES-how all extremes except extreme devotion to God are good
VIII. SPIRITUAL DRYNESS-how valleys are times of potential and danger
IX. SEX-how it must be distorted to be useful to demons
X. FRIENDS-friends will either lift one up or pull one down
XI. HUMOR-four kinds of humor and how demons can use them
XII. REPENTANCE-how it is to be avoided by whatever means necessary
XIII. PLEASURE-how pleasure is a bad thing unless it is distorted
XIV. PRIDE-how even humility can be turned into pride
XV. TIME-how demons want us to focus on past + future, not present + eternity
XVI. CHURCH-how church hopping is to be encouraged, and cliques are ideal
XVII. GLUTTONY-how gluttony is more than just overeating
XVIII. MARRIAGE-how demons have reversed the order of how marriage works
XIX. SATAN-why he rebelled against the enemy (God)
XX. ATTRACTION-how demons manipulate who we find attractive
XXI. STEWARDSHIP-regarding who owns our bodies, our time, our talent
XXII. NOISE-how demons hate music and silence, but love chaos
XXIII. POLITICS-how demons love when faith and politics are equated
XXIV. PRIDE-how demons want Christians to think they are better than others
XXV. CHANGE-how demons want men to depend on novelty
XXVI. SELFISHNESS-how even unselfishness can be turned into a bad thing
XXVII. TIME-how humans can’t really understand living outside of time
XXVIII. DEATH-how demons don’t always want Christians to die
XXIX. COWARDICE-how demons use fear, but handle it carefully
XXX. REALITY-how demons confuse our sense of what is real
XXXI. DEFEEAT-how demons respond to defeat
This book is a very interesting read because by the end we feel like we know this human subject very well, but in fact we have only overheard one demon corresponding about him. Perhaps this is because Lewis did such a great job at getting to the issues that real men deal with. It’s almost like we are the unnamed male being dissected.
I would highly recommend The Screwtape Letters not only to those interested in the spiritual realm, but also to anyone interested in insights into the mind of man. Lewis has a way with words and a keen understanding of what is vital. Since each letter is very short, this book can be read very quickly. On the other hand, you’ll pry want to read some specific letters a few times. It is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
BY C.S. LEWIS
“The devil…the prowde spirite…cannot endure to be mocked.” -Thomas More
Whether you believe in demons or not, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is an interesting read to say the very least. In his book, Lewis writes 31 fictional letters from one demon to another. The author of the letters, uncle Screwtape, shares advice with his demon nephew Wormwood on how to distract and discourage a young man from faith in the God of Christianity.
The book begins with the human subject starting to entertain thoughts of becoming a Christian. Despite Wormwood’s efforts and Screwtape’s advice, the human male converts to Christianity very early on in the book. But Screwtape assures his nephew that all hope is not lost. Many new converts are reclaimed for the dark side. With marked insight into the human mind, Screwtape discusses various issues and strategies of reclamation. All the while the human subject is going about life, dealing with his faith, family, friends, and world. The letters cover the following topics:
I. REASON-why Demons don’t want to use argument
II. CONVERSION-why there is still hope for demons after it
III. THE MUNDANE-how demons capitalize on the end of a spiritual high
IV. PRAYER-how it can be distorted and not be communication
V. WAR-whether demons should attempt to make men pacifists or patriots
VI. WORRY-how demons intend to cause men to focus on the future
VII. EXTREMES-how all extremes except extreme devotion to God are good
VIII. SPIRITUAL DRYNESS-how valleys are times of potential and danger
IX. SEX-how it must be distorted to be useful to demons
X. FRIENDS-friends will either lift one up or pull one down
XI. HUMOR-four kinds of humor and how demons can use them
XII. REPENTANCE-how it is to be avoided by whatever means necessary
XIII. PLEASURE-how pleasure is a bad thing unless it is distorted
XIV. PRIDE-how even humility can be turned into pride
XV. TIME-how demons want us to focus on past + future, not present + eternity
XVI. CHURCH-how church hopping is to be encouraged, and cliques are ideal
XVII. GLUTTONY-how gluttony is more than just overeating
XVIII. MARRIAGE-how demons have reversed the order of how marriage works
XIX. SATAN-why he rebelled against the enemy (God)
XX. ATTRACTION-how demons manipulate who we find attractive
XXI. STEWARDSHIP-regarding who owns our bodies, our time, our talent
XXII. NOISE-how demons hate music and silence, but love chaos
XXIII. POLITICS-how demons love when faith and politics are equated
XXIV. PRIDE-how demons want Christians to think they are better than others
XXV. CHANGE-how demons want men to depend on novelty
XXVI. SELFISHNESS-how even unselfishness can be turned into a bad thing
XXVII. TIME-how humans can’t really understand living outside of time
XXVIII. DEATH-how demons don’t always want Christians to die
XXIX. COWARDICE-how demons use fear, but handle it carefully
XXX. REALITY-how demons confuse our sense of what is real
XXXI. DEFEEAT-how demons respond to defeat
This book is a very interesting read because by the end we feel like we know this human subject very well, but in fact we have only overheard one demon corresponding about him. Perhaps this is because Lewis did such a great job at getting to the issues that real men deal with. It’s almost like we are the unnamed male being dissected.
I would highly recommend The Screwtape Letters not only to those interested in the spiritual realm, but also to anyone interested in insights into the mind of man. Lewis has a way with words and a keen understanding of what is vital. Since each letter is very short, this book can be read very quickly. On the other hand, you’ll pry want to read some specific letters a few times. It is both entertaining and thought-provoking.