The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the most popular
Christian writers of the last century. He was the author of the Chronicles of
Narnia, now in theaters.
His Screwtape Letters is a satirical collection of
letters from a highly placed demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, Worm-wood, a
novice demon sent to tempt a newly converted Christian.
In a series of letters, Screwtape advises Wormwood on how to
undermine the faith of his "patient," and thus reclaim him from the "Enemy"
(God).
Each letter is a beautifully crafted description of how the
forces of evil seek to subvert a redeemed humanity, turning them into beings
that oppose God and reject his offer of reconciliation.
The correspondence between Screwtape and Wormwood is
brilliant in its reverse theology as it explores the subtleties of temptation
and the motives of the tempter: fear of punishment and the need to dominate.
Lewis shows the goal of the Creator as well: to bring
humanity to himself; to transform us by his grace from "tools into servants and
servants into sons."
Although written more than 60 years ago, The Screwtape
Letters continues to attract thousands of new readers each year.
Terry Akers