A milestone in the history of popular theology, The Screwtape Letters is an iconic classic on spiritual warfare and the dynamics of temptation.
This profound and striking narrative takes the form of a series of letters from Screwtape, a devil high in the Infernal Civil Service, to his nephew Wormwood, a junior colleague engaged in his first mission on earth, trying to secure the damnation of a … the damnation of a young man who has just become a Christian. Although the young man initially looks to be a willing victim, he changes his ways and is “lost” to the young devil.
Dedicated to Lewis’s friend and colleague J. R. R. Tolkien, The Screwtape Letters is a timeless classic on spiritual conflict and the psychology of temptation which are part of our religious experience.
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Insightful!
Such a contemplative book. It makes you stop and think about all the subtle attacks on the Christian mind and life. Attacks we don’t even realize. Satan’s minions are shrewd. The whole time I was reading, in the back of my mind was a verse from Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” : “Though devils all the world should fill / All eager to devour us / We tremble not, we fear no ill / They shall not overpow’r us / This world’s prince may still / Scowl fierce as he will / He can harm us none / He’s judged, the deed is done / One little word can fell him”
This book is about a demon that services “Our Father Below” who is writing letters to his nephew, Wormwood, about how to lead a Christian astray. Since the book is written from a demon’s perspective, the reader has to reverse everything he says about Christianity. Screwtape shows how demonic acts can be cleverly disguised to lead a faltering human to continue bad acts without feeling any guilt that he is doing something wrong.
This book was okay. It got about 1000 five star reviews on Amazon, but I don’t see the real draw to it. I think it would have made a better audio book. I think that the letters from Screwtape were too wordy to make the book as enjoyable as it should have been, and I think I might try it again in the future as an audio book. There were some enjoyable parts, but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as many of the other reviewers did.
It is hard to recommend this book based on me having a hard time getting through it. It is very short – at around 200 pages – and only took me a day and a half to finish it. I just couldn’t get into it.
The Screwtape Letters was the first book from author CS Lewis that I read. While he is clearly one of my favorite Christian writers, this book is for mature believers. In this book Lewis allows us to be drawn into the machinations of evil itself; it’s plans, traps, short and long term efforts, and its ability to insidiously infect one’s soul.
GREAT BOOK! MOST READ!
Very interesting read. If you are at all religious or spiritual it really makes you think about your spiritual struggles.
This was one of the most thought provoking spiritual books I have ever read. It presents the concepts of spiritual warfare and evil in the world in a different context that gives one pause.
By far, the most original work on spiritual warfare ever written.
Take a look at temptation from the other side as we see the letters that Screwtape, a senior demon, writes to his nephew and first time tempter Wormwood. Wormwood’s assignment is a new Christian, and he tries to use family life, World War II, and even a new love to turn the Patient away from Jesus. Will it work?
Keeping in mind that these are fictional letters, there is still much to chew on as we see how the enemy can twist anything and everything against us. The subtly employed is incredible and rings true. While some references can be dated (the book was published in 1941), Lewis’s view on how our society would progress is spot on scary. About my only real issue is that he appears to be espousing the view that a Christian can lose their salvation, something I disagree with theologically. Read it with discernment, but by all means read it.
C. S. Lewis pours it on in this book that are letters written by Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood. This is an eye-opening statement on the power of darkness.
Interesting. Not my favorite by the author. But, good to read. Different perspective, for sure.