4.12.2011

Title Tuesday: The Screwtape Letters

This week's Title Tuesday is The Screwtape Letters  by C.S. Lewis. 
I just finished the book this weekend after Taylor had recommended it. 


The Screwtape Letters was first published as a book in 1942.
Wiki Summary:
In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis provides a series of lessons in the importance of taking a deliberate role in living out Christian faith by portraying a typical human life, with all its temptations and failings, as seen from devils' viewpoints. Screwtape holds an administrative post in the bureaucracy ("Lowerarchy") of Hell, and acts as a mentor to Wormwood, the inexperienced tempter. In the body of the thirty-one letters which make up the book, Screwtape gives Wormwood detailed advice on various methods of undermining faith and promoting sin in the Patient, interspersed with observations on human nature and Christian doctrine. Wormwood and Screwtape live in a peculiarly morally reversed world, where individual benefit and greed are seen as the greatest good, and neither demon is capable of comprehending or acknowledging true human virtue when he sees it.

I loved reading this. The style of the story really allows you to see the a different perspective on religion. I really enjoyed the way Lewis used letters to tell his story, I'm a big fan of unusual narratives. 

Here's a sneak peek:
"Of course a war is entertaining. The immediate fear and suffering of the humans is a legitimate and pleasing refreshment for our myriads of toiling workers. But what permanent good does it do us unless we make use of it for bringing souls to Our Father Below? When I see the temporal suffering of humans who finally escape us, I feel as if I had been allowed to taste the first course of a rich banquet and then denied all the rest. It is worse than not to have tasted it at all. The Enemy, true to His barbarous methods of warfare, allows us to see the short misery of His favourites only to tantalize and torment us — to mock the incessant hunger, which, during this present phase of great conflict, His blockade is admittedly imposing." -C.S. Lewis

1 comment:

Ashley Ziegler said...

Such a good book right!?!? I loved it!!! I read it last summer