The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Screwtape Letters
Book Review: The Great Christian Imagination at Work.
Summary: 5 Stars
C.S. Lewis could have refrained from writing this grand look at the war of the spirit. He could have followed the line so many cozy Christian authors have pursued throughout the 20th and 21st centuries and maintained the semblance of normality with an emphasis on inhibiting the imagination. He, like Tolkien, O'Connor and others, however, did not do that and opened up a flood-gate of raw wit, poetic imagery and an honest look on the war of the spirit-realm.
I remember first reading this bizarre but delightful look on spiritual warfare as a twelve-year-old. It's theme and message resound to me now the same way they did then - that the world of the spirit is very real, although we may not see it, and our spiritual enemy is a very tenacious and focused one. Lewis uses both humor and horror to convey these messages and their affect is a lasting one.
I highly recommend The Screwtape Letters to anyone wanting to find a hodgepodge of Lewis' imaginative work in process. Still a very relevant look on spiritual warfare from the perspective of a demon and his nephew as they collectively work together to try to keep a lost soul lost. This book exemplifies Lewis' range as a creative mind, and without it, it might be safe to assume that the Peretti's of the world would not have become what they are now.
Book Review: An original, humorous account of triumph over temptation!
Summary: 5 Stars
I received this book as a Christmas gift from a friend at work, and I loved it. It's a humorous tale of an experienced devil (Screwtape) and his inexperienced nephew (Wormwood), who are trying to secure the damnation of a young man. Fortunately, they fail.
The book is a series of letters from Screwtape to Wormwood, telling him how to tempt the young man (e.g. by appealing to his pride, by confusing him, through sexual temptation, etc.) God is referred to as "The Enemy" and the devil is referred to as "Our Father Below," so the reader must interpret what is called good as bad and bad as good, since it's from the perspective of the devil.
For instance, at one point, Screwtape notes, "To us a human is primarily food; our aim is the absorption of its will into ours, the increase of our own area of selfhood at its expense. But the obedience which the Enemy demands of men is quite a different thing. One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself...We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons."
It's a thought-provoking book that forces you to take a look at your own life and determine whether you are living it in the way God intended.
Book Review: Screwtape Letters
Summary: 5 Stars
This is just great for the novice who has not studied the concept of spiritual warfare. It is a unique perspective from a trusted and knowledgable scholar.Book Review: A clever concept. A bit idealistic.
Summary: 4 Stars
This Christian/fantasy tale involves the behind the scenes activities as an old demon (Screwtape) corresponds with and mentors his nephew (Wormwood) regarding the monitoring, temptation, and spoiling of a new and growing Christian young man.
It's an unarguably unique and clever concept. Regarding the non-fictional material here, Lewis accurately considers the general stages of, and the pitfalls of, the Christian re-birth and growth.
My only negative comment is that I found that the "upward progess" of the new Christian subject came perhaps a bit too easily, simply, and predictably. In my experience and observation as a long time "follower of Jesus" . . . it's been much more complex, more difficut, and more "tricky" than Lewis portrays it here. For all of us.
Still, an entertaining and spiritually worthwhile read.
Book Review: Should be annexed to the Bible.
Summary: 5 Stars
I dont mean what I say in the title literally of course (heresy averted). I simply mean to say that this book is a must read for the following simple reason:
If you know your enemy (via the Screwtape Letters) and yourself (via prayer and the Bible) you will win the battle everytime.