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Screwtape Letters Analysis

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Mary Katherine Grondin
Mr. Bouton
Theology
1 July 2016
The Screwtape Letters Theology Summer Reading
1. Obviously there are many strategies of temptations described in the book. Discuss 3 that are in the book and describe how they may be applicable to you or classmates in ‘today’s society’.
C. S. Lewis’ hailed The Screwtape Letters is a novel composed of a collection of letters exchanged between two demons, Screwtape and Wormwood, throughout which Screwtape lectures his nephew Wormwood in the ways of corrupting and beguiling the human soul. Temptation toward evil is the one of the primary aspects of Lewis’ work. In the demons’ correspondence the manners in which the human soul falls into temptation are emphasized as Screwtape describes …show more content…

For this strategy Screwtape instructs Wormwood in leading his patient astray by convincing him “to estimate the value of each prayer by [his] successes in producing the desired feeling…”(Lewis 17). This type of prayer is especially dangerous because it is superficial compared to sincere, true prayer. Screwtape illustrates how even in the middle of something holy and moral like prayer, it is easy for people to deviate from the true purpose of prayer, and from God. Prayer is essential for growing spiritually, as it is a way for one to know and communicate with God. If prayer just becomes a means society relies on to achieve a certain sort of feeling the true meaning of prayer is lost. That makes the prayer about the person, not God. Screwtape tells Wormwood that this fake prayer a person prays “Keeps them watching their own minds and trying to produce feelings there by the action of their own wills” (Lewis 16). Again, the temptation in this faulty type of prayer is based on the fact that God is completely cut out! It focuses the prayer upon the person and his/her ability to manufacture the desired feelings, not letting communication with God to take place or allowing Him work in his or her life. This is how so many people in today’s society prays. Today it is essential to pray with humble sincerity, admitting that as flawed, imperfect human beings we need help from a perfect, all-loving, …show more content…

The Screwtape Letters traces one Christian’s growth in faith. What stages of faith or spiritual experiences do you think are common to most, if not all Christians. Describe at least 5 – the description in the book and its application.
The Screwtape Letters also touch upon the concept of a Christian’s faith journey. In the novel Lewis introduces five stages of one’s growth in faith, tracing experiences that are frequently encountered by most Christians.
The first experience I find is a prequel to the more easily recognizable stages of one’s growth in faith. I believe that what begins many Christians on their spiritual journey is a need for change. In recognizing that there is a sense of dissatisfaction in his or her current condition, a person accepts the necessity of change in their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual states. This reality starts a person on the path to God and faith life. Screwtape acknowledges this in his first letter when he relates the story of the atheist who began to contemplate the existence of God. As a Catholic reading this story, I feel that there was a sense of dissatisfaction in this man’s life because he didn’t believe God could be in it. I firmly believe why this man started to think about God is because ultimately God is the only one who can offer us any real satisfaction in this life. We just need to be able to turn to

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