The Screwtape Letters

I recently read the book The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.  It was an excellent book, and I really enjoyed it.  In it, a devil leader is sending letters to an underling devil, his nephew.  During these letters, he describes different ways and tactics to get people to do bad things.  I was typing up this list for my dad, and, since I didn’t want to do another blog, it’s getting posted.  

The Devil’s Tactics, as discussed in
The Screwtape Letters

1. Do not show things as true or false.  They can be practical or silly, but should not be seen for what they really are.

1. Distract with the senses. Cause men to remember their lunch or how tired they are.  While at church, have them concentrate on how bad someone smells or how ugly his or her clothes are.  

1. Do not allow men realize truths about the Church.  If they don’t realize that it is an eternal thing, they can be led to believe incorrect things.  They can also feel that it is true or not depending on if they think of the preacher or if they like others in the congregation.

1. Encourage hard work at the beginning, but allow it to die out.  Cause men to work hard, to the point that they become exhausted, burned out, and eventually gives up.

1. “The Enemy” loves men, so he will allow us to struggle and learn to support themselves.  Since He loves them, He allows them to learn.  People sometimes feel abandoned while this is happening, but they are really just being tested to see whether they will remain true.

1. Cause little differences to become big problems.  Make habits that aren’t usually noticed stick out, which will cause men to become peevish and annoyed with each other.  Relationships that usually are strong, such as a mother and son, can be ruined by needless picking.

1. Draw the mind inward.  If people are selfish, they will not care about others and will get farther and farther from “The Enemy.”

1. Make prayers becoming wordy, without having great meaning.  Have men pray for the “state of someone’s soul” and distract them from other things, such as their health and general well being.  This can cause people to become detached, being able to pray for someone, without really meaning it.  Cause them to ignore what is really important in their lives.  While they are praying, instead of asking for something, make them think they are asking for it, while really they are just asking to try to “feel it.”

1. Cause men not to think about what they’re saying and to say things that are truly hurtful.  The worst kind of these words are the ones that look fine written on paper, but when they are said, they cause at least as much pain as being physically hit.

1. Bring past misconceptions to memory.  Remind men of how silly their prayers were before, such as during childhood, and make them wonder if it really is doing anything more now.

1. It is easy to distract from “The Enemy” when the mind is filled with fear and doubt.  During times of difficulties, it is easy to cause distraction because fear begins to preoccupy the mind.  Especially during war, turn thoughts away from peace and hope, concentrating them on fear, instability, and hatred.

1. Hatred can be used to cause bitterness and resentfulness, even when the target of this hatred is not the real reason for this.  When someone comes in contact with a problem, it natural to try and blame it on someone else.  The thought that things have been caused by other people or groups can bring feelings of hatred.  If allowed to grow, this hatred can be used to cause people do not awful things, in the name of “revenge.”

1. Be aware of people’s soft sides and discourage it.  People can think that they have strong feelings against someone, but these are not always realistic and can be ruined by acts of kindness.  “These are creatures of that miserable sort who loudly proclaim that torture is too good for their enemies and then give tea… to the first wounded [one]… who turns up at the back door (Lewis, 27)”.

1. Misdirect feelings.  There is both malice and benevolence in every soul.  Cause the malice to be brought forward to his neighbors and close associates, since he is often in contact with them, and cause the kindness and charitableness to be given and felt towards those poor souls who are suffering far away, of which they will never come meet.

    

Just a couple notes, in case you found some of this confusing:  this was written like it would be from the devil’s perspective and “The Enemy” is God.   This is also just information from the first seven chapters, out of 31, so I may be writing more on this topic later.