I have always been profoundly interested in C.S Lewis' work "The Screwtape Letters". It is an amazing book about how a uncle demon (Screwtape) writes letters to his nephew demon (Wormwood) about how to draw his patient (a man) away from the Enemy (which is God from the demons perspective) and ultimately into Hell. I after reading C.S Lewis’ literature combined with a growing interest in writing started in the fall of 2024. For 3 months I wrote journal entries, reflections, poems, and simply wrote as I felt led. Through communion of the Holy Spirit, friends and family I threw together a book.
After this, I did not write for quite some time. However during this time and after I was leading a book study of the Screwtape Letters and in doing so had to come up with the study material. This included questions, answers, intriguing and profound thoughts, nuance, and it prepped me to think in a way I have not thought before - what Screwtape would write about me if he were writing letters to my demon(s). In this, I would be constantly thinking and interacting with the things around me in a whole new way. A frequently asked question in the study I led was “how would your demon do this” or “what would Uncle Screwtape say about you in this area of your life?”.
Out of a passion for reading and writing I started to write my own ‘Screwtape letters’ and received positive feedback. I found interest in possibly writing a book with letters written from my life as C.S. Lewis did, but I felt the desire to share these writings without publishing a book (that can cost a lot of time and a lot of money). Later on in the week a friend at church mentioned this app to me which a friend of ours had started writing articles on. I was quite intrigued by the thought of it and felt it was a good way to spread your own thoughts, ideas, passions, and materials. And so with that I have decided to write “My Screwtape Letters” and will be posting them on this page.
I understand some will not like this, and that’s fine. Before you even consider my thoughts, I would highly suggest reading C.S. Lewis’ book(s). My thoughts are ultimately inspired by his style of writing, and I do not intend on plagiarizing any of his writings as my own. “My Screwtape Letters” will be inspired by my own life and journey with the Lord, past and present, and what I believe Uncle Screwtape would write about me. I have changed Wormwood’s name and have named my own demon, because it’s fun to be creative, but have kept Uncle Screwtape’s name. I give full credit to C.S. Lewis. This is his idea, and I am only following in an inspiration I feel the Lord has put on my heart, because of an author I deeply, deeply admire.
I believe this is a beautiful way to think critically about the schemes of the enemy and how the enemy goes about tricking us and drawing us away from God. I believe this is a way we can ‘reverse engineer’ our thinking. We as believers and followers of Christ (along with many other things) focus on relationship with God (James 4:8) and how to build ourselves up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). What better way to do this than to expose the enemy of his tricks through personal reflection, conviction (with the help and authority of the Holy Spirit), and sharing those ideas with the world.
What would Uncle Screwtape write about you? What if you wrote your own Screwtape Letters?
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.
-Charles Baudelaire
#pleasedontcancelme
I’m intrigued!
Excited to hear more of your story though your own rendition of The Screw-Tape Letters!