Dienstanweisung für einen Unterteufel

Von C. S. Lewis

Unterteufel Wormwood hat den Auftrag, Mister Spike, einen jungen englischen Gentleman, auf die schiefe Bahn zu bringen. Dabei übermittelt er den Stand seiner Bemühungen regelmäßig seinem Onkel, dem höllischen Unterstaatssekretär Screwtape. In seinen 31 Briefen gibt Onkel Screwtape seinem unerfahrenen Neffen hilfreiche Dienstanweisungen, wie man die Seele des Patienten nicht durch große, spektakuläre Sünden, sondern durch Ausnutzung alltäglicher menschlicher Schwächen zur Beute der Hölle machen kann …

• Sprache: Deutsch
• Herausgeber: Brendow, J
• Erscheinungsdatum: 4. Feb. 2013
• ISBN: 9783865064271

C. S. Lewis

Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics in The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and have been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Buchvorschau

C. S. Lewis

Dienstanweisung

für einen Unterteufel

Aus dem Englischen von

Christian Rendel

Illustriert von

Thomas Georg

Brendow Verlag

Bibliografische Information Der Deutschen Bibliothek Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.ddb.de abrufbar.

© dieser Ausgabe 1995 by Brendow Verlag, D-47443 Moers

Neu übersetzte und illustrierte Ausgabe des im Herder Verlag Freiburg erschienenen Taschenbuchs »Dienstanweisung für einen Unterteufel«.

Originalausgabe: The Screwtape Letters

Published by Geoffrey Bles, London, England

© CS. Lewis Pte Ltd 1942

Übersetzt von Christian Rendel

Einbandgestaltung und Illustrationen von

Thomas Georg, Münster

1. digitale Auflage: Zeilenwert GmbH

ISBN 9783865064271

www.brendow-verlag.de

Inhalt

Cover

Titel

Impressum

Inhalt

Zitat

Vorwort

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

XIII

XIV

XV

XVI

XVII

XVIII

XIX

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XXI

XXII

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XXVII

XXVIII

XXIX

XXX

XXXI

»Das beste Mittel, den Teufel auszutreiben, wenn er der Schrift nicht weichen will, ist, ihn zu verspotten und auszulachen, denn Verachtung kann er nicht ertragen.«

Luther

»Der Teufel … der hochmütige Geist … kann es nicht ertragen, verhöhnt zu werden.«

Thomas More

Vorwort

Ich habe nicht die Absicht, zu erklären, wie der Briefwechsel, den ich hiermit der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich mache, in meine Hände geraten ist.

Es gibt zwei gleich schwere, einander entgegengesetzte Irrtümer, die wir Menschen bezüglich der Teufel begehen können. Der eine besteht darin, nicht an ihre Existenz zu glauben. Der andere ist, an sie zu glauben und ein übertriebenes und ungesundes Interesse an ihnen zu zeigen. Sie selbst freuen sich über beide Irrtümer gleichermaßen und schließen den Materialisten ebenso herzlich in die Arme wie den Geisterbeschwörer. Schriftstücke wie diejenigen, die diesem Buch zugrunde liegen, kann sich jedermann leicht verschaffen, der den Kniff heraushat. Doch Leute mit zwielichtigen Absichten oder schwachen Nerven, die davon schlechten Gebrauch machen könnten, werden ihn von mir nicht lernen.

Der Leser möge nicht vergessen, dass der Teufel ein Lügner ist. Nicht alles, was Screwtape sagt, sollte für bare Münze genommen werden, nicht einmal aus seinem eigenen Blickwinkel betrachtet. Ich habe mich nicht bemüht, irgendeines der menschlichen Wesen, von denen in den Briefen die Rede ist, zu identifizieren; allerdings halte ich es für unwahrscheinlich, dass die Schilderungen etwa des Pfarrers Spike oder der Mutter des Patienten völlig fair sind. Wunschdenken gibt es in der Hölle ebenso wie auf der Erde.

Zum Schluss sollte ich noch hinzufügen, dass kein Versuch unternommen wurde, die Briefe in eine chronologische Reihenfolge zu bringen. Nummer XVII scheint abgefasst worden zu sein, bevor die Lebensmittelrationierungen ein ernstes Ausmaß annahmen. Im Allgemeinen jedoch scheint die diabolische Datierungsweise keinerlei Bezug zur irdischen Zeitrechnung zu haben, und ich habe nicht versucht, sie wiederzugeben. Die Geschichte des europäischen Krieges scheint, soweit sie nicht hier und da auf den geistlichen Zustand eines einzigen menschlichen Wesens eingewirkt hat, für Screwtape von keinerlei Interesse gewesen zu sein.

C. S. LEWIS

Magdalen College, Oxford

5. Juli 1941

I

Mein lieber Wormwood, ich habe zur Kenntnis genommen, dass du deinen Patienten in seiner Lektüre beeinflusst und dafür sorgst, dass er viel Zeit mit seinem materialistischen Freund verbringt. Aber bist du da nicht etwas naiv? Das klingt ja, als glaubtest du, ihn durch Argumente dem Zugriff des Feindes entziehen zu können. Das wäre vielleicht noch möglich gewesen, wenn er vor ein paar Jahrhunderten gelebt hätte. Damals wussten die Menschen immer noch ziemlich genau, wann etwas bewiesen war und wann nicht; und wenn etwas bewiesen war, dann glaubten sie auch wirklich daran. Sie brachten ihr Denken noch mit ihrem Tun in Zusammenhang und waren bereit, auf Grund eines logischen Gedankenganges ihre Lebensweise zu ändern. Doch mithilfe der wöchentlichen Presse und anderer derartiger Waffen haben wir das gründlich geändert.

Dein Mann ist, seit er ein Junge war, daran gewöhnt worden, dass ihm ein Dutzend einander widersprechende Philosophien im Kopf herumtanzen. Eine Lehre betrachtet er nicht in erster Linie als »wahr« oder »falsch«, sondern als »akademisch« oder »pragmatisch« oder »fortschrittlich« oder »konventionell« oder »radikal«. Nicht Argumente, sondern Jargon ist dein bester Verbündeter, wenn es darum geht, ihn von der Kirche fern zu halten. Verschwende deine Zeit nicht damit, ihm einreden zu wollen, der Materialismus sei wahr! Rede ihm ein, er sei stark oder illusionslos oder mutig – er sei die Philosophie der Zukunft. Das sind die Dinge, die ihm wichtig sind.

Das Lästige am Argumentieren ist, dass es den ganzen Kampf auf den Boden des Feindes verlagert. Argumentieren kann er auch; in der wahrhaft pragmatischen Propaganda hingegen, von der ich spreche, hat er sich seit Jahrhunderten Unserem Vater in der Tiefe als weit unterlegen erwiesen. Schon dadurch, dass du argumentierst, weckst du die Vernunft des Patienten, und wenn die erst einmal erwacht ist, wer kann dann die Folgen absehen?

Selbst wenn dieser oder jener Gedankengang so verdreht werden kann, dass er zu unseren Gunsten endet, wirst du feststellen, dass du in deinem Patienten die fatale Gewohnheit gestärkt hast, sich mit Fragen von universaler Bedeutung zu beschäftigen und seine Aufmerksamkeit vom Strom der unmittelbaren Sinneseindrücke abzuziehen.

Deine Aufgabe ist es dagegen, seine Aufmerksamkeit genau an diesen Strom zu binden. Bring ihn dazu, ihn für »das wirkliche Leben« zu halten, und lass ihm nicht in den Sinn kommen, sich zu fragen, was er mit »wirklich« meint.

Vergiss nicht, dass er nicht reiner Geist ist wie du. Da du nie ein Mensch gewesen bist (o dieser abscheuliche Vorteil des Feindes!), kannst du nicht nachempfinden, wie sehr sie dem Druck des Alltäglichen unterworfen sind.

Ich hatte einmal einen Patienten, einen waschechten Atheisten, der regelmäßig ins Britische Museum ging, um dort zu lesen. Eines Tages, als er über seinen Büchern saß, bemerkte ich, wie ein Gedankengang in seinem Kopf in die falsche Richtung zu laufen begann. Natürlich war der Feind sofort an seiner Seite. Bevor ich wusste, wie mir geschah, sah ich das Ergebnis meiner zwanzigjährigen Mühe ins Wanken geraten. Hätte ich den Kopf verloren und eine Abwehr durch Argumente versucht, wäre ich erledigt gewesen. Aber so töricht war ich nicht.

Ich schlug sofort an der Stelle des Mannes zu, die ich am sichersten in meiner Hand hatte, und flüsterte ihm ein, es sei an der Zeit für einen kleinen Imbiss. Der Feind machte vermutlich den Gegenvorschlag (hast du auch schon bemerkt, dass man nie völlig belauschen kann, was er zu ihnen sagt?), dies hier sei wichtiger als das Mittagessen. Zumindest glaube ich, dass das seine Stoßrichtung war, denn als ich sagte: »Völlig richtig. Sogar viel zu wichtig, um es noch am Ende eines Vormittages in Angriff zu nehmen«, hellte sich das Gesicht des Patienten sichtlich auf; und als ich hinzugefügt hatte: »Es wäre viel besser, nach dem Essen zurückzukommen und sich der Sache mit frischem Geist zu widmen«, war er schon auf halbem Weg zum Ausgang. Kaum stand er auf der Straße, hatte ich die Schlacht gewonnen.

Ich zeigte ihm einen Zeitungsjungen, der die Mittagsausgabe ausrief, und einen vorbeifahrenden Bus der Linie 73, und noch bevor er die Stufen hinabgestiegen war, hatte ich ihm die unerschütterliche Überzeugung eingetrichtert, dass, was für seltsame Gedanken auch immer einem Mann durch den Kopf gehen mochten, wenn er allein über seinen Büchern hockte, eine gesunde Dosis »wirklichen Lebens« (womit er den Bus und den Zeitungsjungen meinte) genügte, um ihm vor Augen zu führen, dass »solche Dinge« einfach nicht wahr sein konnten.

Er wusste, dass er nur knapp entkommen war, und sprach in späteren Jahren gern von »jenem undefinierbaren Sinn für das Wirkliche, der unsere letzte Rettung vor den Verirrungen reiner Logik ist«. Heute haben wir ihn sicher im Haus Unseres Vaters.

Verstehst du, worauf es ankommt? Dank den Vorgängen, die wir schon vor Jahrhunderten in ihnen in Gang brachten, ist es ihnen nahezu unmöglich, an das Außergewöhnliche zu glauben, solange das Gewöhnliche ihnen vor Augen steht.

Trichtere ihm immer wieder die Gewöhnlichkeit aller Dinge ein. Vor allem aber versuche niemals, die Wissenschaften (die echten Wissenschaften, meine ich) als Abwehr gegen das Christentum zu verwenden. Die würden ihn geradezu ermutigen, über Wirklichkeiten nachzudenken, die er nicht anfassen oder sehen kann. Es hat da traurige Fälle unter modernen Physikern gegeben.

Wenn er schon in der Wissenschaft herumtappen muss, dann lenke ihn auf die Wirtschaftswissenschaft oder die Soziologie. Lass ja nicht zu, dass er sich von jenem unschätzbaren »wirklichen Leben« entfernt. Am besten jedoch wäre es, wenn du ihn gar keine wissenschaftlichen Bücher lesen ließest, sondern ihm nur das großartige allgemeine Gefühl gäbest, er wüsste über alles Bescheid und alles, was er in beiläufigen Gesprächen und oberflächlicher Lektüre aufgeschnappt habe, wären die »neuesten Forschungsergebnisse«.

Vergiss nicht, dass du dazu da bist, ihn zu verwirren. Wenn man manche von euch jungen Teufeln reden hört, könnte man meinen, unsere Aufgabe sei es, zu lehren!

Herzlichst,

Dein Onkel Screwtape

II

Mein lieber Wormwood, ich höre mit großem Missvergnügen, dass dein Patient Christ geworden ist. Gib dich nicht der Hoffnung hin, du könntest der üblichen Strafe entgehen; ja, in deinen besseren Momenten, so hoffe ich, wirst du dir das nicht einmal wünschen. Inzwischen müssen wir das Beste aus der Situation machen. Es besteht kein Grund zur Verzweiflung; schon Hunderte dieser erwachsenen Bekehrten konnten nach kurzem Aufenthalt im Lager des Feindes zurückgewonnen werden und sind nun bei uns. Sämtliche Gewohnheiten des Patienten, die geistigen wie die körperlichen, sprechen immer noch zu unseren Gunsten.

Eine unserer besten Verbündeten ist gegenwärtig die Kirche selbst. Verstehe mich nicht falsch. Ich meine damit nicht die Kirche, wie wir sie sehen, ausgebreitet durch alle Zeit und allen Raum und verwurzelt in der Ewigkeit, schrecklich wie eine Armee mit wehenden Fahnen. Die ist, wie ich bekennen muss, ein Anblick, bei dem selbst unseren kühnsten Versuchern unbehaglich wird.

Für diese Menschen jedoch ist sie glücklicherweise völlig

Rezensionen für Dienstanweisung für einen Unterteufel

[lirmac-2 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Regularly hailed as a classic of satire, The Screwtape Letters was not what I expected but none the worse for that. Ostensibly the letters are cynical and devious instructions from one devil to a subordinate, and it is from this conceit that the book derives much of its entertainment value. Edification, rather than entertainment, however, is the purpose of the book. Lewis's genius is in presenting what is essentially a series of homilies in reverse: advice on how to lure a soul to perdition. The epistolary format divides the book into manageable chunks that avoid overwhelming the reader. One great bonus in this edition is the addition of the short piece 'Screwtape Proposes a Toast', which is almost as beneficial as the entire original book.

[sarahliz2182 · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

I read this because it came with a box of other books at a garage sale or something and after a couple years of it sitting on my shelf, I was in the mood for a quick read and figured that I'd give it a try. I made it through about 2/3 of the way through and just had to stop and move on to something else. I just didn't like it. There was a few things in it that could be considered a little humorous, but generally I found my eyes glazing over way too often.

[traceymadeley · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This is Lewis’s imaginative look at the devil’s schemes. Screwtape is uncle to trainee demon Wormwood. When his charge becomes a Christian, he tells him not to worry, as the old habits, both physical and mental, have not disappeared. In relation to the church itself, the alien world of church liturgy, ritual and badly printed hymn books will act as stumbling blocks. Any newfound friends in the church, believed to be more saintly than previous friends, actually only tolerated the mistakes of newcomers to the church. In addition, a Christian wife could make life difficult if they could be persuaded to marry. Screwtape also points to the differences between men and women, where women see unselfishness as taking on the trouble of others and men by not giving trouble to others. Both regard each other as radically selfish and feel the self-righteousness of sacrifice whilst harbouring a grudge against the other for the ease with which that sacrifice has been accepted.

In terms of politics, Screwtape is happy to delude Christians into believing that faith can be used as a means to promote social justice and bring about a just world. This commits a person to the culture and values of the world they live in, rather than any spiritual cause. Thus, he undermines prayer and perseverance by suggesting that there is a physical cause for answered prayer and encourages resentment of adversity. Fear of the future keeps people in a constant pursuit of change, never content with the present.

Originally the book was written for Tolkien, but he objected to the satirical nature of such a serious subject. He worried that individuals may put the devil’s schemes into practice rather than learn from them.

[akbwrites · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Lewis could be devilishly clever when he wanted, and that may be apparent no more clearly than in this book. I marathon-read this book in two days, but I'd recommend taking it a bit slower than I did. Unfortunately, Mr Screwtape's tongue drips with honey and the way Mr Lewis writes him is joyous to read; but it is all the same exhausting to read, and, apparently, exhausting to write, if CSL's words on the matter are taken seriously. I did not read the "short story" which follows, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast," although I did start it; I was simply too tired of Mr Screwtape to continue. His wickedness had worn me thin.

C.S. Lewis's writing and wit, however, shall never wear thin. At least, not for me.

[wanderlustlover_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

While at the event for "A Christmas with C.S. Lewis," I picked this up from part of the performance and on my mother's recommendation. It's a 'wickedly' delightful collection of letters from an older demon to a younger member of his family, giving continual advice on how to achieve his seduction of the soul of a good person to getting off the primrose path.

[spoko_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

One of the funniest, most interesting books I have read in some time.

[regoodrich · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I read this book years ago and was impressed by the slyness of C.S. Lewis' demon characters. This time around I was affected as strongly. They are devious devils, and it is scary to follow their reasonings when they talk about how carefully to tempt humans into ways of reasoning and behaving that eventually lead to personal ruin. It is frightening to think we can be swayed by mere thoughts and impressions! Yet, how often it is the truth. I think C.S. Lewis does a brilliant job of demonstrating how humans can be manipulated if not self-governed by good and noble values.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

In anticipation of reading it with a group (hypothetically/someday) I'm giving this four stars. I don't think I, alone, got as much out of it as all that, though, tbh. And I admit that I found it a slow read, despite the epistolary style and the brevity.

However, there were plenty of bits I did appreciate. And, yes, I did lol a couple of times. And if I'd been reading it with other ppl around, I would have read bits to them. I do recommend it, to Christians, atheists, and others... it's full of universal ideas. (And a few ideas particular to the author's personal culture.) I found it interesting that it was written during WWII and does reference "the European War."

On humor, and its potential as a means to destroy shame:
"If a man simply lets others pay for him, he is 'mean'; if he boasts of it in a jocular manner and twits his fellows with having been scored off, he is no longer 'mean' but a comical fellow.... Cruelty is shameful--unless the cruel man can represent it as a practical joke."

On [a prediction of social media]:
"All humans... have some reluctance to think about the Enemy [God]... [as it] involves facing and intensifying a whole vague cloud of half-conscious guilt.... [and it does] cut him off more and more from all real happiness.... You can make him waste his time not only in conversation with people he likes, but in conversations with those he cares nothing about on subjects that bore him. You can make him do nothing at all for long periods."

[schmavery · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

Had the occasional briefly interesting thought but felt so unbearably smug that I wouldn’t have been able to finish the book had it been any longer.
Seems to be written for an audience who wants their confirmation bias stroked. I had hoped for more.

[castlelass · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

The Screwtape Letters is a series of diabolical letters on the moral life of an individual. The writer of the letters, Screwtape, is an eminent demon in service of Satan. He is addressing his nephew, Wormwood, a lower level minion responsible for corrupting an individual. It appears to be set in the early stages of World War II, quite possibly 1940 during the London Blitz. Published in 1942, this epistolary novel comments on the nature of sin and temptation.

The version I read also contains Screwtape Proposes a Toast, published in 1962. Set in Hell, Screwtape is toasting a group of minions that will soon be unleashed into the world to wreak havoc on the consciences of individuals. In this short story, Screwtape criticizes society’s trends toward democracy and equality.

This book is a satire from a Christian perspective. It examines human behavior in an “upside down” manner. It is clever and witty. It provides food for thought on the nature of humanity and the inner battles between good and evil.

[tikimoof · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

If I was a Christian, I think the Screwtape Letters would have meant more to me.

As it is, I read it as a lesson in "calling yourself a Christian does not mean you are a good person," or "calling yourself a Christian doesn't actually make you a Christian." Which, sure. Perhaps this was groundbreaking in the 1940's?

Lewis couldn't convince me of his other theory - that evil exists and motivates others. I believe that evil exists within people, and can very easily be expressed in small ways, even laziness, but Lewis couldn't convince me that there's an external Satan or evil force tempting everybody down that path. Which is why this falls apart for me. I can get behind the individual proofs of good and evil, I just don't buy the forces behind it.

It was a good reminder of the ways that I am not as good as I could be and how laziness and apathy can hurt others, so there's merit to the Screwtape Letters if you think of morality at all - it just wasn't groundbreaking for me. I probably should have read this as a teenager.

[andjhostet-527429 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Absolutely fascinating book by C.S. Lewis. The premise is a demon, (tempter) writing letters to his nephew (junior temptor) in order to train him on how to best convert a soul away from Christianity. It's a fascinating premise, and I can only imagine how difficult it was for Lewis to write, being an extremely devout Catholic (as you all know). There are some philosophical insights in this book that are just incredible. I do think I'd get a lot more out of it if I were religious or spiritual, but I still found it worth my time for sure. Despite being "from the perspective of a demon" you can tell this was written by someone with an extremely high regard for Christianity, there are a few descriptions of God and Christianity that just come off a little too favorable to feel like it was believably written by a demon, small gripe, but it makes me roll my eyes sometimes as feeling a little preachy (which should be expected when reading Lewis imo). That being said, it's a satire, and a pretty good one at that, that I'd recommend.

[sboehm1977 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Good read. I found myself with my highlighter out, being surprised at how much Screwtape was prevalent in today's world. scary.

[zare_3 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Last year was an eye opening to me when it comes how easily can people be manipulated. One would think manipulation is required when there is no apparent danger - trust me when I say that it does not matter and even in case of direct health threat (like last year) manipulation is used by the unscrupulous parts of society. In everlasting quest for power, forces-that-are are willing to further the suffering of the people. Why? I guess their assistants say why not! Cannot harm to create such an atmosphere that would help them remain in power. No matter the cost.

And this brings us to this book. Some say this is christian apologetic book but I can tell you that this book, funny and witty as it is, reads as a bloody manual on a psychological manipulation. Direct instructions on how to make people self-centered, how to play on that almighty emotion called fear to control them and direct them, how to make them look down on others and justify everything through the prism of me-me-me-me-and-only-me..... Manual I tell you. And dont get me started on the Toast chapter. It is incredible how some things were visible for over the 100 years now and yet people let majority of these predictions come true. Craazzyy.

In terms of the book itself author has a very sharp mind and is ready to make jokes on his own religion account (imagine that today? HA!). I had a giggle ever so often. Every letter, every instruction strikes right into the heart of the matter and I am sure that non-religious people will also recognize themselves in targets of these tempsters as little devils try to find the chinks in human armor to ensure they end up several floors below the ground (and not above).

Excellent book, highly recommended.

[kristelh_15 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

The Screwtape Letters was written by C.S.Lewis in 1942 with WW2 as the backdrop. This is a series of letters (epistolary style literary work) written by Screwtape to his young nephew, Wormwood, advising him on how to secure the soul of 'the patient'. It also contained the sequel, Screwtape Proposes a Toast in which Screwtape addressed the graduating class of tempters. This was published in 1959 and addresses the politics of the post war world. C.S.Lewis uses this satirical format to address the Christian life. Many of the chapters discuss love. Letter 19 addresses God's love for humanity. Letter 26 addresses courtship. I also very much enjoyed the letters on time, reality, music and noise. There is so much in this little book that rereading it many times would not exhaust the nuggets of truth.

[mykl8s · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This is quite a humorous book, though I believe Lewis wrote it as also a serious one.

[dinadansfriend · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

An interesting approach to a set of essays abut the difficulties of the Anglican life. Reminiscent of "A Guide to the Perplexed." I obviously had access to a reprint prior to1965.

[nagasravika.bodapati · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

The Screwtape Letters
by C.S. Lewis

#books #reviews #goodandevil

My Rating : 5/5

Not an easy read .. but nevertheless enjoyed it immensely. Each page is bristling with such raw and genuine emotion - as an imp ScrewTape in higher post guides and chides and approbates his subordinate nephew WormWood while he tries to capture a pious soul for the devil - that I was convinced I was eavesdropping on some real conversation. Also wondered if this very minute there are two such imps working on snooping on me and setting up pitfalls for my own soul to trap it .. ensnare it and keep it that way for eternity!!

Loved the character of Worm wood even though he doesn't utter a word. Loved the lovely chidings his uncle lobs at him. :)

[064-699196 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

The Screwtape Letters are marvelous. For those who do not know, they are a series of letters between a mid-level bureaucrat devil, Screwtape, and a junior "tempter". (Yes, even in Hell, they have bureaucracy.) The tempter's job is to get his "patient" into Hell. Screwtape reviews his progress and provides pointers on how this might be better accomplished. It is quite funny because the diabolical mindset is completely opposite of ours. Still, it is intended to provoke thought and to guide you in avoiding the traps of the tempter assigned to your life.

[mariealt · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I thought this was a lot of fun.

You may not agree with his conclusions, but I think Lewis does demonstrate a remarkable handle on human psychology (though he is talking of 'man'kind), and it's fun to read about regardless. If you can read it like that without agreeing with him, you might enjoy it too. Again, mostly fun in terms of the criticisms. What can I say, I'm a cynic.

And I heart ♥. :)

[harrymacdonald · Bewertung: 1 von 5 Sternen]

I was introduced to this famous book by an experienced man of letters, whom I will decline to name here without his permission. He said that it was one of the few overtly Christian works which he (a non-observant Jew) considered to be plausible, even persuasive, in its argument. This man was, for what it's worth, also the man who introduced me to the delights of Edward Gorey and Stendhal. Anyway, at the time, the praise of Lewis seemed most impressive, particularly as I was at the time exsperiencing the first stirrings of serious religious curiosity. With all due respect to my informant, the bloom was off long before I finished the book, and subsequent efforts to discover the wonder of it have merely left me wondering what all the flap is about. There doubtless are people who seriously believe that they have been brought closer to God by this book, but they are -- to borrow a phrase from a much superior writer, WC Brann -- the sort of person who could acquire a case of delirium tremens from the froth in a pop-bottle.

[hermit_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This book is written as on the premise that a purported collection of letters that has fallen into the author's hands from a senior demon, Screwtape, to a junior tempter, Wormwood. The letters are short and pithy. The apparent love of the “Enemy” (God) for his creatures is incomprehensible and contemptible. One of the fundamental insights of this work is that this Infernal Bureaucracy is founded the axiom of consume or be consumed.

The book is a humorous yet instructional quick read. Though written in the late 1800's it feels like it was just published for today's market. C.S. Lewis offers the reader numerous insights into the dynamics of spiritual life and the nature of the battles we fight or fail to resist.

[beckydouglas · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

This is a series of letters from a fairly major demon to his nephew, advising him on how to corrupt a mortal and prepare them for Hell. This particular version of Hell being a very 1940s Church of England version. I imagine not a lot changes in versions between the decades but perhaps it does between different interpretations of Christianity. I'm the wrong person to ask.

The letters reveal a good deal about Lewis's ideas about theology and he covers sex, love, pride, gluttony and war, among a few other things. The latter half of the letters take place during the Second World War and here the importance of cowardice and courage are discussed in detail. The book is very much a guide from Lewis, to Christians, on what not to do if they would like to go to Heaven.

It's engaging and thought provoking and I can see it making good material for a radio drama or a short series of podcasts. However, I think my background in the teachings of the Church of England is a bit too slim for me to have picked up on a lot of the messages there. No doubt they would be even more interesting to someone who had spent a little time with the church.

[seliz-879521 · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

I read this because it came with a box of other books at a garage sale or something and after a couple years of it sitting on my shelf, I was in the mood for a quick read and figured that I'd give it a try. I made it through about 2/3 of the way through and just had to stop and move on to something else. I just didn't like it. There was a few things in it that could be considered a little humorous, but generally I found my eyes glazing over way too often.

[razinha-1 · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

Purported as satire...the joke's on Lewis (although I did laugh a few times). I wonder if Lewis felt the weak link at the Inklings gathering.

[nx74defiant · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

How a Senior Devil Instructs a Junior Devil in the Art of Temptation

I really enjoyed this book on how simple things can be twisted to draw us away from God.

[mrslee_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Wormwood is the teacher/advisor/overlord of Screwtape. He sets out to advise Screwtape of the best way to tempt and coerce a human out of the path of living for Christ. A lovely, funny, backwards way to be inspired to look within yourself and examine your thoughts and habits to find what is behind them.

[missbrandysue · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Uncle Screwtape, high ruler of Hell and follower of his Father, the Devil, writes to his nephew as he begins to attack a soul and convert him away from Christianity. Fortunately, through the letters, we see the individual being attacked makes it into God's (The Enemy in this novel) hands.

This book was a bit tricky for me. Being a Christian I appreciated how each chapter focused on one aspect of a being's unfortunate personality traits. Though confusing at times I appreciated the theme and seeing C. S. Lewis's wit and genius in this piece.

[pondlife_1 · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

There are some good points in this book, but the letters format seems rather strained and contrived. And it's a rather of its time with lots of references to the second world war, which was at its height when this book was written.

There are some timeless truths in this book, but I think I would have got more out of it if it had been presented in a different format, and with less focus on the 1940s.

[bill5bradford · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Screwtape is definitely a Christian classic (and I would add a literature classic as well). As most know, the title character is a is a senior demon whose letters to his nephew, Wormwood, provide instructions in leading a person astray. It is amazing that Lewis's insights into human nature are just as timely now as they were when the book was first published over sixty years ago (1941). This is one of those books you can read again and again over a lifetime and pull something new from it each time it is read.