Screwtape Revisited
American Thinker,
by
Deana Chadwell
Original Article
Posted By: tisHimself,
3/15/2020 8:06:09 AM
Remember C. S. Lewis’ great novel The Screwtape Letters? As a senior demon, Screwtape writes mentoring letters to his nephew instructing him in the ways of screwing up (pun intended) human beings. Uncle Screwtape writes calm, encouraging missives to poor Wormwood. Such tutoring must be trickier these days -- evil has come so far, and yet human beings still keep fighting back. The demonic board of directors must be grasping at tridents as time keeps getting shorter.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
spacer 3/15/2020 9:02:26 AM (No. 346871)
Good article. None of this would be in the news had Trump lost, had America lost. The battle is now joined. The template for our fight is right in front of us. We have to take it to our centuries old enemies. With President Trump, as the flag bearer, we will win.
13 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
The Remnants 3/15/2020 9:43:52 AM (No. 346920)
If your have never read C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, this column is a great introduction. Ms. Chadwell does a super job of capturing the book's essence. Loved it when I read it and will read it again because Lewis makes you aware of what's really going on all around us, and he makes you smile while he does it. Great author. Interesting life.
Apropos of our present culture, I was wondering lately how job interviewers determine whether or not the interviewee has any problem with lying, as there seems to be so many jobs, professions, whatever, today where an integral part of the work day is the ability to lie. Old Screwtape must love it - - can't ever let truth get in the way of a job well done.
11 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Bluefindad 3/15/2020 9:56:45 AM (No. 346938)
In Genesis 3:4 the serpent tempts Eve by telling her that essentially, she will become a god. Satan's approach has never changed. He whispers in our ear that our will and desire is paramount, and that God must recede as me-god grows!
5 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Kate318 3/15/2020 10:04:32 AM (No. 346948)
Thanks OP, and fellow LDotters, for this. I was just praying this morning about the evil running rampant in the world. Nice to know I’m not alone.
15 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
TLCary 3/15/2020 10:04:51 AM (No. 346950)
Now, cover "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" by Kipling.
Lewis, Kipling, Rand, etc. nailed it all too perfectly generations ago for this to be "situational". No, this is the grand-struggle and we have been losing by increments.
I'm searching for a new strategy. If we work hard and are very lucky win we might hold the line for a while. That's not winning; just postponing losing. And, we have to win this. They knew that generations ago.
10 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Flyball Dogs 3/15/2020 10:40:05 AM (No. 346986)
Agree with all.
Max McLean’s play version of SL is one of the most arresting events I have witnessed.
He plays Screwtape, writing to Wormwood. There is an adjunct demon on stage who is his assistant.
At one point in the play, Screwtape talks about prayer, and this causes the demon to vomit. Quite the visual of our ability to approach The Throne of Grace and be heard.
If this play comes to a theater near you, it is a must see.
Thanks, OP, for posting.
10 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
panther361 3/15/2020 12:10:25 PM (No. 347071)
Note to #5, you are never alone.
7 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Penney 3/15/2020 1:08:03 PM (No. 347137)
This is a Must Read on this National Day of Prayer!
7 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
LesUNo 3/15/2020 2:13:24 PM (No. 347211)
Thank you for posting. A course on C.S. Lewis will change your life. I know.
Great article.
7 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
columba 3/15/2020 2:28:40 PM (No. 347223)
Ar Matins this AM at the local Orthodox parish, Screwtape was not allowed. We talked only to the real God.
1 person likes this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Timber Queen 3/15/2020 6:10:27 PM (No. 347415)
In 1884 Pope Leo XIII had a vision of God talking with Satan. Lucifer wanted 100 years of free reign to destroy the Catholic Church. God gave him his choice, and Satan chose the 20th century. Pope Leo never made a public statement about the vision, however the cardinals that found him unresponsive on the floor reported, “…no pulse…and the Holy Father was feared dead (and then) suddenly, Pope Leo awoke and said, ‘What a horrible picture I was permitted to see!” He also said, “…in the midst of the horror [of the vision] the Archangel St. Michael appeared and cast Satan and his legions into the abyss of hell.’”
This can be a troubling conversation to contemplate. Pure Good in dialogue with pure evil. But this is not without precedent; God conversed with Lucifer in the story of Job with the same result. Job was tested mightily.
In response to the vision Pope Leo composed the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, “…defend us battle and be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits that prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.” He ordered the prayer to be recited at the end of each Lower Mass. Pope Paul VI discontinued the rite in 1968. Our bishop has reinstated it for our diocese.
Pope Leo was already aware of the dangers emerging through Marxist philosophy. As early as 1878 he attacked the fundamental error of Socialism. In 1891, “Rerum Novarum” set out Christian principles on the relationship between capital and labor.
We are in a time of great evil and it is a time permitted by God. We are being called to join the Great Battle and our first century Christian brothers and sisters should be our examples. Take note, gentle friends, Satan’s century is over. The mop-up isn’t going to be easy or pleasant, but we are called to be faithful prayer warriors and publicly confront and rebuke evil. God is at work in the world, and President Trump is His builder.
5 people like this.
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