PuzzleGlum
New member
Why should Lewis get all the fun (though I use the term "fun" very loosely)? Based on C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters."
This "story" is one I feel I wanted to write as a means of personal reflection and bettering myself. Advice of all types (whether literary or theologically) are accepted.
******
This letter is from Palegrit, a demon that resides in lower Hell, to my tempter Hailblud. I cannot say when it was written. It could have been from years ago, or could have been yesterday.
My dear Hailblud,
Looking over your progress, I have seen that you have been working hard on your patient since the last time you've written to me, and while your patient still subscribes to the Enemy's camp, I can see you chipping away at his defense.
I note that in your last letter, you have written that your patient is continuously praying for salvation from a sin he has continued to commit. Do not think that for a moment that this request for forgiveness is necessarily a bad thing to our cause. Though any prayer for repentance is poison, if performed right, you should be able to turn him away from the Enemy without him even knowing.
My advise for the present moment is this: keep your patient focused on that sin, and as few others as possible. What your patient seems to forget is that people commit many sins every day. Whatever you do, don't let your patient figure this out. What we want him to think is something along the lines of "If it wasn't for this sin, I would be 'good'."
This is a useful strategy because it not only leads your patient to commit more sins, it keeps them from repenting of those sins! When he focuses on one of them, the (many) others that he has will be thrown to the side, and, if you are lucky, quickly forgotten. It is like a student focusing their attention on passing a history course because it is their worst subject, and ignoring all other courses, despite them being just as bad.
In your last letter, you also stated that your patient has committed those sins over and over, and continues to ask for forgiveness. What do you mean by telling me this? Do you wish my advice? If that is so, your training, I'm afraid, must have been very poor, and I will have to write to your alma mater regarding that matter.
Nevertheless, you have succeed in making the first step. I see that you have isolated him, making him think that he is alone with this problem. Remember, the filthy vermin known as people are "social" creatures. They rely on each other for support. I applaud you efforts in making him feel alone, for this will make him even easier to manipulate. If possible, make him question his salvation. Make him think, "I cannot be a Christian because I am still sinning." While at the surface, this strategy does not work, built upon a foundation of isolation, it can become a powerful tool in your arsenal.
My associates have informed me that your patient is friends with many modernists and the like. While this could be a good thing in time, for now, your patient seems to be strong in faith. In fact, you describe him as wanting to bring them over to the Enemy. However, you can also use this opportunity to trap him.
Despite popular belief, you should encourage your patient that he is a Christian, and as such, should be a beacon to the world. The ironic thing is that is just wants the Enemy wants. He wants his "children" to be examples of Christendom. But quickly change what an "example" is. Mention any noble characteristics which your patient feels he has a lack of, charity, nobility, but especially sinlessness! Don't make it complete sinlessness, for even those with a basic trust in the Enemy will know that this is impossible, but a "relative" sinlessness. Talking only about a part of the truth can be just as dangerous as a lie. And here in lies your advantage.
Without your patient knowing, always make "relative" moral behavior one step higher that he is; an unobtainable goal. He should be ashamed of the fact that he sins all of the time. But the final blow, the snapping of the trap, comes next.
Because your patient commits sins, and feels he should should be a sign of Christendom (i.e. without sin), the next step you must perform is to make him think that to be a Christian, he must keep his sins bottled inside of him! That will be the delicious fruit of your labor. Keep his vice bottled up inside him. Make him think that announcing his sins would be a tragedy, for if he does, the materialist friends that look at him for a Christian example will be disillusioned. In this way, he makes himself a hero. He, at the sacrifice of himself, will save others. This image as him, as a Hercules or Arthur must be in his mind. He will feel he is acting like a noble man.
However, I must warn you that there is a way out for your patient. Remember, as I stated previously, that he must think a Christian should be as sinless as possible. You must, with all your ability, prevent him from remembering the whole truth. The Enemy, of course, does want those of his camp to be as moral as possible, but the biggest part, the real "example" He is talking about is showing others that they are saved. You remember with agony the Enemy's actions that allowed people to enter his domain. This is the true spirit of what Christians are to show. You must not let your patient see that his sinful nature do not keep him from doing good. For the entire plot unravels if he should do so.
Yours,
Palegrit
******
Now it's your turn! I didn't open up this forum just for me. I would like to see what your demon might say about yourself (at any point in your life), somebody you know, or just an "everyman". I may write more letters later, but I would really like to see you guys try this.
This "story" is one I feel I wanted to write as a means of personal reflection and bettering myself. Advice of all types (whether literary or theologically) are accepted.
******
This letter is from Palegrit, a demon that resides in lower Hell, to my tempter Hailblud. I cannot say when it was written. It could have been from years ago, or could have been yesterday.
My dear Hailblud,
Looking over your progress, I have seen that you have been working hard on your patient since the last time you've written to me, and while your patient still subscribes to the Enemy's camp, I can see you chipping away at his defense.
I note that in your last letter, you have written that your patient is continuously praying for salvation from a sin he has continued to commit. Do not think that for a moment that this request for forgiveness is necessarily a bad thing to our cause. Though any prayer for repentance is poison, if performed right, you should be able to turn him away from the Enemy without him even knowing.
My advise for the present moment is this: keep your patient focused on that sin, and as few others as possible. What your patient seems to forget is that people commit many sins every day. Whatever you do, don't let your patient figure this out. What we want him to think is something along the lines of "If it wasn't for this sin, I would be 'good'."
This is a useful strategy because it not only leads your patient to commit more sins, it keeps them from repenting of those sins! When he focuses on one of them, the (many) others that he has will be thrown to the side, and, if you are lucky, quickly forgotten. It is like a student focusing their attention on passing a history course because it is their worst subject, and ignoring all other courses, despite them being just as bad.
In your last letter, you also stated that your patient has committed those sins over and over, and continues to ask for forgiveness. What do you mean by telling me this? Do you wish my advice? If that is so, your training, I'm afraid, must have been very poor, and I will have to write to your alma mater regarding that matter.
Nevertheless, you have succeed in making the first step. I see that you have isolated him, making him think that he is alone with this problem. Remember, the filthy vermin known as people are "social" creatures. They rely on each other for support. I applaud you efforts in making him feel alone, for this will make him even easier to manipulate. If possible, make him question his salvation. Make him think, "I cannot be a Christian because I am still sinning." While at the surface, this strategy does not work, built upon a foundation of isolation, it can become a powerful tool in your arsenal.
My associates have informed me that your patient is friends with many modernists and the like. While this could be a good thing in time, for now, your patient seems to be strong in faith. In fact, you describe him as wanting to bring them over to the Enemy. However, you can also use this opportunity to trap him.
Despite popular belief, you should encourage your patient that he is a Christian, and as such, should be a beacon to the world. The ironic thing is that is just wants the Enemy wants. He wants his "children" to be examples of Christendom. But quickly change what an "example" is. Mention any noble characteristics which your patient feels he has a lack of, charity, nobility, but especially sinlessness! Don't make it complete sinlessness, for even those with a basic trust in the Enemy will know that this is impossible, but a "relative" sinlessness. Talking only about a part of the truth can be just as dangerous as a lie. And here in lies your advantage.
Without your patient knowing, always make "relative" moral behavior one step higher that he is; an unobtainable goal. He should be ashamed of the fact that he sins all of the time. But the final blow, the snapping of the trap, comes next.
Because your patient commits sins, and feels he should should be a sign of Christendom (i.e. without sin), the next step you must perform is to make him think that to be a Christian, he must keep his sins bottled inside of him! That will be the delicious fruit of your labor. Keep his vice bottled up inside him. Make him think that announcing his sins would be a tragedy, for if he does, the materialist friends that look at him for a Christian example will be disillusioned. In this way, he makes himself a hero. He, at the sacrifice of himself, will save others. This image as him, as a Hercules or Arthur must be in his mind. He will feel he is acting like a noble man.
However, I must warn you that there is a way out for your patient. Remember, as I stated previously, that he must think a Christian should be as sinless as possible. You must, with all your ability, prevent him from remembering the whole truth. The Enemy, of course, does want those of his camp to be as moral as possible, but the biggest part, the real "example" He is talking about is showing others that they are saved. You remember with agony the Enemy's actions that allowed people to enter his domain. This is the true spirit of what Christians are to show. You must not let your patient see that his sinful nature do not keep him from doing good. For the entire plot unravels if he should do so.
Yours,
Palegrit
******
Now it's your turn! I didn't open up this forum just for me. I would like to see what your demon might say about yourself (at any point in your life), somebody you know, or just an "everyman". I may write more letters later, but I would really like to see you guys try this.