Self-reflection for non-Christians through a 75 year old Christian book

John Powell
Jul 22, 2017 · 4 min read

Unless you are a fan of C.S. Lewis or enjoy deep thinking religious satire, you may have never heard of The Screwtape Letters. I originally heard about it from my Mom who read it several times. As a Catholic she enjoyed it for the moral and Christian based insights, yet she also enjoyed it because it is one of the most creative and witty books written in the 20th century, religious or not.

I also enjoyed the levity in it, but what struck me as I finished each letter, is how we view, feel and engage with others as we live our busy and largely self-interested lives, regardless of our beliefs. A lot of what Lewis wrote in 1942 is as much or more relevant today than when it was originally published.

Hugely popular after it’s initial release, the story takes place through a series of letters written from a senior tempter in Hell, to his younger nephew. Basically, Hell is vying for your attention and will stop at nothing to secure your soul.

Hell employs a mixture of greed, pride, flattery, sex, self-awareness, jealousy, irritating habits, malice and many other characteristics of human life as a way to create strife, thus steering us from a life of compassion, virtue and real faith.

The Screwtape Letters teaches us about ourselves. Peek beneath the covers of Christianity and you will find what any human should strive for. Written with the sagaciousness you would expect from the literary figure that Lewis is, it forces you to think, contemplate and question.

Here are some insights I took away from it, which apply to everyday life and which we often, sadly, ignore.

Distraction. Lewis cites distraction as central to keeping us from focusing on the true nature of what’s really important. Staying focused and getting work done, yes, but the real lesson is not losing site of the bigger picture. Personal or business relationships, career objectives, just being happy in life- it doesn’t matter.

Habits. Not just the habits themselves, but how you interpret and respond to the habits of others. Free will gives us the ability to have habits and choose how to respond to them. Some are annoying and disruptive yet we do not usually look at habits for what they are, which is a manifestation of our human selves.

Self-Awareness (self-consciousness). Lewis writes that people who look outward (being not aware) v. looking inward (being aware) are more susceptible to feelings of fear, greed and others, which consume and make them lose focus on the (object, person, situation, etc.) itself.

Humility. Humility comes in two forms. One is as an opinion, rather than the truth. Lewis cites “pretty women pretending they are ugly and clever men trying to believe they are fools”. Real and true humility is liking and enjoying yourself and your accomplishments (and the world around you) just as much as you do for others.

Uncertainty. Stay focused on what you are doing, not what might or might not happen in the face of uncertainty. Uncertainty can bring hope, but Lewis notes it also brings fear, anxiety and suspense and can take you off course.

Illusion. The illusion you are living a true and just life when you know you are not. It’s hard to reconcile with others when you have not fully lived up to being who you should be.

Impatience. Impatience can be a difficult trait. Lewis states that “nearly all vices are rooted in the future”, citing fear, avarice, lust and ambition as examples. This is true in any setting, be it business or personal.

Selfishness. We live in a world consumed by selfishness, no? Lewis uses the concept of time (i.e., my time is valuable) and ownership (my, me, myself) to argue that nothing is really ours. By thinking not always of ourselves first, not seeking attention and being grateful for what we have, we will be happier in the long run.

Aging and Death. In one of the most insightful letters, Lewis argues that it’s tougher to face adversity the longer we live, which contributes more to human suffering. He speaks of “the long, dull monotonous years of middle aged prosperity or adversity” and “remembrances of lost youth” as a conduit to becoming bitter and resentful in our old age if we are not focused on the present.

Hatred. Lewis states, “Hatred is best combined with Fear” and “is often the compensation by which a frightened man reimburses himself for the miseries of Fear”. How often have you felt hatred towards someone or something which was really driven by fear?

Courage. “Courage is the form of every virtue at the testing point”. By this Lewis means that courage appears when the values you hold dear are tested and tried during times of adversity.

There are several lessons and insights to be gleaned from the book, not just what I am noting above, and it serves one well to read through it a few times to further understand Lewis’ point of view. First and foremost The Screwtape Letters is geared towards beliefs deeply held by Lewis and billions of others, but reading it provides a reminder that a lot of the core values Christians seek apply to each and every one of us.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade