When exploring Christian apologetics, or apologetics in general, the trend is to approach the subject like a debate. There is an entire sub genre of apologists on YouTube who specialize in this type of format. Whether its Protestant, Catholic, Atheism, Politics, Economics, the method is pretty well standardized. There’s the long form video, usually a rebuttal, then a rebuttal to the rebuttal or the extended breakdown.
Classic literature is no different in that regard. G.K. Chesterton and others have written entire books as a means of refuting errors, offering counterpoints, or just defending their chosen position. Chesterton in particular is one of the foremost apologists of his time. His works such as the Everlasting Man and Orthodoxy have led to the conversion of many people to Christianity including the Author of the book this review is about.
The Screwtape letters is an apologetic creatively framed as an epistolary, a series of letters, written by the titular character Screwtape. Interestingly though, the main character is in fact a demon writing to his nephew Wormwood. In it he expounds on the nature of their work. Namely how they seek to corrupt men’s souls and guide them away from The Great Enemy and into the arms of their father, Satan.
In the pages of this book C.S. Lewis turns expected Christian Apologetics on its head by re-framing traditional arguments from the perspective of a demon. Here positive moral virtues are seen as negatives to be worked against and countered in an effort to separate Man from God. Here Lewis explores topics such as Gluttony, Lust, Pride, War and even the dangers of Intellectualism as a means of of gradually pulling souls into damnation. Each topic is timeless, the virtues and vices discussed have applicability in Lewis’ time as much as ours.
If you’re looking for something fun, thoughtful and engaging this is the book for you. And if you’re interested in Christian Apologetics but find other writings to be dull I would suggest giving this book a read.
You can find it here.
Milton Lane 