There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.
They themselves are equally pleased by both errors.
The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis
From the preface, written by Lewis.
Screwtape, a senior devil, writes a series of 31 letters to his young and inexperienced nephew, Wormwood, who is charged with guiding a “the Patient” (his human charge) toward “Our Father Below” (Satan) and away from “the Enemy” (God).
Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar.
Lewis reminds us that this is true even in what Screwtape writes in the letters. In other words, he could even be lying to his nephew. Of course, whether truth or lie, Screwtape’s purposes are singular: to teach his nephew how to lead the Patient away from the Enemy and toward Our Father Below.
Apparently, there may be some issue with the chronology of the letters, as least from a terrestrial perspective – not that it’s likely I would notice given the context is wartime England. Lewis is clear that he has made no attempt to clear this up; he just takes it as “diabolical dating.”....
I also can understand why writing from the angelic viewpoint would be much more difficult: it seems clear to me that we understand the temptation of evil far better than we do the working of the good – at least for those of us not considered “saints” on earth.
Let’s just say that it comes more naturally for fallen human beings.
