CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY JULY 25, 2024
BEFORE WE GET DEEPER INTO THIS UNIQUE POLITICAL SEASON, IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO CONSIDER WHAT C.S. LEWIS WROTE ABOUT POLITICS IN “THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS.” YOU’LL RECALL THESE WERE FICTIONALIZED LETTERS BETWEEN A DEVIL AND HIS TRAINEE.
“MY DEAR WORMWOOD: BE SURE THE PATIENT REMAINS COMPLETELY FIXED ON POLITICS. ARGUMENTS, POLITICAL GOSSIP, AND OBSESSING ON THE FAULTS OF PEOPLE THEY HAVE NEVER MET SERVES AS AN EXCELLENT DISTRACTION FROM ADVANCING IN PERSONAL VIRTUE, CHARACTER, AND THE THINGS THE PATIENT CAN CONTROL. MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE PATIENT IN A CONSTANT STATE OF ANGST, FRUSTRATION, AND GENERAL DISDAIN TOWARDS THE REST OF THE HUMAN RACE IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY KIND OF CHARITY OR INNER PEACE FROM FURTHER DEVELOPING. ENSURE THE PATIENT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS ‘OUT THERE’ IN THE ‘BROKEN SYSTEM’ RATHER THAN RECOGNIZING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HIMSELF.’
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. UNCLE SCREWTAPE.”
LEWIS WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE WRITERS WHOSE WORKS ENDURE. HE UNDERSTOOD HUMAN NATURE AND THE WORLD OF THE DEVIL BETTER THAN ANYONE. NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO READ OR RE-READ “THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS.” I’M CAL THOMAS.
