In his book As One Devil to
Another, Richard Platt takes up where C.S. Lewis, in his book TheScrewtape Letters, left off. Here is another correspondence between
two demons, an older “uncle” giving advice to his “nephew” as
to the most effective and expedient means to “win a soul” to
perdition.
“Uncle” Slashreap gives lots
of good advice to his “nephew” Scardagger. Scardagger’s
“client” is a young woman at a prestigious University where she
is working her way through the academic circles and hoops in hopes of
becoming an established member of the faculty and, in her mind, a
confirmed “intellectual”. I’m sorry to be using so many
quotations but I believe they are all appropriate. Scardagger’s
objective is to smooth the way to academic success for this young
woman so by the time she achieves her aims she will be hopelessly
entrenched in an arrogant, elitist mindset that will act as an
effective barrier to her ever being reached by the “Adversary”.
Unfortunately for Scardagger, the
Adversary is just as intent on winning the young lady over to His
side and even more so since she is His child and He made her for
Himself. His tactics, however, are different than the demons. He
uses patience and long-suffering-never imposing His will on her but
waiting for her to “draw near to Him” so He may then draw near to
her. He is not, however, above putting a few people in her path.
One person is a much-loved elderly aunt whose opinions she respects.
This aunt doesn’t pull any punches when she lets her niece know how
pretentious she’s being.
Another person is an elderly
gardener who gives a powerful yet loving testimony of his own walk
with the Adversary. A final person is a young scientist who, much to
Slashreaps horror and Scardagger’s chagrin, falls in love with
Scardagger’s lady client.
Don’t think Scardagger isn’t
trying. He throws another woman called “the Minx” in the path of
his client. This Minx typifies intellectual snobbery and man abusing
feminism all in one package. If Scardagger’s Minx does her job
right, his client will fall under her influence and revert to the
affected intellectual snobbery that scorns the supernatural, upholds
secularism as the pinnacle of human enlightenment and sees men as
something to use, abuse and then lose.
Things go awry here, too, for
poor Scardagger. Just when the Minx almost has his client in her
clutches she makes the mistake of mooning over some incomprehensible
garbage that is being passed off as art at a museum they’re
visiting. The absurdity does not escape his client who snorts with
contemptuous laughter. Thus endeth the friendship and influence of
the Minx.
Richard Platt’s correspondence
between the two demons as they strategize over condemning a soul to
hell offers a lot of perspicacious insight for the reader. His
observations about the modern female and her obsession with looks and
male desirability that ultimately leads to desperation and plastic
surgery as she ages was right on.
He also makes bold comments on
our culture’s present mores concerning homosexuality, university
education, art, and ethics that govern people’s professional and
personal lives. His language is stark and clear but done with an
affable wit that makes his book fun to read.
My only objection is a couple of
questionable theological points he makes where he seems to imply that
demons could be redeemed if they only returned to God. I don’t see
that anywhere in the Bible.
Aside from that, I recommend
this book that, if not as charming as Lewis’ Screwtape Letters,
still goes a long way in offering insight into a sin sick society.
Tyndale Publishers are offering
a free copy of this book.
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I will be using a random generator to pick the winner. The deadline is next Thursday so I hope to mail the certificate to the winner by Friday. Good luck, everyone!
Giveaway is limited to people living on the continental US.
