Letter 2 Summary

Wormwood is in trouble. The patient has had a conversion experience. He is no longer contemplating Christianity; he has become a Christian. Screwtape warns Wormwood sternly that he should not think he will escape the consequences of allowing this to happen. There is hope, however. Screwtape assures Wormwood that many people have been recovered for Hell after becoming Christians.

Screwtape warns Wormwood that the way to approach this problem is to keep the patient's attention on the faults and foibles of his fellow Christians. These faults may be real or imaginary, as long as they are perceived as faults by the patient. The patient may decide Christianity itself is as faulty as its practitioners and give it up—as long as he doesn't become humble. "All you have to do," Screwtape instructs Wormwood, "is to keep out of his mind the question...