Letter 4 Summary

Screwtape is offended in this letter. Wormwood has dared to criticize his methods, particularly in regards to prayer. Screwtape asserts his superior position over Wormwood—he is the under-secretary of a department of Hell, whereas Wormwood is just a novice tempter. Screwtape's tone is cold and angry, but as Wormwood's mentor, he realizes it is time to deal with the unhappy subject of prayer more fully.

It is best, he counsels, to keep the patient from praying at all. Best to remind the patient of praying by rote as a child, repeating the same empty phrases again and again. This will encourage the patient to pray more free form and with little discipline. Further, if the patient also fails to discipline his body by not assuming a prayerful position, the battle is won. After all, whatever a human being does with his...