Letter 7 Summary

Wormwood, perhaps due to his youth, has asked Screwtape if he should reveal himself to the patient. In the modern age, Screwtape says, the High Command has ordered devils not to reveal themselves to humans. This means they miss out on the fun of directly frightening people, but the devils have found that making people disbelieve in spiritual matters—devils as well as angels—is more useful for luring people into the materialistic, worldly lives which will end in Hell.

Screwtape considers whether Wormwood should try to influence the man to become either a fervent patriot or an extreme pacifist. He decides it does not really matter. Either will do, as long as it induces the man away from thoughts of God and others. If he can be encouraged to join a faction—it does not matter what kind&mdash...