Letter 16 Summary

Screwtape wants to know why the man keeps attending the church he has always attended. If it is not because he could care less, it is an important issue to address. If a man has to go to church at all, he should be constantly kept church shopping, displeased with all he finds. Church shopping means a man is looking with criticism and dissatisfaction at the various churches he attends instead of humbly learning what he may from each. It encourages arrogance rather than humility.

A church is a place where people are united by something higher than just liking one another. It brings too many different elements together in harmony to be trusted by Screwtape. That is, unless factionalism can be made rife. Screwtape has checked, and both the local churches are full of factions, so that is all to the good...