Timothy J. Stevenson adopts a fresh approach to dissecting Christianity in The Screwtape Texts: A Devil’s Dialogue with His Tempter in Training. The quirky title is derived from the book The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, originally published in 1942. That work sought to examine Christian theology in a satirical yet serious fashion and was written as a series of 31 letters from a senior demon to his student. Stevenson brings the format up to date by presenting the lessons in the form of a text message dialogue between Screwtape, the teacher, and his student Wormwood, who was also his nephew. The 31 texted back-and-forth conversations describe the tactics used in the spiritual warfare that takes place between the forces of evil and those living on earth. The battle is for the souls of the population and Screwtape outlines the devious methods used to divert the luckless subject of their attention, described only as “the patient”, who is a Christian. The objective is to achieve separation from God by ploys that include interference with spiritual practice such as prayer, and casting doubt on church doctrines.

The Screwtape Texts is a playlist of the dirty tricks used to confuse and distract those on a Christian path. The dialogue is amusing and insightful, as Screwtape attempts to educate his errant pupil. The text delves deeply into issues of faith, such as temptation, pride, fear, marriage, unhealthy relationships, as well as the desires of the flesh. In this regard it succeeds admirably, providing considerable food for thought and testing the knowledge and commitment of the reader. The role of the church is also evaluated, along with its inconsistencies. Each chapter is followed by a summary, a list of tools for self-defense, and challenging questions for readers to answer. It is written from a Catholic perspective and quotes freely from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as containing numerous biblical references and thoughts from other authors and saints. Timothy J. Stevenson has produced an entertaining and insightful book that questions many aspects of the Christian faith, while providing practical answers and hope for the future. This thought-provoking book makes interesting reading for Christians, but the philosophical and spiritual issues covered will appeal to a wider audience. It is highly recommended.

The Screwtape Texts by Timothy J. Stevenson is written on the premise that life is a spiritual journey with heaven or hell as the ultimate destination. Stevenson drew inspiration from C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, a book of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, and his nephew, Wormwood. Stevenson has adapted these into a series of text message exchanges, where Screwtape provides detailed advice to Wormwood on how to corrupt a human's spiritual life and distract them from faith in God. These include, but are in no way limited to, prayer, where Screwtape recommends a self-centered focus and prioritizing emotion over spiritual connection; church loyalty, with Screwtape seeking to divide congregations through trivial differences, and manipulating a human’s sense of time, pride, and courage, suggesting reliance on false confidence and introducing cowardice to distance the patient from God.

In The Screwtape Texts, Timothy J. Stevenson does well in revitalizing classic Christian ideas with a contemporary edge and morphing one of literature's most beloved author's work into an accessible format. By reimagining the correspondence between Screwtape and Wormwood, Stevenson brilliantly leans into spiritual warfare in today’s world. I loved that this was done as a mortal patient on the verge of death, where the stakes are high and readers are forced into a sense of urgency. There is no question that a great deal of thought and research went into Stevenson’s adept rewriting of these letters into a cohesive series of text messages. It's devilishly amusing to read demonic strategies play out, a testament to Stevenson’s skill as a writer. I think this book will be most appreciated by readers who enjoy philosophical points of view on Christianity and salvation, as well as those looking for something a little different. Recommended.