In this detailed letter, Wormwood writes to his esteemed uncle, Screwtape, to update him on his efforts to manipulate a newly converted individual, referred to as “the Patient.” Wormwood explains that the Patient, who has superficially embraced the Enemy’s ways, exhibits vulnerabilities such as a craving for peer approval and susceptibility to self-admiration. Wormwood outlines a strategy to subtly nurture pride by directing the Patient’s focus toward personal merits instead of divine grace. He advises that even routine acts of devotion, such as prayer and Scripture reading, be reframed as chances for self-glorification. Wormwood recommends cultivating an inner narrative that magnifies compliments and minor successes, and that comparisons with fellow believers be used to inflate the Patient’s self-worth, thereby diverting his attention from true modesty and spiritual reliance. He further details how devotional practices can be perverted into performances aimed at securing social acclaim—for example, transforming prayer into a self-adulatory monologue and reducing Scripture study to an intellectual contest. Wormwood proposes that even well-known biblical passages, such as James 4:6, Proverbs 16:18, Luke 14:11, and Philippians 2:3, be distorted so they appear irrelevant to the Patient’s personal experience, thereby neutralizing warnings against pride. Throughout the letter, Wormwood stresses the need for subtlety, cautioning that overt arrogance might trigger corrective measures from peers. Instead, the Patient should remain unaware of his own burgeoning vanity, with every act of devotional engagement reinforcing his self-image. Wormwood concludes by reiterating the long-term objective of keeping the Patient fixated on his perceived excellence, ensuring that his life remains steeped in self-centeredness rather than authentic devotion to the Enemy. Through these calculated strategies, Wormwood directs the Patient away from genuine humility, ensuring that every spiritual act becomes a celebration of self rather than a tribute to divine benevolence.
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