"Ideally, Screwtape's advice to Wormwood should have been balanced by archangelical advice to the patient's guardian angel. Without this the picture of human life is lopsided."
C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters
Preface to the paperback edition
PREFACE
Among the words in my parents' copy of The Screwtape Letters, these sentences had the most profound effect on this 10 year-old son. Coming to know C.S. Lewis for the first time, I became fascinated with the theme of spiritual struggle expressed through correspondence.
Thirty-three years and countless faith shifts later, the time had come. The Michael Letters feels almost blasphemous coming from a novice writer in the aftermath of Lewis' magnificent literary achievement. Although I have no illusions about matching Lewis' satirical wit, I still hope to do the original work justice.
The objectives, methods, and values of archangels could not be more different from those of Screwtape and Wormwood. For this reason, Screwtape's writing style provided little guidance. I could not attain the standard of "every sentence would have to smell of Heaven", nevertheless I sought to capture the distinction of angelic divinity in Michael's writing.
Raised under Roman Catholicism, I've always felt uncomfortable with Lewis' use of the term "devils" to describe the fallen angels. To me, "devil" means only one spirit, namely Satan or Lucifer. In my upbringing, the fallen angels were known as "demons".
The Michael Letters required its own unique vocabulary. Naming choices for evil spirits proved controversial among Christians. Some felt that calling demons "our fallen brothers" was inappropriately affectionate; others appreciated that same affection. The use of "Lucifer", the Devil's pre-banishment title (lit. "Light Bringer"), raised similar objections. These titles seem to best embrace the Christian virtues of forgiveness and of loving one's enemies. They most appropriately "smell of Heaven"; I make no apologies for these choices.
The toughest decision was whether to write about the specific "patient" in Screwtape from the other side, or to detail another. The choice became apparent when trying to cover new ground. Michael's understudy Jacob works in present day (c 2010) America.
