Sermons by the Devil, which was originally published in 1904, is an early 20th-century non-fiction work in the literary vein of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. Writing from the perspective of Satan, Reverend W. S. Harris attempts to reveal the dark nature of the Devil through advice and sermons he gives to humans in various positions and stages in life. The Evil One’s deceptive and cunning techniques are displayed throughout, as he advises ordinary humans to live lives of sin and reckless indulgence, with callous disregard for oneself and others. The Devil employs a variety of rhetorical techniques, pressuring his audience to succumb to short-term pleasures, and to view the Christian life as a joke. In his sermons, the Devil covers topics such as suicide, alcohol, smoking, prostitution, childrearing, and partying, as he tries to lure his subjects towards a worldview founded on hedonism and atheism. Although written for 20th-century believers and skeptics, most of the topics are relevant for today’s struggler. The work does not delve deep into theological concepts, making it a lighter read. The work is full of illustrations, making the book fascinating, intriguing, and fun to read, but it can still scare the pants of you.
Little is known about the Reverend William Schuler Harris (1865-1956) except that he was a minister who was from Pennsylvania, and is the author of three other works that were published at about the same time. This edition of Sermons by the Devil, which is in the public domain, is a facsimile reprint of the original book which was originally published in 1904 by The Minder Company.
Sermons by the Devil, which was originally published in 1904, is an early 20th-century non-fiction work in the literary vein of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. Writing from the perspective of Satan, Reverend W. S. Harris attempts to reveal the dark nature of the Devil through advice and sermons he gives to humans in various positions and stages in life. The Evil One’s deceptive and cunning techniques are displayed throughout, as he advises ordinary humans to live lives of sin and reckless indulgence, with callous disregard for oneself and others. The Devil employs a variety of rhetorical techniques, pressuring his audience to succumb to short-term pleasures, and to view the Christian life as a joke. In his sermons, the Devil covers topics such as suicide, alcohol, smoking, prostitution, childrearing, and partying, as he tries to lure his subjects towards a worldview founded on hedonism and atheism. Although written for 20th-century believers and skeptics, most of the topics are relevant for today’s struggler. The work does not delve deep into theological concepts, making it a lighter read. The work is full of illustrations, making the book fascinating, intriguing, and fun to read, but it can still scare the pants of you.
Little is known about the Reverend William Schuler Harris (1865-1956) except that he was a minister who was from Pennsylvania, and is the author of three other works that were published at about the same time. This edition of Sermons by the Devil, which is in the public domain, is a facsimile reprint of the original book which was originally published in 1904 by The Minder Company.
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