Lucifer And Michael

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31784, 14 September 1968, Page 4

Lucifer And Michael

Dialogues With The Devil. By Taylor Caldwell. Collins. 224 pp.

“Dialogues with the Devil,” even when demythologised for the sophisticated twentiethcentury reader, has much to say on contemporary life. C. S. Lewis, in a previous age, presented us with a view of “Screwtape" at work in the affairs of men, but our author is more modem and “with it” Lueifer in this day and age belongs to the space-age, the day of the expanding universe. His task is unlimited, demanding refined skills. To complete his nefarious plans it is nothing for him to insulate a great portion of a planet from unwanted winds and scorching sun, etc., by means of a glass dome. However such modem technological skills are applied to ancient weaknesses leading to much the same wicked results as known in days gone by. To return to the example given above, we observe that below the dome the scientist becomes the ruler and the lay people become the servants. The scientist seems surprised when the servants, realising their hopelessness, become sterile. In the face of this the scientist fears a probable loss of labour. Eventually the scientists themselves succumb to hopelessness and as a result they become sterile.

The theme is woven around communications between Lucifer and Michael. Far from being enemies these two have an affection one for the other. Lucifer really loves God but his whole life’s work is aimed to prove to God that the creation of man was born out of His divine ignorance. If Lucifer can but destroy man and if God will admit his error, then be will willingly return to Heaven. Michael as a messenger of the love of God endeavours to convince Lucifer of his weak position, for he is doomed to failure, as it is futile to oppose God. Thus he appeals time and again to Lucifer to abandon his pursuits and to return to Heaven. All his persuasion is to no avail, and Lucifer wilfully continues his dastardly work. The searchlight ranges over the whole galaxy, but recurringly it focuses on man and his free will, which with monotonous regularity leads him into the thorny paths of pride and sensuality. Such weakness is repeated on other planets leading to their near destruction.

Yet all is not hopeless, as, whilst man is so vulnerable, God still sits on the throne. Undoubtedly, the mind of God is unfathomable, but man can be certain of God's unswerving love. Man’s weakness and stupidity may suffer by contrast, but because of God’s supremacy he may live in hope, devil or no devil.