Letter XXXVI - Pain & Suffering

My Dear Rott-mouth, As we continue our intricate dance of deception, it is time to address another of our most potent tools: pain and suffering. Our ultimate goal is for our patients to suffer eternally, but this objective must be carefully concealed. We achieve this by luring them with the instant pleasures and distractions of this world, separating them from the realization of their finite existence and the true nature of their spiritual peril.

The first step in this process is to ensure that your patients become deeply rooted in the pursuit of immediate gratification. The pleasures of this world—be they material wealth, physical indulgence, or fleeting emotional highs—are our most effective means of distraction. By keeping their focus on these transient delights, we prevent them from contemplating the deeper, more meaningful aspects of life that might lead them to the Enemy.

Encourage your patients to see pain and suffering as anomalies, to be avoided at all costs. Promote the belief that life’s purpose is to maximize pleasure and minimize discomfort. This perspective will make them ill-prepared for the inevitable hardships of life, leading to despair and disillusionment when suffering does occur. By fostering an aversion to pain, we can also prevent them from seeking or valuing the spiritual growth that often accompanies it.

Instant pleasures and distractions serve as a smokescreen, concealing the true nature of their existence. Encourage your patients to immerse themselves in entertainment, social media, consumerism, and superficial relationships. The more they are occupied with these pursuits, the less time and energy they will have for reflection and self-examination. This constant state of distraction keeps them from recognizing the finite nature of their earthly life and the eternal consequences of their spiritual choices.

It is crucial to exploit their fears and insecurities, using them to deepen their reliance on worldly solutions. When they encounter suffering, guide them towards temporary fixes—substances, consumer goods, shallow relationships—rather than addressing the root causes or seeking solace in the Enemy’s teachings. This will lead to a cycle of dependency and further entrench them in their pursuit of instant gratification.

Encourage a mindset that views the material world as the ultimate reality. Promote the idea that there is nothing beyond what they can see, touch, and experience in the here and now. This materialistic worldview will blind them to the spiritual dimensions of life, preventing them from considering the eternal implications of their actions and beliefs. By keeping their focus on the temporal, we can obscure the reality of their finite existence and the necessity of spiritual preparation for the afterlife.

Moreover, use their encounters with suffering to sow seeds of doubt and resentment towards the Enemy. When they face pain and hardship, whisper that the Enemy is indifferent or even cruel. Convince them that their suffering is pointless and that seeking comfort in faith is futile. This will drive a wedge between them and the Enemy, leading them to seek solace in the very distractions that keep them from true spiritual growth.

Our goal is to create a sense of complacency and false security. Encourage your patients to believe that they have plenty of time to address spiritual matters, that they can always turn to the Enemy later. This procrastination is a powerful tool, as it keeps them unprepared for the inevitable end of their earthly life. The more they delay, the less likely they are to recognize the urgency of their spiritual condition.

In the end, our success lies in keeping them unaware of the eternal suffering that awaits them if they continue on this path. By ensuring they remain focused on the fleeting pleasures of this world, we can effectively separate them from the Enemy’s truth and lead them towards the damnation we desire and share. The key is to maintain the illusion of a fulfilling life through instant pleasures, hiding the grim reality of their eternal fate.

In our next correspondence, we will discuss how to exploit the desire for constant innovation and novelty, distracting our patients from deeper, more meaningful pursuits and relationships.

Your affectionate uncle,

Wormwood