Cousin Screwtape,

Let me explain to you how we've managed the patients who have made the realization of the contradiction that is the University and the anti-University.

Of course the unique position of the University and the anti-University makes for a great deal of possible dissension. We've made good use of our opportunities with those who prefer the University to the anti-University. Disappointment, anger, and above all bitterness are the natural fruits of our labours with these individuals. Most are students, who have little if any choice to be involved with both University and anti-University at the same time.

We've not much success, I am sorry to say, producing in these patients an very extreme over-reaction against the emotional and the passionate and the social, just because these things are associated with the anti-university. In the more extreme cases, however, we've succeeded in cultivating a powerful rage, so easily directed against the sinner and not against the sin.

It's standard to make them, of course, rail against the anti-University and those involved therein. With some it has stopped there, but others have given us a touch of trouble by realizing that those involved are their Christian brethren and that the anti-University is not (unfortunately) in itself a bad thing, just a misguided and out-of-place and, above all, second-best thing. With some of these patients we have experimented with insanity, drawing their attention to the contradiction and assuring them that believing in such contradictory judgments of the same institution means that they are mad. Being in such a state is precarious for the human mind to begin with, but we've enjoyed exacerbating the situation. It is especially strong for those who feel they are compelled to love the people involved strongly with the anti-University, for they feel that they are not just acknowledging, but simply adoring a contradiction.

If once they realize that they are not insane because the contradiction is not in their heads but in the institution itself, we've come close to losing them. But we have our defenses yet. Even when they go along with the anomalous Chesterton with his clearly absurd idea that some things are merely paradox (we demons are so much more realistic in our love of contradiction), even then we still have a chance, for we can always make them think that the University and the anti-University are the really important thing.

Above all, we have to avoid letting their critical thoughts turn inward. I'm happy to say that for the most part our patients here who have not been altogether comfortable with the anti-University have spent most of their time judging those involved. Poor fools. How much I enjoy the condemnation of sin by someone who enjoys it!

Your hideous cousin,

The Prince of a City on a Hill,

Snorglak