In about 120 pages of text excluding the extensive glossary and appendix, The Scorpion Files presents an outline of a basic high school level religion class. The book is structured as a series of short letters from the Scorpion to his minion, Agent 6, in the same style used by C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters . The letters first briefly describe the teaching of the Catholic Church, followed by a description of the ways in which young Catholics are tricked into sin. The teachings of the Church are not supported by quotations or references to Church documents but are simply stated in a conversational way.
Various topics are discussed including an overview of Church structure, the Eucharist, the sacraments of reconciliation and confirmation, several of the commandments, the Blessed Mother, and St. Michael. Words that are defined in the glossary are printed in bold type, although these words should be familiar to most homeschooled Catholic students. Randomly chosen glossary entries include absolution, grace, liturgy, penance, and rosary. The discussions of the occult, drug abuse, and sins against the sixth and ninth commandments are rather frank, and may be somewhat too direct for morally-conscious Catholic students. The book seems directed to a worldly, public school audience that needs reminded that sin is a reality in our world.
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