Religion and Doubt

Where it surfaces

• Epigraph

  The epigraph quotes a biblical promise of divine order, setting a religious framework that the novel may later question or subvert.

• III

  The nurse's warnings about the Day of Judgement and eternal torture reflect the religious indoctrination and fear prevalent in the children's upbringing.

• XII

  The chapter depicts Theobald's literal belief in the Bible and Christina's religious romanticism, while the narrator's commentary hints at skepticism toward such unquestioning faith.

• XV

  Mrs. Thompson's terror of Hell and her plea to be told there is no judgment contrast with Theobald's rigid insistence on orthodox doctrine.

• XXIII

  The narrator's comparison of family prayers to bees trying painted roses suggests the emptiness and futility of the religious ritual, undermining its spiritual value.

• XXV

  The letter is saturated with religious exhortations, warning against worldly temptations and urging unwavering faith.

• XLVII

  Ernest faces ordination without having doubted Christianity, yet the chapter foreshadows the coming wave of scepticism that will challenge his faith.

• XLIX

  Ernest and his friends grapple with their faith, seeking deeper religious conviction while being confronted by Evangelical fervor.

• L

  Ernest's sudden conversion and subsequent rationalization about smoking illustrate the tension between religious zeal and personal doubt.

• LI

  Ernest's post-ordination crisis of faith and his struggle with persistent 'troublesome' thoughts.

• LII

  The dialogue between Ernest and Pryer explores the tension between traditional faith and a more manipulative, institutional approach to religion.

• Chapter LVI

  Ernest's internal conflict between his desire to save souls through direct action and his obedience to Church authority highlights his growing religious doubt and the crisis of faith.

• LVIII

  Ernest struggles with his faith and the practical challenges of his clerical vocation, questioning his ability to convert others.

• LIX

  Ernest's encounter with Mr. Shaw and his reading of the Vestiges of Creation deepen his religious doubts, challenging his previously held beliefs.

• LX

  Ernest's study of Dean Alford's notes leads him to question the Resurrection, marking a crisis of faith.

• LXIV

  Ernest loses his Christian faith after a critical study of the New Testament, rejecting the miracles and embracing rationalism.

• LXV

  The chapter centers on Ernest's crisis of faith: he rejects the supernatural basis of Christianity, yet concludes that faith and instinct, not reason, are the ultimate foundations for life.

• LXVIII

  Ernest loses his Christian faith but develops a personal faith in a moral order, reflecting a shift from institutional religion to individual spirituality.

• LXXXIII

  Christina's fear of hell and Ernest's attempts to console her highlight religious anxiety; Theobald's reluctant adoption of higher church practices reflects changing religious norms.

• LXXXV

  Ernest's essays grapple with the tension between faith and reason, advocating a lukewarm, pragmatic approach to Church doctrine while acknowledging the difficulty of reconciling belief with evidence.