Religion in Clays Quilt
Clay Sizemore is an endearing character whose life shows how importantthe Pentecostal religion is to so many people of the Appalachians. Earlyin the book, the author calls those who don't attend church on Saturdaynight "sinners" (House 17), and this lays the groundwork for the rest ofthe book. It shows how important religion is to the people, and how theyuse religion as a basis for everything they do in their lives. While theChurch plays an important part in everyone's life, it does not dominatetheir lives. They gamble, smoke, drink, and even carouse a bit, becausethey know they will be forgiven. House writes, "Gabe loved to drink, andhe loved to have a big crowd around all the time" (House 25). The Churchis a sanctuary for the people of Fire Creek, and it plays an important partin their lives - but it does not dominate everything they do.Unfortunately, it also makes them entirely too wary of strangers who do notbelieve what they believe, as Easter's reaction to newcomer Margueriteshows "She vowed never to talk to Marguerite again" (House 69). Margueriteis a Catholic who does not go to church, so she does not fit in thecommunity, and the women will not accept her. This shows how narrow
The Pentecostal religion began in Appalachia, and it is a stern andserious religion that people hold on to because it makes them feel betterabout themselves and the "sins" they may have. However, Clayknows he cannot have it both ways, and he cannot continue to go to churchwhen the ways of the church are so strict. Easter thinks to herself "Sometimesshe wondered if she went to church simply to purge herself of pastmistakes" (House 89). For some of the characters, church is just somethingthey do to fit into society, but for most of the characters, church is animportant and vital part of their lives, and they would not dream ofmissing church. Many of the choices the characters make in the book are based on theirreligion. This makes them feel guilty sometimes, but italso works for them because the church has held on to traditional beliefs,while the world outside has changed. -mindedthey are, and how their religion sometimes gets in the way of theirhumanity. Someof the community rejects the religion, such as Clay and Marguerite, but allin all, the religion of the Pentecostal community helps them make sense outof their lives, and gives them purpose and hope. The church plays animportant part in the community. Alma does not want to get a divorce because of the church, and mostof the characters allow the church and their beliefs to dominate the mostimportant decisions in their lives. " The churchregulates what people do, and how they react to situations, but it alsooffers them solace, such as when Anneth dies. The people in this book use their religion to comfort them, especially indifficult times. The people may not always live theirlives exactly as the Pentecostal religion decrees, but they take solace intheir religion, and it makes their lives fuller and more meaningful. However, the religion can take over their lives if theylet it, and most of the characters in this book love their religion, butbalance it with life in the "real" world, and so, they do not practice allthe doctrines of the church.
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