War's Effect on Religious Beliefs
             War is a time overflowing with hate, pain, and sorrow. All lives are affected whether one is a soldier, the relative of a loved one fighting over seas, or even the factory employee who assembles the weapons used. No matter his role, each individual feels the repercussions of war, and has the burden of remembering the horrid memories for a lifetime. Religious belief is a concept which many involved in wars feel strongly about. Either soldiers gain strong religious faith to reassure them and give them the courage to get through the war, or they develop a strong apathy towards religion and God. Often, the images of war can be extremely disturbing to one who survives, and leaves the survivor unable to retain belief in God or religion. Through Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut conveys negativity towards religion brought on by war through a passage mocking the bible, the mocking of sacred objects, and the negative effects of religious faith.
             Within the first chapter of Slaughterhouse Five, Vonnegut begins showing the novel's negative attitude towards religion, along with his personal opinion, in a passage involving the biblical story about the pillar of salt. In the bible story Vonnegut learns "Lot's wife was told not to look back... But she did look back" (22). Followers of religion obey all that God commands them to do. In this specific story, Lot's wife disobeys God's will and in return becomes a pillar of salt. Overall, Vonnegut's first novel about Dresden is based on the past and refers consistently to it. Yet, Vonnegut is well aware that "people aren't supposed to look back" (22). Bible stories are used by religious followers to reflect on and to teach humanity what behavior on earth should be like. After reading the bible story involving Lot's wife, Vonnegut realizes his entire novel is based on referring to the past and since God c...