The Poisonwood Bible (Megan)

9/19/2024

As we know, The Poisonwood Bible is a book we all have reading for this class. This novel shows the idea how the author doesn't believe in God or may not take any part in a religion but still wrote a novel based on a Christian family mission to Africa. Think about some of the scenes in The Poisonwood Bible and how it relates to the Author's view and standpoint. Support the claim by suggesting some of the characters and reflect on some dialogue the daughters say and express the ideas of why you think the Author would mention small details written into the characters to get her opinion across. Lastly, has The Poisonwood Bible changed your thoughts or opinions about religion or has it changed the way you see and understand religion?

23 Comments

Kennedi

9/22/2024 07:41:08 pm

Leah is one of the characters I relate the most with. Like her I was raised in a very religious household and believed and lived everything taught. She realized she no longer believed in God and it was a difficult shift in her life, I myself have also experienced. The author shows the different levels of believing in a religion, where you are either so crazy about it, you have no life of your own, you believe because it rings true to you, you believe to stay connected, and you don’t believe and find something else to focus your life on. The author gives everyone a “someone” to relate to. I personally do not think it changed my view on religion, but I was able to relate to the different stages of belief.

Mariah

9/23/2024 07:25:05 pm

I like how you mentioned that you can relate to characters in the book. Even when a character that you relate to isn't necessarily a good one, or the reasons why you relate aren't that great, it's always important to look for connections and it can get you more interested in the book.

Chanci Phillips

9/22/2024 09:32:02 pm

I think the author views on religion vary on the extremity of One’s devotion. The book not only criticizes religion but also brings the readers to colonization and the undying guilt. The character Rachel, offers a shallow sense of knowledge of the world. I mention this character because she shows how sheltered she was in a naive/egotistical way, much like her father. This book hasn’t changed my opinion of religion, but it has made me open-minded.

Kennedi

9/23/2024 09:13:45 am

I agree, that there are different levels of devotion when it comes to religion. At some point can you be too devoted?

Megan

9/23/2024 09:18:24 am

I agree with you, I think Rachel is a very important character and plays a big opinion and aspect of the book for readers.

nic s.

9/23/2024 09:32:16 am

I believe that one must find an in between area because being religious one must act differently from the norms of other people but on the other hand one must also not be a fanatic like Nathan Price who only ever acted by what the Bible taught him when some things one doesn't necessarily need to. Like discussed in the novel some translation can be gleaned from the Bible or any book in a different way so one must learn for themselves and not take things at face value like Nathan does.

Daniel Davidson

9/23/2024 09:48:08 am

Whilst I agree that the novel criticizes the religious fanaticism of people who are represented by the father character, I don't exactly feel as though Kingsolver was contesting religion directly. Rather, just the judgement of peoples and cultures other than one's own. She didn't attack the African deities. I feel as though she was using the fanatic religious fervor of Nathan Price (and his better than thou attitude) to comment on how no one is really better than someone else.

Brylee Ganske

10/8/2024 08:24:17 am

I agree, she definitely focuses on the extreme obsession of one's devotion to God. I thought a good example of this is when "Mr. Bird" shows up and it shows us how different he is from Nathan.

Brylee Ganske

9/23/2024 08:30:13 am

I think that the Author may have a hard time believing in God because, why would a God leave people in the horrible conditions to rot while others are bathing in their warm embrace. One scene from the book that backs this is when Adeah reminisces back to the bible school back in America and remembers when they were taught that some were born lucky closer to "god's domain" while others weren't. Adeah found this confusing and wrong and decided that day that she didn't believe in a God that chose people on things they can't control, instead she turned to science something she knew would also judge the same and that she would be able to explain. I kinda connect to Adeah at this moment; whenever I hear about something bad happening in the would: war, famine, genocide, I wonder where God is and why he isn't helping the wronged.

Kennedi

9/23/2024 09:09:51 am

It leads you to wonder whether or not God has favorites, even though he says he doesn’t. People are born into different families and can’t help that they are born into poverty. God chooses where they go, so what does that mean?

Megan

9/23/2024 09:21:00 am

I agree with your point, the family is almost brainwashed by their religion and doesn’t understand that there are unlucky things that happen in life but also the good.

Daniel Davidson

9/23/2024 09:50:19 am

I also think that the author was using the contrast of the wealthy and ignorant state of America and the impoverished 'cultural purity' of Africa, to comment of an unfairness in life.

Emylee Perkins

9/23/2024 01:36:07 pm

I agree with you that a lot of people wonder about God's whereabouts and how his plans align with what is currently happening in the world. Another interesting concept to ponder is why some people blame a God they don't believe in when bad events occur. Are they experiencing some sort of uncertainty in what is or isn't true, or are they trying to convince members of the religion not to believe in the God that they do by using claims of treachery committed by someone they're not supposed to believe in in the first place? It seems rather paradoxical to me and I do not know the answer more than anyone else, yet it is certainly engaging to think about.

Mariah

9/23/2024 09:12:05 am

I would disagree when you say that the author probably doesn't believe in religion because all the characters end up "unbelieving" from God. I would say that the author actually does believe in Christianity, or at least used to because of their very deep knowledge on religion. Obviously she could've just done very in depth research, but most of the verses and lessons from the Bible in this story are not your typical, easy to find Bible lessons. It seems as if the suthor genuinely knows what she is talking about, which also makes it easier to really question Christianity, which she does in the book.

Nicolas S.

9/23/2024 09:43:45 am

I agree for someone who isn't religious she sure knew a lot.

Brylee Ganske

10/8/2024 08:27:26 am

Yea, she was definitely incredibly knowledgeable in the matter.

Megan Aiello

9/23/2024 09:16:52 am

Leah is very relatable because she shows her ideas of how religion can be unrealistic to the ways of the world and she realizes that her family sometimes turns every problem to god or bible phrases and it doesn’t always fixes the problems. I think this book has thought me more about religion but hasn’t changed my mind about religion.

nicolas sessions

9/23/2024 09:23:26 am

Anatole said to Leah during the ant attack on the village that bad things still happen to good people and that bad people still get lucky. I found this line of text was really interesting because, like Leah, we can get into a mindset that if you do the right things you'll be set and will be protected from bad things. However, if it were that way, then there could hardly be any growth; one who doesn't experience lows will not be able to interpret high times. The author understands this where many people of religion may not and decided to discuss it in the novel which is good.

Chanci Phillips

9/23/2024 11:11:11 am

You make a good point about people believing that everytime they do good, God will reward them. Life is not like that, no one is in control of your own life but you and full of ups and downs.

Daniel Davidson

9/23/2024 09:37:54 am

Although, Kingsolver may not believe in God, she does allude to believing, possibly, in some form of greater alignment in the universe. She lets us in on this within the final chapter of her novel, as she writes from the view of a deceased daughter who has become one with the force of life. Here she is expressing that, perhaps she may not completely subscribe to the notion of an omniscient God, she points out that there may we some order in, and purpose to, life. This has not changed my view of religion in the slightest, but has wonderfully exposed me to a vastly different type of life from my own. This exposure should make me a better person.

Emylee Perkins

9/23/2024 01:30:11 pm

I didn't pick up on the perspective of the person speaking in the final chapter as well as you did, so thank you for sharing this! I also admire how carefully Kingsolver crafted this book, especially those last few lines about walking forward into the light. This must have been fairly difficult writing as no one really knows what awaits on the other side of the veil, but the form follows function and the closing words align with her message of utilizing hope and perseverance in everyday life perfectly.

Mariah

9/23/2024 07:27:54 pm

I agree that exposure to other people's religious and world views can make people a better person. Its very important to keep an open mind when it comes to religion, and understanding other views can make you more confident in your own opinions and beliefs.

Emylee Perkins

9/23/2024 01:24:32 pm

I have, for the last five or so years, been pretty open-minded with religion. You can definitely see the author's neutral opinions toward the topic shine through, although the book follows a religious theme. This is exemplified through the way that Anatole communicates with the family about the values of the village versus the Reverend Price's very clear agenda of converting the people to the Baptist church. If the author were a devout Christian of any denomination, this would be plainly noticeable in the writing and the depictions of the Reverend and other faithful characters would leave less room for their pondering and doubting. This book has not changed the way I view religion because for the last few years I have decided that as of right now I believe that if God is real then He and/or She is regardless of whether people believe or not. I simply try to do my best with my life and hope that others do the same. Mistakes are bound to happen, but seeing as no one truly knows the truths of life good intention is simply the best approach to coexisting and enjoying your time with others.

The Poisonwood Bible (Megan)

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