The dictionary defines religion as a belief in or worship god or gods. As the definition states, practicing religion requires accepting certain beliefs. Unfortunately, these beliefs are largely unproven and non-factual. As a result, people may interpret aspects or elements of their religion differently, and this may cause conflict. In The Chrysalids by John Wyndham. He has the characters have different views of religion that results in such a conflict. Throughout this novel, many characters express different views of religion. The reader infers that their experiences are a major factor in shaping how they view religion.

One view of religion expressed by David. He is young and doesn t have a strong sense of his religion. That is why, when David found out about Sophie s sixth toe, he promised Sophie s mom that he wouldn t tell anybody. David obviously questions his religion and therefore, doesn t turn in Sophie. David thought about how a blasphemy was supposed to be a frightful thing and how Sophie wasn t frightful at all. He was puzzled because Sophie is just like everybody else. He says, A blasphemy was, as had been impressed upon me often enough, a frightful thing. Yet there was nothing frightful about Sophie. She was simply an ordinary little girl-if a great deal more sensible and braver than most. (p.14) David accepted his fathers views of religion because David believe his father when he told David that deviations are mean and unpleasant beings. One can clearly see how David doesn t have a good sense of religion.

Another view of religion expressed by David s father. He feels strongly about his religion and will obey his religions laws at all costs. He is very commanding and protective of his religion. This is shown when David states, My father s faith was bred into his bones, his principles were his sinews, and both respond to a mind richly stored with examples from the Bible, and from Nicholson s Repentance s. (p.16)

He gets overly defensive when David wishes he had a third hand. Then David s father told everybody to pray and then sent David to his room to pray for the whole night. David s father could not believe that his own son who he had taught so much about religion would turn on his own father by wanting to be a deviation. One can see how David s father strongly feels about his religions laws.

Yet another view of religion expressed by Uncle Axel. Uncle Axel doesn t believe in religion as strongly as David s father does. He doesn t think people should judge one another by their looks. Uncle Axel quotes, souls are just counters for churches to collect, all the same value, like nails. No, what makes man man is mind: it s not a thing, it s a quality, and minds aren t all the same value: they re better or worse, and the better they are, the more they mean. (pp.79-80) Uncle Axel does believe in God because he told David God is supposed to be able to read minds. So Uncle Axel thinks David and his friends are closer to the true image of God then anyone. The reader can see how Uncle Axel views religion differently

then David s father does.

In The Chrysalids, one can clearly see how one s experiences may shape that person s view of religion. Why do people think they know what God wants. People fight for God but do they even know that God exists? They believe in God so they have some one to turn to. People know if there was no God, there would be no order in the world. If one can t live without God because God brings order to some peoples lives and some people can t stand people preaching about God. Then the question still remains how do people get along with each other in the world?