A Religious Point-of-View

Religion is a huge aspect of this book, especially in the areas where Owen Meany is involved. Everything in Owen’s life revolves around religion, and it is mentioned often, whether they are at church, at the funeral, or at the church’s play.

“As for Owen’s belief that he was ‘God’s instrument’, I didn’t know that there was other evidence upon which Owen was basing his conviction that he’d been specially selected to carry out the work of the Lord but Owen’s idea- that God’s reasoning was somehow predetermining Owen’s every move- came from much more than that one unlucky swing and crack of the bat.” Pg. 87

Going in to the story, this aspect of it did not have much effect on me. As I kept reading though, I became intrigued in the fact that a character could have such strong faith. Someone who was constantly picked on and was noticeably different did not blame God for any of it, but rather took it as a sign and turned it into something good- that God made him like that for a reason.

There is chapter in the story where the children of Owen and Johnny’s school, Gravesend Academy, put on a play for Christmas. It shows a whole new side of Owen’s religious views- how seriously he takes them, and exactly how he thinks about it. I found it interesting; it put religion in a different sort of perspective. There is a part when they are rehearsing, and Owen starts putting in a lot of his opinions towards the director. After some frustration, he says, exasperated, “‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’” Pg. 152

While normally I am not an extremely religious person, I enjoyed reading about it and seeing a new side of it.