Revolver Theme of Religion

In Revolver, religion is woven into the everyday life of Sig and his family. For Sig's mom and stepmom, belief in the Bible and faith in God is what keeps them going. But not everyone thinks this is the best way, and we get the feeling that lots of people think Maria and Nadya go a little too far when it comes to quoting scripture in everyday life.

One of those people is Einar. It's not the he doesn't believe in God; it's just that he's seen enough of the world to know that it's not as black and white as religion sometimes makes it out to be. Sig struggles to decide who he agrees with more—his mom or his dad—when it comes to religion, and ultimately forges his own path.

Questions About Religion

  1. How would you characterize the book's attitude toward organized religion? Does Einar see all forms of religion as corrupt, or only the particular form embodied by crazy preachers like the one at Nadya's old church?
  2. How do the religious beliefs of certain characters help them survive, or at least cope, with difficult situations? When Anna is afraid, she longs for the Bible, just like her mom—does Sig too?
  3. Whose religious beliefs does Sig agree with more, his mom's or his dad's? Why do you think that is?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

The function of religion in Revolver is mainly personal. The book shows us that people believe whatever is most comforting to them.

In Revolver, Einar and Wolff treat violence and deceit as a sort of religion.