How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd go out into a great big field all alone or into the deep, deep woods, and I'd look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I'd just feel a prayer." (7.19)
Anne is all sincerity. Her religious feelings can be summed up as loving the world that God created, whereas the rest of Avonlea thinks of religion more in terms of prayers, church, and duties. We think Anne's idea of a prayer sounds nice, but it shocks Marilla.
Quote #2
She had intended to teach Anne the childish classic, "Now I lay me down to sleep." But she had, as I have told you, the glimmerings of a sense of humor—which is simply another name for a sense of the fitness of things; and it suddenly occurred to her that that simple little prayer, sacred to white-robed childhood lisping at motherly knees, was entirely unsuited to this freckled witch of a girl who knew and cared nothing about God's love, since she had never had it translated to her through the medium of human love. (7.20)
Sure, Marilla is a little shocked when Anne tells her she doesn't pray, but at least she understands why. If Anne doesn't know what love feels like, how could she understand what God is supposed to represent?
Quote #3
"Anne," said Marilla, wondering why she had not broken into this speech long before, "you shouldn't talk that way. It's irreverent—positively irreverent."
Anne's eyes marveled.
"Why, I felt just as reverent as could be. I'm sure I didn't mean to be irreverent."
"Well, I don't suppose you did—but it doesn't sound right to talk so familiarly about such things." (8.27 – 8.30)
Marilla doesn't like when Anne talks about God as if she knows him or knows what he wants. Which of them do you think knows better?