The Color Purple Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

She say, My first step from the old white man was trees. Then air. Then birds. Then other people. But one day when I was sitting quiet and feeling like a motherless child, which I was, it come to me: that feeling of being part of everything, not separate at all. I knew that if I cut a tree, my arm would bleed. And I laughed and cried and I run all around the house. I knew just what it was. In fact, when it happen, you can’t miss it. It sort of like you know what, she say, grinning and rubbing high up on my thigh.

Shug! I say.

Oh, she say. God love all them feelings. That’s some of the best stuff God did. And when you know God loves 'em you enjoys 'em a lot more. You can just relax, go with everything that’s going, and praise God by liking what you like. (73.52-54)

Shug find a connection to God in nature, not in the idea of God an old white man. She also sees God in all things pleasurable, from experiencing being in nature to the enjoyment of sex.

Quote #8

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it. (73.58)

Shug sees God’s love in the beauty around her. She believes that God places beauty in the world to make human happy; that God made the color purple in order to cause pleasure.

Quote #9

The first thing I notice about Mr.______ is how clean he is. His skin shine. His hair brush back. When he walk by the casket to review Sofia mother’s body he stop, whisper something to her. Pat her shoulder. On his way back to his seat he look over at me. I raise my fan and look off the other way. Us went back to Harpo’s after the funeral. I know you won’t believe this, Miss Celie, say Sofia, but Mr.___________ act like he trying to get religion. Big a devil as he is, I say, trying is bout all he can do. He won’t go to church or nothing, but he not so quick to judge. He work real hard too. (79.1-6)

Getting "religion" isn’t the same as going to church. Mr.__ doesn’t go to church, but he’s been getting "religion" because he has recognized his sins against Celie and is trying to change himself into a person who has some compassion and decency.