Main Street Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)

Quote #1

Blodgett College is on the edge of Minneapolis. It is a bulwark of sound religion. (1.2.1)

One of the first things Sinclair Lewis wants us to know about Carol Kennicott's college is that it's a place of "sound religion," which means that it's a Christian college that has nothing to do with Catholicism. Lewis here is playing on the idea that most Middle Americans tend to have a clear understanding of what good religion is, even though there are hundreds of faiths in the world other than theirs.

Quote #2

Every man fell in love with religion and Carol. (1.2.6)

At college, Carol plays the violin at church services. The young men in attendance fall in love with Carol, but they also suddenly decide they like religion because liking religion might give them a better shot with Carol. Um, so what does that actually have to do with religion, again, exactly?

Quote #3

"But of course as the Bible says, is it the Bible, at least I know I have heard it in church and everybody admits it, it's proper for the little bride to take her husband's vessel of faith." (6.1.76)

Mrs. Bogart thinks that Carol should do her wifely duty by joining her husband's religion. Mrs. Bogart isn't sure whether this rule is written in the Bible, but she's confident that she's heard it before in a church setting. This passage helps us realize just how flimsy Mrs. Bogart's knowledge of religion actually is, even though she's more than happy to turn this limited knowledge into severe moral judgments.