How we cite our quotes:
Quote #1
But for all that her father sang beautifully, heartbreakingly, of God, she sensed he did not believe in Him in quite the same way her mother did. (1.1.122)
Meridian's mother has a straight-forward relationship with religion—she whole-heartedly believes in everything without giving it much thought. Meridian's father, on the other hand, has a spiritual relationship with the world that doesn't rely much on dogma. Can you guess who Meridian relates with more?
Quote #2
They made her ashamed of that past, and yet all of them had shared it. The church, the music, the tolerance shown to different beliefs outside the community, the tolerance shown to strangers. (1.1.134)
It's interesting that Meridian's fellow political activists all come from traditional religious backgrounds, but have rejected that upbringing in no uncertain terms. Despite this, it seems like their background influences them more than they realize—after all, there's nothing more Christ-like than helping the poor, right? Aside from, you know, the whole being born to a virgin thing.
Quote #3
In this, she and Meridian were exactly alike, except if some pathetic, distracted old marcher wished to bend Meridian’s ear about his or her Jesus, Meridian would stand patiently and listen (1.3.4)
Although she doesn't believe in Christianity anymore, Meridian doesn't hate religion like Anne-Marion does. On one hand, it's in Meridian's nature to be understanding of traditional values, even if she doesn't embrace them as her own. But her early spiritual experiences are worth mentioning too, as they likely softened her stance on religion.
Quote #4
Later, Feather Mae renounced all religion that was not based on the experience of physical ecstasy—thereby shocking her Baptist church and its unsympathetic congregation. (1.6.33)
Meridian isn't the only member of her family to have a spiritual experience at the Sacred Serpent. For Feather Mae—Meridian's great-great-grandmother—this experience is nothing less than mind-blowing, shattering all of her preconceived notions about religion in an instant. Feather Mae is proof that you don't have to be conservative and straight-laced to believe in a higher power.
Quote #5
The Sojourner [...] filled her with the same sense of minuteness and hugeness, of past and present, of sorry and ecstasy that she had known at the Sacred Serpent. (1.13.2)
At the Sacred Serpent, Meridian felt like she was dying, like she was completely disconnected from reality itself. At the Sojourner, she achieves a similar effect in a different way: instead of making her feel like she's dead, it connects her to the past. For Meridian, this connection to her ancestors is an important part of spirituality.
Quote #6
"So God fixes the road in front of your house, does he?" she asked, using her Northern logic. (1.14.30)
It's not like Lynne isn't correct here—if the old woman wants things to change, she needs to take action herself. The problem is that Lynne doesn't understand the emotional power of religion because religion never played a part in her own upbringing.
Quote #7
What she meant was, she no longer believed in God and did not like to think about Jesus (for whom she still felt a bitter, grudging admiration). (1.15.19)
Even Anne-Marion has to give it up for our boy J-Dawg. Like many religious kids turned political activists, Anne-Marion both defies and exemplifies her stringent religious upbringing. After all, she's currently sacrificing her own education to help the poor. If that's not straight-up Jesus stuff, then we don't know what is.
Quote #8
She stood as the people began to sing a once quite familiar song, but now she could not remember the words; they seemed stuck in some pinched-over groove in her memory. (3.28.5)
For reasons unknown to even her, Meridian starts attending church. It shocks her how different things are. This feeling is embodied in the music, which, as already established, was her favorite part about church growing up. The church still honors those old traditions (that's the job of churches, after all), but looks at them with a fresh perspective.
Quote #9
He said he was thankful they could count on each other in times of trouble. He said he would not pray any longer because there was a lot of work for the community to do. (3.28.6)
This man embodies a new movement within the church. Yes, of course, he wants them all to pray in honor of his son. But, more importantly, he wants them to act. Church-going folks seem like they're the most conservative people in the world, but sometimes they're the ones most willing to fight for what's right. Martin Luther King Jr., anyone?
Quote #10
It struck Meridian that he was deliberately imitating King, that he and all his congregation knew he was consciously keeping that voice alive. It was like a play. (3.28.10)
Meridian is witnessing the power of ritual. The church has integrated Martin Luther King Jr.—a famed preacher and brilliant speaker himself—into its tradition, keeping his memory alive and using it to instill hope for the future. This helps Meridian realize that the community aspect of religion can be powerful, regardless of personal belief.