Topic Tracking: Religion
Chapter 1
Religion 1: The tree that the boys climb is called a "steeple," as if it were a religious meeting place like a church building. Later the tree is a meeting place for everyone in Finny's club called the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session.
Religion 2: Finny makes certain to pray every night and, despite his carelessness of the Devon School's rules, remains very faithful to God. It is exactly three minutes for which he is quiet and then resumes his normal chatter. Gene follows his example and also prays before bed.
Chapter 2
Religion 3: The elm trees clustered around Devon School's campus are thought of as so high that they are like the "spires of a great church." The trees are things of daunting beauty. There is a holy, sacred respect attributed to that place. It is peaceful and beautiful like a church building.
Chapter 3
Religion 4: Gene misses attending religious services at the Chapel in favor of going to meetings of the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session at the tree. Finny, who unerringly prays to God for three minutes before bed every night, prompts him to do this.
Chapter 4
Religion 5: As Finny is sleeping on the gray beach just before the break of dawn, Gene describes his body waking up as if he has been raised from the dead by God. It is as if some blessed miracle has just happened to Phineas.
Chapter 7
Religion 6: Gene's experiences were beautiful and wholesome while he was friends with Finny. After knocking him out of the tree for no reason and his departure from Devon School, things now appear to be ugly and dull. He fights Quackenbush and their fall into the Naguamsett River is called a "baptism," as if the grimy waters had anointed Gene with something dark and wicked to contrast the beautiful sights he saw with Phineas.
Religion 7: While Gene excitedly decides to enlist in the war, not to support his country, but rather for the sake of committing violence, the sky suddenly seems dark. He is disconnected from Devon School and sees little in common between his home in the South and these "Yankee stars." Unlike his times spent with Finny, now nature does not inspire him or make him think of God.
Chapter 8
Religion 8: While he was away Gene had stopped praying but now that Finny has returned, he decides to begin praying to God for three minutes, as always. In Phineas' absence Gene had become lonely and cold, desiring to leave the security of Devon to go off and fight in the war. Now Gene strengthens somewhat and becomes Finny's caretaker instead.
Religion 9: Gene Forrester compares the disillusion Phineas has about the war with the optimism of Devon School's chaplain, Mr. Carhart. Carhart believes that God is actually out on the battlefield protecting the allied soldiers and Finny believes that the war is just a fabrication created by "fat old men." Gene considers both of these perceptions of the war to be fantasy.
Chapter 11
Religion 10: The church becomes a tool for military recruiters to try to encourage schoolboys to enlist. Its purpose as a house of worship is lain aside as the war comes to inhabit even the chapel house. There seems to be no escape from the war for Gene.
Religion 11: Brinker leads everyone in prayer after forcibly removing Gene and Finny to the First Academy Building's Assembly Room. The other schoolboys there pray also in preparation for a mock military trial since Hadley regards Finny to be a "fallen soldier." The war continues to intermingle with religion, for God's name is called upon before the inquisition begins, presumably to help to solve the mystery of Finny's accident.
Chapter 12
Religion 12: After Finny dies, his body is placed in a coffin and buried in a cemetery according to religious custom. Gene feels as if it is himself who has died, for he was as much a part of Finny as Finny was a part of him. Phineas still lives inside of Gene through memory and Gene's actions. Because of their friendship, he is changed forever.
Chapter 13
Religion 13: In many ways Finny is a martyr. He lived an innocent life and died through no fault of his own. Before dying he forgave Gene for the violence he had committed against him and Gene is altered forever because of his friend's selfless sacrifice. Finny saves Gene from becoming a cold-hearted soldier intent on killing his enemies and instead opens up his feelings to do good things rather than causing destruction. He does this at the cost of losing his own life.
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