In a prayer for Owen Meany the relationship between religion and faith is often contradictory to social beliefs and causes confusion. Johnny's questions about organized religion and his growing faith create tension. The final chapter of the novel reconciles the tension through the parallelism that occurs between Owen and religious and supernatural imagery, indicating that faith and religion are not necessarily linked. Thus the novel suggests that the existence of higher powers depends on the individual's perceptions, not on traditional norms. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout Johnny's life, the contrast between his struggle to find the truth in religion and his growing trust in his best friend, Owen Meany, illustrates the internal battle Johnny faces as he determines what he believes. The novel begins with Johnny criticizing religion by stating that "every study of the gods, of everyone's gods, is a revelation of vengeance towards the innocent" (9). The use of “study” leads to questioning the difference between religion and faith, since in the passage religion is something to study, faith is something to believe in. Johnny questions the validity of organized religion, as he sees it as more corrupt than beneficial. His uncertainty towards Christianity is evident throughout the novel as he questions the practice of religious figures among the various branches of Christianity. The act of deciding on his favorite religious practice tests Johnny's faith, which Owen analyzes by saying that “BELIEF IS NOT AN INTELLECTUAL MATTER” (115). Comparable to Irving's use of "study" in the previous passage, "intellectual" suggests that the use of analytical thought, vis-à-vis faith, diminishes its strength. In his youth, religion played a more important role in Johnny's life than faith, which is at odds in adulthood. , after Owen's death, when “a small, strong hand (or something like a small, strong hand) guided [his] hand to the light switch; a small, strong hand, or something, pulled him forward from where [he] staggered on the top step of the stairs. And his voice - it was unmistakably Owen's voice - said, "DON'T BE AFRAID." NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO YOU'” (526). The repetition emphasizes the implication, even before it is outright stated, that Owen is helping Johnny from beyond the grave. The italicized text indicates the shock Johnny must have felt at that moment, and also signifies how much he truly believes that Owen saved him. The miracle of Owen returning to Johnny from the dead perpetuates his belief in Owen as a divine force. Much more than a boy or a childhood friend, Owen is a miracle, someone to look up to: God. The belief in faith that Owen instilled in Johnny spilled over into his adult life when he discovered that "[he] was more Anglican than as much as [he] had ever been a Congregationalist or an Episcopalian - or even a non-denominational, the Hurd Church whatever - [he]-was [He] was a participant in the Grace Church on-the-Hill in a way that [he] had never participated before” (465). Before Owen's death, Johnny's experience with religion had been inconsistent, having changed branches of Christianity as a child, criticizing the authority and practice in the IS Church It is only after Owen's death that Johnny begins to strongly identify as a Christian, because he believes in the miracle that was Owen. The emphasis on word choice in the passage indicates the different phases of Johnny's life, suggesting that the last one is the most significant , as he actively participates, making his own deliberate choices about faith.Johnny single-handedly defines Christianity when he disregards traditional norms and allows himself to believe in the person he has always been faithful to, demonstrating how higher powers don't necessarily have to take traditional forms. The parallels between Owen and religious, supernatural imagery reconcile the tension between faith and religion, showing how faith and traditional perceptions of religion can be two separate entities, further suggesting that the existence of divine figures depends on a person's faith . As a boy, Owen's peculiar physical characteristics are often drawn to attention in order to show his physical weakness. The irony of the entire novel, however, is that despite his small stature, Owen has great spiritual power, demonstrated in the context of religious imagery as when he "seemed like a descending angel, a diminutive but fiery god, sent to judge the errors of our ways” (72). The celestial image associated with Owen suggests that he is more than human and possesses some form of holy power. Owen and Jesus are analogous through judgment, as Jesus was asked to judging sins, indicating that Owen has the same purpose. His physical characteristics represent him as a religious figure as well as how he is perceived figuratively: “The editorial and subsequent weekly essays that Owen published in The Grave were attributed. not to Owen Meany by name, but to Owen. "The Voice"; and the text was printed in uniform capital letters" (293) The parallel between Owen Meany and Jesus Christ is shown by the way Owen is portrayed in the newspaper his school. He is called "The Voice". with a capital V which is similar to how God is capitalized, like He. Likewise Owen and Jesus both have distinct forms of recognition in terms of writing. In the Bible, Jesus' words are marked with red text, comparable to Owen's capital writing on the paper (and his dialogue). The similarities in style and recognition indicate that Owen is as transcendent and important to his followers (his community in Gravesend) as Jesus was to Christians. Furthermore, Owen's presence, although physically small, carried great weight in his community. Often a leader, his voice is prevalent as are the bright images with which he is associated, seen at the end of the novel when “the sun had set, vivid streaks of vermilion light traced the enormous sky, and through one of these streaks of light [Johnny] saw Owen's plane descend - as if, wherever Owen Meany went, some sort of light always accompanied him” (607). The imagery associated with Owen describes him as a figure followed by a constant presence of light: a supernatural, celestial characteristic. Light is often implied by positivity and purity, characteristics reminiscent of angels and sacred figures. Furthermore, the most explicit comparison between Owen and Jesus is the Meanys' suggestion that Owen is the product of a “virgin birth” (549). Although many find the idea absurd, its implications suggest that Owen, like Jesus, was born predestined for a sacrificial cause. The parallel between Owen and Jesus resolves Johnny's contradictory feelings about organized religion and faith, because he no longer has to decide which takes the more prevalent role in his life. Johnny's redefinition of Christianity, through Owen's means, shows the flexibility of faith and religion, showing that, although separate entities, they can coexist; in Johnny's case, his religion depends on his faith in Owen. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay The tension between questions about Johnny's religion throughout the novel and his growing.