The Role of Religion in A Farewell to Arms Religion played a significant role in A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. The attitudes the character had towards war and life were closely associated with their views on religion. Due to the extreme circumstances of the war, moral standards were dark for the characters. Almost everything about the war violated the normal moral code, which led many to feel disenchanted. Those who considered the war senseless had no faith in God or religion. For the character of Fredrick Henry it was clear that his faith in God was a subject of conflict. Henry was a character who understood religion, but did not love God. His love for Catherine was the most religious feeling he had. Although Fredrick Henry had no faith in God, he understood the power and control that God has. With the exception of the priest, most of the characters in the novel were not religious. Early in the novel the mayor of Henry's mess declares his lack of faith in God, saying, "He loves Franz Joseph. That's where the money comes from. I'm an atheist." (7). He wasn't the only one who wasn't religious, the lieutenant and the others in the mess shared the same sentiment. This display of disrespect for religion initially surprised the reader, as he thought all Italians were devout Catholics. As the plot developed, this feeling was related to the circumstances in which the characters found themselves. As seen from the beginning of the novel, drinking and going to brothels and officers' clubs was common for soldiers. During times of war, these activities are almost necessary to relieve the psychological stress imposed on these men. In this environment, being reli...... at the center of the card ......or Catherine's life. But like the ant on the log, the prayer went unheard. Works cited and consulted Hemingway, Ernest. A farewell to arms. New York: Sons of Charles Scribner. 1956.Ernest Hemingway in his time. July 1999. University of Delaware Library, Special Collections Department. December 29, 2000 .Flashback. July 1999. The Atlantic Monthly. December 29, 2000 Hemingway's Bonfire. December 2000. Hemingway Bonfire on Nantucket. January 5, 2001 .Lewis, Wyndham. Twentieth century interpretations of the farewell to arms. Ed. Jay Gellens. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice, 1970. 56-64.Young, Philip. Ernest Hemingway. New York: Rinehart, 1952.