How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"You should have listened to Mr. Bell."
"But he wasn't talking to me," protested Anne. "He was talking to God and he didn't seem to be very much interested in it, either. I think he thought God was too far off to make it worthwhile. I said a little prayer myself, though. There was a long row of white birches hanging over the lake and the sunshine fell down through them, 'way, 'way down, deep into the water. Oh, Marilla, it was like a beautiful dream! It gave me a thrill and I just said, "Thank you for it, God," two or three times." (11.28)
Which do you think was a more heartfelt prayer, Mr. Bell's very official Sunday School prayer or Anne giving thanks for the birches and lake?
Quote #5
Marilla felt helplessly that all this should be sternly reproved, but she was hampered by the undeniable fact that some of the things Anne had said, especially about the minister's sermons and Mr. Bell's prayers, were what she herself had really though deep down in her heart for years, but had never given expression to. (11.35)
Not knowing better, Anne has criticized many elements of the local church. Marilla is torn between the idea that you shouldn't criticize anyone who's working for God and the fact that Anne's criticisms are on point. So she takes the middle road—she lets Anne get away with saying it, but doesn't say she agrees with Anne, either.
Quote #6
"Mrs. Allan said we should always try to influence other people for good. She talked so nice about everything. I never knew before that religion was such a cheerful thing. I always thought it was kind of melancholy, but Mrs. Allan's isn't, and I'd like to be a Christian if I could be one like her." (21.10)
Good thing the Allans came along. They're both so gentle and positive that they inspired an interest in religion in Anne. Probably because their approach appeals to Anne's sense of awe and imagination.