How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
James flicked his eyes over the cemetery. "We're all gonna die, you know."
Dicey nodded. "Not for a long time."
"Do you think Momma's dead?"
"I don't know. How could I know that?"
"No matter what, we're all gonna die," James remarked. "So it doesn't matter what we do, does it?"
Dicey was thinking about other things, about maps and food. She didn't answer.
"Unless there's a Hell, to punish us. But I don't think there is. I really don't. Or Heaven. Or anything. Dicey?" (1.6.209-215)
The Tillerman kids might not have any religious background, but that doesn't mean they don't think about the big questions in life. Here, James has come up with a kind of nihilistic philosophy. What do individual actions matter since everyone just winds up in the grave anyhow? That's one way of looking at things.
Quote #2
Where the veil broke, you could see silvery islands of clouds on which tall angels might stand. Not cute little Christmas angels, but high, stern angels in white robes, whose faces were sad and serious from being near God all day and hearing His decisions about the world. Dicey was hypnotized by the molten silver of the cloudy islands and not until the veil of fuzzy gray blew across it again did she begin their march of the day. (1.7.19)
Dicey seems to be thinking about the Christmas cards Aunt Cilla would send with sweet little angels on them. But she recognizes that the heavens probably contain sterner forces. After all, if God's in charge, then he's the one putting these kids through this terrible trip, right?
Quote #3
Sometimes the Church can make the more sensitive personal inquiries, that the police authorities can't." He turned to Dicey. "What is your religion?"
"I don't know," Dicey said. "We never went to church." He frowned slightly.
"There is another question that I'm afraid I have to ask. The matter of your name. Tillerman. That would be your mother's name. Your parents were not married?"
Dicey shook her head. "I don't think so," she said. Cousin Eunice sucked in a noisy breath. Dicey did not look at her. (1.9.150-153)
Oh, man—let the judgments start. Eunice is very devout, so she's scandalized by the fact that Dicey's parents weren't married. Father Joseph is a bit pushy, but at least he doesn't have a breakdown over kiddies born outside of wedlock.