Do you know the spirit in the sky? Meridian Hill sure does. In Meridian, this sharply intelligent young woman is torn between the religious traditionalism of her youth and the die-hard atheism of her adulthood. Quite the conflict. The question raised by the novel is simple—what happens when someone tries to find a balance between the two? The answer is surprisingly complex and balanced, emphasizing the importance of ritual, tradition, and community—even if you don't believe in the big bearded man upstairs. And who knows: maybe the church did a little changing along the way, too. So put on your Sunday best and get your singing voice warmed up—Shmoop's taking you to church.
Questions About Spirituality
- What is the difference between religion and mysticism?
- Why is Anne-Marion so resentful toward religion?
- What can we learn about spirituality from Feather Mae? Explain.
- What causes the changes in the church that Meridian observes at the end of the novel?
Chew on This
While Meridian never becomes religious per-say, she always has a spiritual side that guides her throughout her life.
Although Anne-Marion talks a lot of trash about religion, wethinks the lady dost protest too much—her anti-religion attitude is simply a reaction to her own strict upbringing, rather than a nuanced belief system.