Possession Theme of Spirituality

Whereas Randolph Henry Ash is Possession's representative of Victorian ideas about the relationship between human beings and the natural world, Christabel LaMotte embodies Victorian beliefs, doubts, and fears about religion and spirituality. (We're talking about the more poetic types of Victorians, of course.) More so than any other character in the novel, Christabel is driven by a desire for spiritual knowledge and wisdom, and she's willing to look for it in the new practices of nineteenth-century spiritualism as well as in the more traditional ceremonies of Christianity.

1. What exactly are Randolph Henry Ash's religious beliefs, as we come to know them?
2. What are Christabel LaMotte's religious beliefs? Are they compatible with Randolph Henry Ash's, or do the lovers butt heads when it comes to their ideas about the soul?
3. In what ways are spiritualist theories and practices compatible with Christianity, from Christabel LaMotte's point of view?

In one of his letters to Christabel LaMotte, Randolph Henry Ash mentions an old-fashioned stereotype that views women as being naturally suited for religious belief (as opposed to more questioning and critically-minded men). Although Randolph rejects this stereotype, Possession itself seems to reflect it. In the novel, it's Christabel who embodies nineteenth-century ideas about religion and spirituality, whereas Randolph represents the century's fascination with advances in science.

Although Christabel LaMotte tells Randolph Henry Ash that his epic poem Ragnarök inspired the most painful religious doubt of her life, by the end of the novel, she seems to be more comfortable with doubt and uncertainty. The youthful Christabel who was upset by Ragnarök seems very different from the middle-aged Christabel who attends séances and tries to communicate with friends beyond the grave.