As I Lay Dying

The Corruption of Christianity in As I Lay Dying 12th Grade

It is human nature to desire a better understanding of oneself; without the magnificent powers of scientific fact, humans were forced to use the next best concepts: introspection, thought, and philosophy. Through the use of the dynamic human mind, human societies were able to determine explanation and reason for our existence, which time and time again evolved into religion. In general, human societies have created religions that celebrate a higher power -- a tendency that has continued on into modern society with countless examples such as Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Of these three, Christianity is the predominant religion of western culture and represents a significant part of society from politics, to the economy, holidays, and cultural traditions. While the basic principles of the religion offer a positive way of life, modern societal standards have the tendency to elicit unethical exploitation of its system of beliefs. William Faulkner provides an insightful narrative in As I Lay Dying, illustrating the plethora of atrocities that result from religious corruption. Due to human nature’s selfish impulses, religion -- more specifically, Christianity -- is meant to act as a power for good. However, the ideas are taken...

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