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Originally Posted by ccowie
...I think Charles’s conversion comes not because he’s now convinced that adherence to the ritual of religion brings about direct divine intervention, but that it has some very real comforting power in that the family have their belief in common. I think his own disjointed family relationships, particularly with his father, has something to do with his desire for belonging and Catholicism at least seems to offer that to the Flytes and perhaps to him as well. This would also make sense regarding Waugh’s own conversion...
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That's an interesting view. It's hard to know what Waugh was really thinking about Catholicism, but the family did have a connection to each other through religion regardless of how tenuous and this is especially enhanced since they were in a minority religion for the area. I can see Charles as you say yearning for this connection and bond and that even without the family, his memories of them could give him warmth and comfort through following their religion. This could also speak to the larger purpose of religion in society as well; besides the comfort of a divine being to worship and a set of moral rules to follow, religion gives people a community.