What role do faith and religion play? Would you say that religion is related to the theme of luck?

What role do faith and religion play in the early parts of the novel? What about for the subsequent generation? Would you say that religion is related to the theme of luck?

This is such an interesting question to me - and I see that I am the first to approach it. Well, don't get too excited, because I don't have an answer and am, in fact, reluctant to even be writing here - haven't we all heard the adage about discussing religion and politics in society? Okay - I am skirting the question entirely by asking another - what about karma? Is it luck, religion, or karma - or some combination? What is luck anyway? Is luck somehow tied to repressed belief? Or does how and what we do and think, of and for ourselves and others, in this life at least, lead to our next steps? Oh, it is early as I write - hope I am not scaring you all!

I for one can not personally attach religion to luck, karma, or anything that might happen in life--inclusive of the book/title. I believe, as happened in the book, people will turn to whatever during troubled times--therefore in the book religion counts. Karma---well let's just say its an easier concept to say what goes around comes around, and I find more value in that as a way of life than the taboo and sometimes uncomfortable discussion of religion/God. However, even if you go with karma-in what world does the loss of a child play a role in past or future karma that seems fair? Heavy question---bold to be the 1st on board with this!

I totally agree with Judym. People do seem to turn to religion when life seems to hand them more than they can handle. Rosanna did. I think faith is a theme that runs throughout the book. Faith that the farm would continue to support their family, faith in family values-not necessarily faith in God and or religion.

Religion had more reverence during the period of this book, folks were expected to attend church and have faith. It was interesting that Rosanna was more concerned when things went well. Bad things were going to happen, but you had to have faith during the good times.

I do not think luck and faith are the same thing.You hope yoy will have good luck. Faith is something you except. Faith is something that you believe in. I agree that people tend to go to religion when they have problems they cannot solve. They consider it as the last restort.