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Albert Camus Role Of Religion

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In the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, the topic of religion comes up many times. In Part Two, it plays a major role in determining Meursault's outcome. Religion plays the role of a guide in this novel. Many characters who believe in God refer to him as a savior for any sins. The first example of a religious person is the magistrate. He talks about how God will forgive anyone. It does not matter how severe the sin. The only thing that matters is the person is truly sorry for committing such an act. Then, the magistrate brings up his reason for believing in God, “He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him. That was his belief, and if he were ever to doubt it, his life would become meaningless” …show more content…
Unlike the magistrate, God is his sole purpose for living. The magistrate has a job that does not require religion to complete it. However, a priest is not a priest if he has no higher being to preach about. The priest believes and tells Meursault that God is there to help anyone. Again, God is being used as a term for a guide. This is coming from a man who dedicated his entire life off the aspect of faith. But this is where is he is different from the magistrate. The magistrate talked to Meursault as a man trying to convert another into the religious world. The priest pities Meursault and actually tries to help him. He does not stray from the fact that Meursault might die. He talks about the fact that everyone will die at one point or another. However, the priest goes on to talking about the afterlife and the important aspect of “leaving a mark on Earth”, “‘Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?’” (Camus 117). He tells Meursault that his appeal might be granted, but that is not the end of it. He tells him that committing such an act leaves a mark on a person’s soul. The only way to cleanse this mark is to give oneself to God and let him help rid of that mark. However, Meursault finds that to be pointless. He does not want anyone’s help and he does not want to take an interest in anything that is not interesting to him. It is time-consuming and there

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