Lewis Carroll and his Religion
As there is no study of Lewis Carroll and his views on religion on the web, I have edited information gleaned from the Lewis carroll discussion group. This discourse was framed around Carroll's views of the 39 Articles of the Anglican Church. Much of what is here is background information for those in the group unfamiliar with the history of the Anglican Church in Carroll's era and before.The discussion is edited to present the facts. Remarks that are of a personal nature have been removed. Also the order may have been changed to suit this format. The author of the remarks appears before the remarks made.
The Problem Statement
Karoline Leach:
Apart from Cohen, no
biographer has addressed the ambiguities of Dodgson's religious
life. Almost as many misconceptions and myths surround it as do his
emotional and sexual life. The story has been told repeatedly that
he possessed a 'simple piety' and a complete loyalty to the Anglican
Church. That this is simply not true is clear from a reading of his
diaries and his letters.
But the problem is Dodgson never
left a clear statement of his very personal religious views. All we
have is a scattering of observations, comments, hints and semi
'confessions', which leave us realising his views were anything but
'simple'.
The idea of comparing this scattering of commentary to the 39 Articles, which was the very backbone of 'orthodox' Anglicanism of the time, strikes me as brilliant. It would be the first ever attempt to bring a structural analysis to where Dodgson stood in relation to the Anglican Church. Considering his position as a lecturer at Oxford, who ought to have been in holy orders but wasn't, this is of considerable biographical importance, and might help get a much clearer view of Dodgson the man.
The 39 Articles
The 39 Articles and discussion of them
Background Information
- Historical background for the discussion
- Comparison of Carroll to John Venn
- Carroll's relation to his father as relates to their religious views
- Glossary of concepts and people for quick reference
Useful External Links
- An Overview of Religion in Great Britain It goes into some detail about Tractarianism and the other major religious movements of the time, and seems, on a brief scan to be quite well-informed.
- The second part of this transcript from the Australian Broadcasting Commission's Radio National has information which may give an objective and succinct description of the Society for Psychical Research.