From the fact that Jane Austen says nothing about God Peter Sellick manages to produce two whole pages of waffle. Imagine how much he could have written if she actually had said something!

Sells,

"Thus Austen’s characters live at ease with God in that God has no place in their lives." -- Peter Sellick

"Had I died, it would have been self-destruction. I did not know my danger till the danger was removed; but with such feelings as these reflections gave me, I wonder at my recovery--wonder that the very eagerness of my desire to live, to have time for atonement to my God, and to you all, did not kill me at once. Had I died, in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse, my friend, my sister! - Pride and Predjudice" - JA

"I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England." Pride and Predjudice" - JA

"I am bound to let you into the secret, for you are a party concerned. I dare say you have seen enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every other profession." - Sense and Sensibility - JA

"A clergyman cannot be high in state or fashion. He must not head mobs, or set the ton in dress. But I cannot call that situation nothing which has the charge of all that is of the first importance to mankind individually or collectively considered, temporally and eternally, which has the guardianship of religion and morals, and consequently of the manners which result from their influence." - Mansfield Park- JA

Jane Austen's world is a world of total disempowerment of women, people believed in Queen [Victoria] and Empire. We never want to go there again. That said, the benign nature of the country minister was surely influencial in quashing over-zealous dogma and religiosity.

Peter, I can’t tell why you’re writing about it, but I agree that God doesn’t feature in Austen’s novels.

Corrigendum: Edmund, the second son who takes holy orders, is in MANSFIELD PARK.

In PERSUASION, I can recall a triumphant report to Anne that, in some debate or other in Bath, “the atheists were routed” – but, it seemed like a kind of sport.

Pax,

"The debate between evolution and scripture in the English-speaking world was won by the followers of Darwin and Huxley, but in the parallel debate between atheism and faith, the atheists were routed."

- Theodore Caplow on the nineteenth century church.

- Not in Jane Austen

In this period women were more liberated than Austen's time. The effects greater liberty, higher literacy, less [rostitution and great drug [opium] abuse.

Romany
My choice of Jane came about because I had just finished “Persuasion” and I have been reading for a PhD about the 18th century English divines where I came across the observation of there laicisation. I did not mean to slander Austin, I have enjoyed her novels enormously it is just that her presentation of virtue invites criticism from a theological point of view. Without this view I admit the article makes little sense but I write mostly for the theologically literate who are coming to be sparse on the ground.

john kosci
Thanks for the ref to Stephen Toulamin's "Cosmopolis", I will hunt it down.

Peter Sellick

I'm surprised that you didn't make the obvious connection, Sells.

>>...her presentation of virtue invites criticism from a theological point of view. Without this view I admit the article makes little sense but I write mostly for the theologically literate who are coming to be sparse on the ground.<<

While most folk seem to enjoy Austen (I confess that I myself can't stay awake through more than a couple of pages) for her ability to create a sense of familiarity and "presence" in her world, you look for signs of advanced theology.

With such a fundamentally barren outlook, it is little wonder that there are ever fewer "theologically literate" as the years pass, while the legions who admire Austen's ability to connect with humanity continue to increase.

You should try it occasionally, Sells. Connecting with humanity, that is.

You might find it strangely exciting, if a little challenging at first.