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they held their services in the meetinghouse instead, in the same space as they held all their civil and social meetings.
No physical separation of church and state
in Abitha’s experience the Puritans tended to make most moral matters as complicated as possible.
she found no sympathy in the eyes of the parishioners, only condemnation. It seemed at times as though they took great joy in others’ failings, as it made them appear the better, the more pious, more likely to be included when the great rapture finally came and God gathered his flock to him.
There were those who felt that wealth showed them to be in good standing with God and therefore should be flaunted.
“Angels must often do dark deeds in the name of the Lord,” Magistrate Watson added. “Do they not?”
Must I swear off every pleasure in life? I am sick to death of this want to suffer needlessly. Suffering does not bring one closer to God.”
“You speak often of gods and devils. What is the difference?” “That’s easy,” Abitha said. “Gods are benevolent, looking over their flock in return for their devotion. Devils vex and torment.” “And what if it is not that simple?” Samson asked. “Can a god be both slayer and shepherd? Reward and vex? Does your god only do good?” Abitha started to say yes, then considered the book in her hand. “No, I guess not. The Lord, God, He has drowned the world, brought plagues, sends those who offend Him to everlasting torment. Mayhap it depends on how one defines good.”
It is said that the Lord works in mysterious ways.” Abitha closed the bible. “As I said … it can all be a bit confusing.” “Perhaps not, perhaps a god just has many sides.”
It seemed not to matter what the marks were, that it was more the act of making them.
Ritual
“Life is nothing but riddles … we spend our whole lives puzzling them out. Sadly, as soon as we find the answer, the riddle changes. Does it not?”
And when you would not drive the people away, would not go against your own nature … they changed your nature.”
Abitha could see that these people believed, truly believed, that they were doing God’s work here this day. And there was something about these people that horrified Abitha even worse than those whose faces were lined with cruelty. As at least cruelty was a thing that could be pointed out, confronted. But this belief, this absolute conviction that this evil they were doing was good, was God’s work—how, she wondered, how could such a dark conviction ever be overcome?
