Reflection Journal: "Scrubbing In Maine"

Reflection on Religion in "Scrubbing in Maine" 

In the chapter “Scrubbing in Maine,” Ehrenreich often alludes to and discusses religion. In the beginning of the chapter, she refers to religion by describing a Christian revival service that she attends. Ehrenreich makes it clear that she is an atheist, and only attends the service for entertainment. However, although Ehrenreich is an atheist, she is disturbed by the fact that the speakers do not actually preach about Jesus Christ and his teachings. Ehrenreich even remarks: “But Jesus makes his appearance here only as a corpse; the living man, the wine-guzzling vagrant and precocious socialist, is never once mentioned, nor anything he ever had to say. Christ crucified rules, and it may be that the true business of modern Christianity is to crucify him again and again so that he can never get a word out of his mouth” (42). In this statement, it is clear that Ehrenreich is disturbed that these Christians do not even mention Christ in their revivals. Ehrenreich even uses imagery to convey her disgusted attitude towards modern Christianity. She claims that Christians are “crucifying” Jesus again and again so that he cannot get a word out. Consequently, readers understand that  although Ehrenreich is a self-proclaimed atheist, she is disgusted that Christians do not seem to preach their own religion. Ehrenreich’s disgust with the revival is even more apparent when she doesn’t even feel in the mood to ridicule it any further. She leaves the service early, and claims that she “…would like to stay around for the speaking in tongues, should it occur, but the mosquitoes, worked into a frenzy by all this talk of His blood, are launching a full-scale attack” (42). Ehrenreich’s sarcasm in this statement suggests that she is disappointed and saddened by the revival. She uses even uses irony by stating that the mosquitoes are enticed by the talk of Jesus’s blood. This is ironic because the revivalist speakers do not actually seem to discuss Jesus and His teachings at all. Ehrenreich is simply alluding to her belief that the revivalists are crucifying Jesus again and again, so He cannot “speak” and they do not have to share his teachings. 

Later in the chapter, Ehrenreich alludes to Christianity again while she is working as a maid. She tries to take her mind off of the vigorous tasks ahead of her by alluding to Jesus’s teachings: “I draw on Jesus who was barred from the tent revival, the one who said that the last shall be first and that, if someone asks for your cloak, give him your robe as well” (62). Ehrenreich seems to be well-educated in the Christian religion, despite her atheist views. Her knowledge in the Christian faith and disgust with the religious revival may even suggest that she is not personally against Jesus. She may simply be against modern religion. 

Overall, by discussing religion in this chapter, Ehrenreich suggests that modern religion is blown out of proportion. Modern Christians seem more focused around their personal desires rather than their faith and what Jesus had to say. This continues to serve as an issue in today’s society. As my father is a pastor, I am well aware that several churches refrain from teaching the Bible and even refuse to accept Christ as the savior and son of God. Nowadays, pastors seem more concerned with what the audience wants to hear rather than what scripture has to say. So in order to please their audiences and raise attendances, pastors will refrain from mentioning Jesus Christ and stick will simple messages. Evidently, as Ehrenreich suggests, modern Christians revolve less around the scripture and teachings that they are suppose to embrace.