Dan Behr

Jr. Theology/Faith

August 22, 2006

 

Holden Caulfield: A Man of Faith

 

New York City. While in New York Holden goes through a process of change and matures from an adolescent with a child’s mind to a young adult. Throughout Holden’s trip to New York he struggles with his faith as well as many other things. One of the main questions discussed about the book is whether or not Holden is a man of faith.

  Although Holden is not always the perfect example of a faithful person and seems cynical at times, he still tries to be a good person. Throughout Holden’s travels he grows in faith from a cynical doubter to someone who although not positive about his faith wants to believe and tries to live as a good person. Holden struggles to be a person of faith and although not always successful he appears to be moving down the right path. Because of Holden’s inner struggle to be a good person and wish to believe we can say that he is at least somewhat faithful and not all cynical.

Holden looks at life and people through a cynical point of view. He believes that all people are out for their own good and he trusts nobody. He shares the same view about the church. He does not like when the subject of religion or the church is brought up during conversation. “Catholics are always trying to find out if you’re a Catholic…That kind of stuff always drives me crazy.”[pg. 112-113] Holden does not like the topic of religion because he doesn’t have any religion at the moment. Although Holden has no religion that does not mean he has no faith. We have learned that faith and religion are two different things. Faith is belief and trust in God. Religion is the way you choose to express this faith in God. Holden may not have faith in the Catholic Church or in the Protestant Churches but he still has a faith in God.

Throughout Holden’s trip to New York, he struggles with his belief in God and even states that he does not know if he believes in any God. But everyone at times doubts their beliefs even Jesus questioned God’s plan. Doubting is an important part of faith because to live your life without any doubt would be to live your life without thinking. The whole plot of the story is Holden maturing from a child to a young man. It is in this process of maturing that one first begins to think fully for ones self and because of this thinking for ones self you begin to doubt. Prior to this period of maturing a child follows and believes most of what his parents tell him/her. When that child begins to grow into an adult they begin to question their old beliefs. This questioning of your beliefs is natural because it shows that you are truly beginning to think for yourself. You begin to form your own opinion about faith and religion. This is the period we see Holden going through. Although Holden doubts the church and even his belief in God that doesn’t mean he is not a man of faith. In fact that probably means he will have more faith than those who believe only because it is what they were taught.

By the end of his trip we see Holden as a much more mature person. Instead of running away from society Holden decides to stay. I think that by this time Holden has come closer to being a man of faith. Throughout his trip Holden matured from a boy of little faith to someone who although not sure is on the road to being a man of faith.