Question

Malachy McCourt said, 'In Ireland there were a lot of Catholics but very few Christians, as I recall.'" Consider the quote as it relates in similar ways to Frank McCourt's First Communion Day experience as described in pp. 116-131 of Angela's Ashes and Langston Hughes' revival experience in Salvation. Using textual evidence and relevant commentary, defend your inference of Hughes' and McCourt's positions on Malachy McCourt's claim.

A) Hughes and McCourt both share Malachy McCourt's view that religiosity is superficial and ritualistic.
B) Hughes and McCourt both disagree with Malachy McCourt's statement and believe in the deep faith of Catholics.
C) Hughes agrees with Malachy McCourt's statement, while McCourt disagrees with it.
D) Hughes and McCourt provide insufficient evidence to evaluate their positions on Malachy McCourt's claim.

Answer 1

Hughes and McCourt's narratives suggest a critique of superficial religiosity, aligning with the claim that there is a distinction between participating in religious rituals and embodying true Christian principles. Thus, they share the view that religiosity can often be superficial and ritualistic. Option A is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the claim made by Malachy McCourt, that 'In Ireland there were a lot of Catholics but very few Christians,' both Frank McCourt and Langston Hughes present narratives that seem to align with the view that religious experience can be superficial and ritualistic.

In Frank McCourt's 'Angela's Ashes,' the First Communion Day experience suggests a focus on the ceremonial rather than the spiritual. On the other hand, Hughes' 'Salvation' recounts a revival meeting that ends with Hughes feeling disillusioned, as he did not encounter the expected spiritual revelation.

Within Frank McCourt's and Langston Hughes' writings, we see a critique of religious institutions or events that emphasize external practices over internal spiritual experience. In this manner, it could be argued that option A is the most accurate: Hughes and McCourt both share Malachy McCourt's view that religiosity is superficial and ritualistic.

This perspective is illustrated in their respective narratives through a lens that questions the authenticity of religious experiences dictated by societal pressures rather than personal conviction. Supporting this, the narrated experiences portray a sense of going through the motions—partaking in religious rites without the manifestation of a profound faith or understanding.

Such observations can lead to the inference that both authors might share the sentiment that there is a discrepancy between the followers of religious rituals and the true embodiment of Christian principles.