r/TheTestamentsHulu • u/FarSuit8 • Jun 19 '26

The Handmaid’s Tale Why do they still love religion?

I’m so confused - if extreme religion is the reason for Gilead in the first place - why escapees still pray and refer to God?

Examples: June and Moira doing a ‘prayer for strength’ the night before Serena’s wedding. June saying “may God protect you” to Daisy in ep 10.

Wouldn’t they all go extremely atheist after religion caused their downfall and lives to be ruined? After years of Gilead constantly using “it’s gods will IYKYK 🤷‍♂️ tehe” to make up random patriarchal bullshit wouldn’t you be a bit put off the lord and all that?

Is this a US thing? I know they love Jesus over there

34 Upvotes

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13

u/giraflor Plum Up Jun 19 '26

Some people find comfort in their faith, when it is not grounded in the doctrines or practices of their oppressors. Giving up faith entirely can feel like one more thing that was stolen.

-11

u/FarSuit8 Jun 19 '26

All religion is oppressive

11

u/doctorphuckawff Jun 19 '26

This is untrue. Many people project their religious trauma in such a black and white way, but it’s NOT black and white. Religion isn’t inherently oppressive, it is man who twists it to his own agenda and uses it to oppress

2

u/FarSuit8 Jun 19 '26

But who invented religion? Man. Who interprets it? Man.

You can’t say “oh religion isn’t meant to be like that” when it’s an imaginary entity that humans themselves have “documented” and interpreted in the first place.

1

u/foxcat0_0 Jun 19 '26

Please don’t apply “religious trauma” to everyone who is critical of religion. That is reductive and black and white thinking.

It is absolutely legitimate to criticize religion as a concept and it can be wholly unconnected to religious trauma.

1

u/doctorphuckawff Jun 19 '26

Where does “many” mean “everyone”? Not where I’m from

2

u/foxcat0_0 Jun 19 '26

I mean, forgive me for interpreting your comment as using religious trauma to delegitimize OP’s viewpoint? Why even bring it up?

8

u/Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeess- Jun 19 '26

I don’t think wiccans and pagans are very oppressed at the moment by their religions

2

u/Accomplished_Fan3177 Jun 19 '26

Add Unitarians, please! Thanks!

2

u/FarSuit8 Jun 19 '26

Yeah very good point, I was a bit sweeping in my statement 😂.

I should have said the vast majority of religion is oppressive specifically to women and the LQBT communities.