For most of The History of Love, religion waits patiently on the sidelines. While it's of course significant that most of the characters in the novel are Jewish, Judaism itself—as a religion—isn't really discussed directly until Bird's character takes center stage near the book's conclusion. That said, the crisis of faith that Bird undergoes (weighing faith against doubt), and all the uncertainty that comes along with it, can be found throughout the book.
Questions About Religion
- How is each character's relationship with death and dying shaped by their religious beliefs—specifically their conception of the afterlife (see, for example, 5.7)?
- How is Judaism treated in the novel—as a religion, a culture, a heritage, an ethnicity?
- What do angels represent in the novel (remember: there are angels in The History of Love and also an angel on Leo's floor)?
- Where do you think Bird gets the idea that he is a lamed vovnik? What's motivating that belief?