White Teeth Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"The fact is both these boys have serious emotional problems and it's not helped by Millat refusing to see Magid. It upsets him so much. They've been split by their religions, by their cultures. Can you imagine the trauma?" (16.104)

Magid and Millat, twin sons of Muslim parents, choose atheism and a radical Islam, respectively. How do their religious beliefs divide them? Why is it significant that these twins, so connected in certain ways, occupy opposite sides of the religious spectrum?

Quote #5

He knew that he was KEVIN's big experiment, and he wanted to give it his best shot […] On the scriptural side of things, he thought Muhammad (peace be upon Him!) was a right geezer, a great bloke, and he was in awe of the creator, in the original meaning of that word: dread, fear, really s***-scared—and Hifan said that was correct, that was how it should be. He understood this idea that his religion was not one based on faith—not like the Christians, the Jews, et al.—but one that could be intellectually proved by the best minds. He understood the idea. But, sadly, Millat was far from possessing one of the best minds, or even a reasonable mind; intellectual proof or disproof was beyond him. (17.60)

Millat is, in many ways, in KEVIN's inner circle. But he also recognizes that he doesn't really belong there. He works hard to make up for his lack of intellectualism by using his exemplary social skills to attract new members. If Millat can't really keep up as far as religious thought goes, what is he doing in KEVIN?

Quote #6

"Hortense, I don't want you filling her head with a whole load of nonsense. You hear me? Your mother was fool to it, and then you were fool to it, but the buck stopped with me and it ain't going no further. If Irie comes home spouting any of that claptrap, you can forget about the Second Comin' 'cos you'll be dead by the time it arrives."

Big words. But how fragile is Clara's atheism! (15.119)

The last line of the quote says it all.