Faulkner and the Southern Religious Culture

Education Auditorium

This paper argues that scholars have not adequately explored the relationship between Faulkner's art and the South's religious traditions. Religion was a significant aspect of the "actual" world that Faulkner translated into the "apocryphal." H.L. Mencken coined the term "Bible Belt" to describe the South in the same era in which Faulkner wrote. Faulkner, though, like most Southern writers, was uncomfortable with, indeed critical of, the South's predominant religion. Insights from those studying Southern religion would suggest an overemphasis by Faulkner scholars on Calvinism. Faulkner portrayed the South's folk religion and its civil religion traditions, and these were crucial to his overall saga of Yoknapatawpha County.