Editing Gothic Horror (section)

===Religious Themes===
If God's in His heaven, then why is all not right with the world?

Religion is another area in which old traditions struggle alongside the modern ones. Only the uneducated or foreigners (that is, Catholics) get overexcited about their religion; a "proper" Englishman attends church on Sundays and is on speaking terms with his vicar, but more would be unnecessary. Although atheism and pantheism are no longer the dangerously revolutionary concepts they had been a century ago, open enthusiasts still carry the whiff of scandal about them.

The medieval church embodies religion as an enemy of reason, ripe with laws and taboos that no longer apply to modern times. Its institutions are secretive and corrupt, its icons smack of ritualistic paganism, and senior figures abuse their positions to engage in forbidden Gnostic rites. The church is also a hoarder of ancient knowledge, with many books locked away never to be used again. Traditional rituals hold spine-tingling power; they are awe-inspiring, rich, and strange. But are they the tendrils of a superstitious Church that wants to drag modern humanity back into the dark ages? Non-Christian religions are viewed as primitive cults, especially if most worshippers are foreign.

In comparison, the modern church looks increasingly powerless, fractured, and irrelevant. Although evangelical movements are strong, especially among the working class, most rational people believe in a rational, passive God. A vicar (or priest) may well be a rationalist, constantly forced to balance the demands of faith and reason. When confronted with the darkness ahead, no one could be blamed for losing his religion...