I want to preface this by saying that this review is based on my own thoughts and experiences and do not reflect those of every Christian. I just made this post because being familiar with the Bible gives the book a whole other layer which I found interesting.
So I went into this book completely blind without reading any reviews or discussions on it. I had heard of The Handmaid’s Tale before but literally did not know anything about it…which is surprising considering how popular the book is. Because of this, I was so lost until like the first quarter of the book when things had began to unfold. Once I got the hang of what was going on, I was shook. I loved Atwood’s use of non-linear storytelling. Although this made it difficult to follow the story at some point, I still think it was such a great way to keep the suspense and interest throughout the book.
I was shocked at how real the book is. This book was written decades ago but still related to today’s decade in so many ways it’s scary. Although the chances of our world being thrown into a totalitarian government are slightly lower, it’s scary how (somewhat easy it will be). The book was able to capture that sentiment quite well.
Now on to my thoughts about the book from a religious perspective. I consider the book a very good critique of Christian nationalism. From Wikipedia “Christian nationalism is a form of religious nationalism that focuses on promoting the Christian views of its followers in order to achieve prominence or dominance in political and social life” In simple terms, using the Bible and God to gain power over others. This occurred in Europe in the Middle Ages and even today there are quite a number of countries that still follow the ideologies of Christian nationalism. The portrayal of this ideology in the book is so spot on. One way is the use of biblical verses to reinforce certain ideas. In the Handmaid’s Tale, certain bible verses are repeated over and over during certain events that they are entrained in the people’s subconscious minds. You see it a lot in the main character because although she is not a believer, at some point, she becomes influenced.
Another way that Christian nationalist is portrayed in The Handmaid’s Tale is also the gatekeeping of the Bible or even any information in general. Bible’s are kept locked up and only opened during certain events for specific people to read. This is similar to what the Catholic church enforced during the Middle Ages where only priests had access to the Bible and the Bible could only be read in Latin. What this creates is that the people in power are able to bend the rules to their will…This is what we see in the Handmaid’s Tale where people in power are able to take certain liberties their subsidiaries cannot
I loved this book so much because of how spot on it is in showing how societies an easily be shaped to conform to certain ideologies especially by keeping people in ignorance. I hear it has been banned in certain schools in the States, which is so ironic considering the contents of the book. Reading the book as someone who has a bit of Bible knowledge was so interesting because I noticed how certain verses were taken out of context or tweaked to fit the oppressor’s narrative. The oppressors did not even have to change or uphaul much of the words in the Bible, but by keeping people in ignorance and constant indoctrination, a totalitarian state was created where people would not question anything. I rate this book an easy 4.3/5 stars. I regret waiting so long to read it.
by Maleficent_Fig19
25 Comments
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I’m not sure you know but Atwood famously said of this novel that it was all based on history, nothing she wrote into that novel hadn’t happened in some shape or form before.
I’m going to point out that though the medieval church generally opposed translating the scripture into the vernacular (with a few notable heretical exceptions), Atwood touches more closely here on how slave owners (in the USA, not as familiar with other nations’ structures of oppression, though apparently the British west Indian colonies had similar strategies), while instructing their slaves to be good Christians, gave access only to heavily edited versions of the Bible, with certain parts excised, as these parts would challenge the status quo.
And if you want to get into more recent history, the American Christian nationalist movement was spawned from the American nazi party as a way to broaden their base. Fill people’s heads with the idea that their race and religion are under attack, and they will commit any number of atrocities.
I read this book for the first time while I was in high school during Obama’s presidency. As was usual for me, and I’m sure many high school students, I didn’t pick up on the subtext and didn’t appreciate what the story was trying to say.
I re-read it during Trump’s presidency and it was more impactful.
I picked it up again last Wednesday looking for a specific passage and the edition I now own was published in 2017 and included a new introduction by Atwood. She discusses how she intentionally did not make up any of the political/social scenarios in the books, everything has happened at one point in time in history. She chose the US because our country was formed by religious exiles of Europe, so in general we’re more susceptible to Christian nationalism.
I’d encourage all Americans to read that edition of the novel, including that introduction. Democracy dies in silent compliance because freedom is not free.
I would recommend Parable of the Sower since you enjoyed HT! Christian nationalism is the main issue there, too, and it touches on similar themes. I also found it even more relevant to the times we are living in.
It’s on the list of blocked books in Florida.
> by keeping people in ignorance and constant indoctrination
– defund the department of education
– replace free public schools with vouchers for private and religious schools
– defund libraries
– defund public radio
– defund children’s educational television
– defund arts programs
– ban books
– use the power of the state to eliminate unwanted topics from the curriculum
– demand that public schools include religious instruction
– demand that public institutions play Fox News only
– attack independent journalists, call them the enemy of the state
– buy successful media outlets and use them to push propaganda and stifle dissenting voices
– denigrate scientists as elitists, allow and encourage unknowledgeable people to shout them down and attack them
– run on explicitly Christian symbolism such as “saying merry Christmas” and carrying bibles, making it even more difficult for people who are not Christian to hold office in a country with no official national religion
– dog-whistle antagonism towards Jews, Muslims, and members of other faiths regardless of their citizenship; suggest that they do not have America’s best interest at heart due to their faith.
> although the chances of our world being thrown into a totalitarian government are slightly lower
Hm.
Great to see a fellow fan ! I think it should be compulsory reading in schools – it’s the most real book I’ve read – this is literally happening right now in Afghanistan – this book should be regarded as a warning sign of a very possible near future and spread everywhere it’s possible to .
>Although the chances of our world being thrown into a totalitarian government are slightly lower,
Yet never impossible…and we are currently edging closer and closer to the ‘more likely’ side of things.
Jesus respected women, contrary to most of the norms of his time.
>Another way that Christian nationalist is portrayed in The Handmaid’s Tale is also the gatekeeping of the Bible or even any information in general. Bible’s are kept locked up and only opened during certain events for specific people to read. This is similar to what the Catholic church enforced during the Middle Ages where only priests had access to the Bible and the Bible could only be read in Latin
I mean in fairness to the Catholic Church – I know, where’s the fun in that – this is the most negative take you could possibly have to express that:
– prior to the invention of the printing press, bibles were insanely expensive to produce and only the wealthy could afford them. Expensive things then – like now – were kept under lock and key to prevent theft.
– middle age literacy was low. Very few people actually could read, so only specific people – e.g., literate people – could read the Bible. In many communities, the only literate person was the Catholic priest.
– Latin was the language of scholarship after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and it was the closest thing to a lingua franca for Europe.
In general though, totally agree about the Handmaid’s Tale. Just a strange way to talk about history…
I’m a Christian, too, and I’m currently reading THT.
Gilead was implemented days after day, step by step. It didn’t just happen overnight, and there were clear signs of what their final goal was. People knew and barely pushed back. Worse, a lot of women encouraged the system that would literally enslaved them. I think the biggest message of the book is to not be compleasant. She chose religion as the authoritarian figure, but it could’ve been anything else. Too often, she just sits back and waits for life to happen.
We put so much trust in our institution and on principle (ex.: the rule of law) that we do not realize that they are principles and they are only respected if people adhere to them.
Unfortunately, as Christian, we are raised to always see the good in people, to constantly forgive and forget. I don’t think it’s a bad thing on the day to day, but when it comes to systematic oppression, it can become really dangerous because we might excuse unacceptable behavior (i.e.: Trump) in the name of the greater good.
I don’t think Gilead is coming. It’s already here, and it has always been because women’s rights have always been under attack.
>Another way that Christian nationalist is portrayed in The Handmaid’s Tale is also the gatekeeping of the Bible or even any information in general. Bible’s are kept locked up and only opened during certain events for specific people to read. This is similar to what the Catholic church enforced during the Middle Ages where only priests had access to the Bible and the Bible could only be read in Latin. What this creates is that the people in power are able to bend the rules to their will…This is what we see in the Handmaid’s Tale where people in power are able to take certain liberties their subsidiaries cannot
I was raised Protestant and although I’m not a believer now, stuff like this (in real life, I mean) still angers me to no end. IIRC, a “radical” liberalization of scripture interpretation(s) wasn’t want Luther wanted either, but it is what we got and it always seemed to be something that modern Protestantism celebrated. Same with many of the early Enlightenment theologians, who believed that reason was a powerful new tool to bring us better understanding of God.
If the bible is supposed to be the word of God and its expression (maybe even revelation, if I’m feeling particularly bold) in human language a gift to us…then how terrible is it that you think your religion can’t survive without cutting people off from that? If heaven is closeness to God, then what is restricting access to His word but a way of denying people access to heaven?
I read it about a year or two after it was published and thought Atwood was being overly pessimistic about America and the influence of the religious right. Now it feels like prophecy.
If you are a religious person then I can also recommend the sequel to the novel, called “The Testaments” (I mean I can recommend it anyway, but I think for a believer it there might be some points of special interest)
In this novel you learn more about the beginnings and workings of Gilead and two character in particular have a lot of interesting thought on the difference between faith, religion, and religion/doctrine as it is misused by people to gain power over others. One character for example makes a clear difference between “The Gilead kind of god” and the God she believes in.
There’s also parts where a character, after being taught religion/doctrine in Gilead gets to read the Bible for the first time discovers the many lies and misinterpretations Gilead uses.
So I think you might find those elements very interesting.
I read it when it first came out, and thought it was pretty far fetched. Because we’d had the Women’s Lib movement, Civil Rights movement, women were gaining equality in the workplace, etc.
Now, it reads like a how to manual. I, an old cis white guy am terrified for my daughters and granddaughter.
Religious fundamentalism is religious fundamentalism whether it is Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, or Buddhism. Most Christians are completely unaware that their religion (like most) is about control and power and this is self evident in the history of the religion itself. Christian religions have invariably opposed progressive movements (i.e. increased rights in general) whether with respect to slavery, women’s rights, gay rights, labour rights, you name it. Yes, there have always been good Christians on the right side of things but the religions themselves invariably opposed progress. Those progressive Christians serve a purpose when, despite their best efforts, progress wins (as it usually does) because then history can be re-written to show the movement was actually led by the church.
It’s interesting that Atwood chose to have access to the Bible restricted. It was reading the Bible that pushed me to agnosticism.
>Although the chances of our world being thrown into a totalitarian government are slightly lower, it’s scary how (somewhat easy it will be).
Woah!! Are you watching what’s going on in the world today? Totalitarianism is all the rage. And it may be coming to a country near you soon.
> Although the chances of our world being thrown into a totalitarian government are slightly lower
I am not sure you are up with current world events
>Although the chances of our world being thrown into a totalitarian government are slightly lower
well….
I love this perspective! As someone who grew up in a Christian household, I also found *The Handmaid’s Tale* fascinating because of how it repurposes scripture. It’s unsettling how easily verses can be manipulated to justify oppression, and Atwood really drives that home. I think your comparison to the Middle Ages is spot on – it’s a reminder that history has shown us how dangerous it can be when religious texts are weaponized by those in power.
“Even today, there are quite a number of countries that still follow the ideologies of Christian Nationalism. Yeah, that number just went up by one, a big one. 🇺🇸
I read this book earlier this year, and the day after reading it heard an interview on the radio with a female Afghan refugee. The Handmaids tale is already happening in many Islamic states.