One critic may believe that the essential clash in the novel is between the scientific and religious approach to life. This is easily said considering the lifestyles of the main two characters, the way in which they conflict with each other, and this being what the story seems to revolve around. Jed's life is perhaps more extreme than a typical approach to life, his life revolves on his take on religion and what he believed God would want, but it is not based around any kind of organised religion, as might be typical. He is very extreme in what he believes, as he will even resort to violence for his spiritual belief. Perhaps Jed's believes are not at all typical, and are more brought on by his unhealthy mental state? Joe's approach to life is a scientific one, and he is not really extreme. He is an atheist...