What are the motifs in Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor?

Religion is a recurring idea. Flannery O’Connor was deeply religious. However, she wasn’t so religious she couldn’t see the hypocrisy many of her fellow Christians practiced. Mrs. May from “Greenleaf” firmly believes her Puritan Work Ethic will reward her over others who don’t work as hard as her. Sheppard from “The Lame Shall Enter First” doesn’t believe in God, but he acts like he is a better person than prominent religious figures. He also thinks religion is for the unintelligent and weak-minded. All the main characters have a radical, yet self-serving, view of Christianity.