Chapters 6 and 7 Summary

In chapter six, as a pre-ministerial student at Pigeonville College, J. works hard but bumps against his own resistance to authority. Although he is provided for with his scholarship, he is a hard worker and saves his money. Eventually J realizes he cannot get comfortable in the atmosphere of piety, and disagrees that everything bad is attributed to the body and everything good comes from the soul. He begins to doubt the literal truth of the Bible, realizing that it has morphed over time and holds many conflicting messages. A certain unanswered prayer of Jesus' convinces him that if one's will does not coincide with God's there may be nothing more to pray for, since prayer does not change God's mind. His questions are met with advice to strengthen his faith. With help from a Dr. Ardmire, J. confirms what he...