Emily Dickinson’s poetry is worthy of being studied by a Christian reader because her

poems deal with some very religious themes and ideas. Emily Dickinson was not a Christian
which makes studying her a controversial topic. Most of the years she lived after the age of
seventeen, she referred to herself as a “pagan,” unreligious (Pak 2). She writes about God and
questions Him in many ways in her poems though. Dickinson acknowledges that God is real
and even wrote a poem called “I know that He exists” (338). It is clear that she is not, however,
a believer nor faith follower of Christ. This non-Christian lifestyle is clear in poems like "The
Bible is an antique Volume" (1545) which shows Dickinson’s disbelief in the Bible. Dickinson
writes about many things that, as Christians, should be evaluated and reflected upon in order to
create a deeper relationship with the Lord. There are many ways I can relate with Emily, but
there are many ways that I am very different from Emily as well. The poem that I read that I can
personally connect with the most is “Hope is the thing with feathers” (314). Many of Emily’s
poems seem dark and depressing which is why I cannot relate with many of them, but this poem
is more positive. Emily writes about her everlasting hope she has that never goes away, “‘Hope’
is the thing with feathers – / That perches in the soul – / And sings the tune without the words – /
And never stops – at all – /” (Dickinson, ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” 1-4). I can relate with
this idea of hope that Dickinson writes about because I am a very hopeful person who trusts and
has hope that God is leading me even in times of distress.
There were not any poems that I read that challenged my faith or my view of the world.
There are many deep questions that Dickinson’s poetry makes me think, analyze, and reflect
about, but none of her words challenged any of my beliefs. A lot of the questions that Emily
writes about her poetry is interesting and intriguing to think about, but not in a way that makes
me question the same things. Emily questions God and does not believe that He cares about
her cries in her prayers,
Of Course - I prayed - /
And did God care?
He cared as much as on the Air
A Bird - had stamped her foot -
And cried ‘Give Me’ -
(Dickinson, “Of Course—I prayed” 1-5). This example shows how Dickinson’s writing could
challenge Christian beliefs but her words do not sway mine. Richard Wilbur even recognized
this struggle Dickinson had of having faith in God, “Why, she asked..Why is there never a sign
that prayers are heard?” (1). Finally, I believe that reading Dickinson’s poems and studying her
poetry has merit because it is good to understand and reflect about others opinions. There are
many relatable things that Dickinson writes about and her poems were all written very well. Her
poems have meaning to so many and scholars everywhere still study her work. Dickinson
fulfilled her life’s work that she mentions in one of her poems, “If I can stop one Heart from
breaking / I shall not live in vain” (Dickinson, “If I can stop one Heart from breaking” 1-2). Emily
Dickinson’s writing has moved people for generations and it is definitely worthwhile to study
Emily’s poems.