This was an intriguing article based on some very Holmesian deductions!

Aside from Holmes' dismissal of religion in A Study In Scarlet, with his recommendation of 'The Martyrdom of Man' - which, I always found telling that Watson wasn't buying Reade's theories - he seems to have a consistent belief in God from some of the earliest stories in The Adventures spanning all the way to VEIL, when he expresses Catholic dogma. A Roman Catholic myself, who did not previously see Holmes as affiliated with any particular religion, that "your life is not your own" part really leapt out at me.

Some other points that many tend to overlook (intentionally or otherwise) is that in GLOR, Holmes specifically mentions going to chapel, and most of the old colleges in the UK - be they Ireland or England - are Catholic. I am not certain if chapel masses are existent in other denominations, but they are extremely commonplace in Catholicism, even today.

I have never before seen such a thorough enumerating of the facts re: Holmes' religion, and while you gave this a definite humorous bent, it was well thought out and rationalized all the same.

I busted out loud laughing so hard with your, * Saint Sherlock Holmes, patron of detectives, pray for us! * You did a wonderful job deducing Holmes RC background. His mother was from France and his great-uncle, the great French painter, Vernet who's theme was war paintings that Napoleon III appreciated. Well done!

Well argued. Catholicism has always been the most cerebral and rationally rigorous of Christian denominations, and an intellectual hero like Holmes would not have been incongruent with the long history of Catholic intellectuals (the best of which were also clerics, but that might have made things a bit too blatant, with the public anti-Catholic sentiment you mentioned).

The point about the Pope is quite strong, and add that to the Irish descent of both himself and his author, plus the little tidbits like the fasting, and some others you omitted (in one of the stories Holmes expresses his fascination with “the polyphonic motets of Lassus”), make a pretty convincing case overall.

Of note regarding Doyle's religion is the fact that the first significant Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, was written in 1886, twenty whole years before Doyle's first interest in spiritualism, and even then he added his spiritualism on to his Christianity, rather than replacing the latter with the former.

Incidentally, why was this classified under humour? Its primary thrust is cerebral, not humorous.

Dudes. Just a few things to keep in mind:

1. Holmes sometimes mentioned God, and sometimes seems to disregard him, people will also mention God without mentioning anything by it, I do it all the time. Isn't it possible he believed in something, but wasn't sure what and his faith came and went back and forth through the years as it does with many people? He had to deal with very horrible senseless things, I'd doubt my faith at times too if I had any.

2. Seriously, remember that Doyle lost his son and became obsessed with the next life, Holmes may mention another life, but he may not mean it in connection with god so much as apiritualism because that's what doyle believed.

3. Holmes may have been christian, Catholic or whatever. there's just as much reason to believe in God as there isn't. Now, I'm an atheist, but I also allow that I could be wrong. My best friend is a christian. Even if Holmes was religious, I write about Vi all the time and never mention her faith, it's like skin colour, you just forget about it over time. Perhaps Holmes was like that too, Perhaps Watson was. It doesn't matter. it doesn't change his actions, it doesn't change who Holmes is or why he does things. There are lots of things he does that could be seen as religious, and many things that could be called sacrilegious, or blasphemous. Frankly, he's Holmes, and that's all that matters. (plus he's fictional so it doesn't really matter at all...but you know what I mean)

4. Maybe the Pope was special to Holmes, or maybe he just had a REALLY interesting case for him, like the one mentioned in the Reigate Squires. That one took up all his attention. There's no way to know.

There's other stuff I could write, but you guys get it. Heehee.

Good monograph on Holmes's faith.

not very funny, and definitely didn't make me go "hm". someone that intelligent, a man of logic would see straight through the lie of religion.

the only part that i found funny was "Sacramentally, My Dear Watson"

Yes, made me laugh.

March, might want to let you know that the link to your homepage doesn't work anymore.

Keep writing!

Funny but thought-provoking. He also tells the woman in the Adventure of the Veiled Lodger that "your life is not your own... keep your hands off it!"... another Catholic doctrine :)

And if you happen to read this, Jo, Many if not most of the world's greatest scientists were religious men. Isaac Newton, Louis Pasteur, Francis Bacon, Copernicus, Galileo,Max Planck,and yes, Albert Einstein and countless others I can't think of right now... so what are you saying?

Anyway, It is fairly evident that Holmes is a religious, if not a practicing religious man. Certianly he mentions God in several stories, favorably remarks upon Christianity as other reviewers have noted here. He also encourages the veiled lodger by telling her life would be too cruel if there was not the hope of another world.

I'd love to think of Holmes as a Roman Catholic...He certianly has many of it's qualities... but it's not conclusive.

It IS evident to any serious reader that he believes in the Almighty,and adheres to the principles of the traditional Christian faith however, which for me is highly satisfactory, no matter what denomination he claims.

I just can't picture Holmes as a religious man. He is a man of science. To me it doesn't make sense.

I also see alternative explanations for some of the points you've used.

Regarding the food, the drugs suppress appetite, which is why he doesn't eat much. He has no desire to.

Showing mercy does not automatically imply religion. He could have other reasons for doing so.

I don't know about some of the other things mentioned as I haven't read all the books. However, to my mind Holmes is not a religious person, or not religious enough to be true to one faith. In my opinion it doesn't suit his personality.

Regards,

Jo

Where did you find the list? I would love to see it.

I always thought that Holmes try to avoid religion so this is an interesting look on the detective.

I loved this; it was well thought out. I never before thought of Holmes as religious, and now I won't be able to help looking at him in a whole new light. Though I'm not religious myself, I think piety makes him a much more interesting character, particularly in conjunction with his obsession with the physical world. I just want to mention, though, that his show of mercy is not significant of Catholicism, per se, because I think the concept and employment of mercy is universal, no matter the religion (or non-religion), to basic human tenets. Still, your work was thoughtful, and it made me smile :)

Hmm... very intruiging.

The refernce to Holmes's sense of mercy, however, could be ascribed to any branch of the Christian church - or I hope so, anyway. That's the only qualm I can think of.

Holmes also refers to God towards the end of 'The Last Bow' in a somewhat pious way that would be slightly hipocratic (sp?) from someone who was not a believer. Perhaps he found faith more in his old age than in his youth? Also, in 'The Naval Treaty', he comments on the beauty of the rose, and how it is an 'extra' to the wonder of life. Perhaps it was at this point in his life that Holmes was thinking more about God, and was perhaps finding more strength in his faith?

Finally, if he was a Christian (I'm not going to be specific here - a Christian is a follower of Christ whether or not he is Church of England, Catholic or even Methodist) then this would perhaps explain his indifference to death in 'The Final Problem'. He was not afraid to die, because he believed that something else was waiting for him 'on the other side'.

Holmes may even have been a deitist. This is, I suppose, a relatively modern term for a person who believes in 'God' - not necessarily of any particular religion - but it would be like Holmes to be ahead of the times. Then again, such a vague belief may have been too imprecise for Holmes's careful, ordered mind. So yes, it is entirely plausible - nay, probable - that Holmes was a Roman Catholic.

My apologies for a review that was far too long - I hope I haven't sent you to sleep!

HoVis

WOW! That monograph blew me away. I never thought of the prospect of Holmes as an Irish/Roman-catholic. It all makes sense now! I'm very well pleased. Being myself, over half Irish, and my Grandpa a full-blooded Irish Catholic, I am very proud to think that THE SHERLOCK HOLMES is Irish! You inspire me! This work of art should be taken seriously as a historical referance. PLEASE do write more, I'm dying to continue.

Fascinating piece. I, myself, always thought the "What a lovely thing a rose is" speech in NAVA had a decidedly Catholic air.

"Hmm" indeed.

made me go 'hm' alright! :)

How. Never, really, has it ever gone into my mind that he be Catholic. Never thought about it, really. Hm...