What does miss Maudie mean by sometimes the bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of - oh your father?

Answer 1

it is fairly straightforward. Their town is extremely religious and thus a priest would be the pinnacle of social standing, and as a result wields considerable influence. It is an insightful remark on the abuse of power, comparing religion due to its prominence and position in peoples lives, in the wrong hands as having infinitely worse consequences than an out of control drunkard due to the scope of potential damage towards society and individuals.

Cheers.

Answer 2

Well, honey, Miss Maudie is basically saying that some folks can twist the words of The Bible to justify their own bad behavior, which can be even more harmful than someone just getting drunk off their rocker. It's all about how people use and abuse things, whether it's religion or a bottle of whiskey. Just because you're holding a Bible doesn't mean you're automatically on the right path, sugar.

Answer 3

The downside of being a preacher, missionary, etc. is that so many folks hang onto your every word that you can get egotistical and resent honest dialogue with those who seek to sort out opinions from facts and especially unsubstantiated facts.

Also, some folks become very angry when their statements are not immediately accepted as facts by a listener.

" Trust me " is just too commonly used to be meaningful anymore.

Answer 4

Miss Maudie means that someone who uses religion to justify their harmful actions can be more damaging than someone who uses alcohol irresponsibly. It highlights the importance of not abusing religion for selfish or harmful purposes.

Answer 5

Scouts father, Atticus