What is the theme in The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor?

Faith and reason form a prominent, and overarching theme in the novel “The Violent Bear It Away” by Flannery O’Connor. In the novel, faith and reason are pitted against one another from the first, being considered incompatible with one another, and mutually exclusive with one another, by both Marion and Rayber. Marion, a fiery Christian, believes reason does little good for men, if any, while Rayber believes there is nothing good about religion at all –especially Christianity. O’Connor objectively considers both faith and reason in her novel through Tarwater, Marion, and Rayber, but ultimately comes down on the side of faith, and approves of the idea that faith and reason can be compatible.