The religious element of the novel applies to the Steeds, who are Roman Catholic and the Paxmores who are Quakers (Michener himself was raised a Quaker by his adopted mother). At several points the novel takes the form of debate with religious themes or overtones, beginning with a doctrinal discussion about the religious role of women between Ralph Steed, a Catholic priest, and Ruth Brinton, a matriarch of the Paxmore family. Each such debate always involves one of the Paxmores, with the source of disagreement being rooted in that individual Quaker's beliefs.