The Virtual Coffeehouse

Throughout Carlyle's Sartor Resartus, mentionings of religion are profound. He mentions the idea that governments or instiutions like churches are compared with clothing, "they wear out and have to be replaced by new clothes." Teufelsdrockh's religious development is progressive and is continuously changing. At one point he believes that without religion how much is one exactly worth? Yet, without Happiness and having it be our most important aim, "then are we all astray?"

After going back and forth amongst many ideas pertaining to the Devil and does he really exist to how to define oneself and his/her importance in the surrounding world, Teufelsdrockh finally centers on an answer that the "fearful Unbelief is unbelief in yourself." In other words, the ideal person believes in themself no matter what the factors are. He/she works to believe, to be free and to be happy with who they are. What that person is truly seeking, is something they already posess.