珍．奧斯汀的小說迷人之處在於作者的幽默，機敏，對人性的洞察以及含蓄的評論。
然而身為一位虔誠的基督徒，奧斯汀小說中對於宗教話題的隱晦常使其遭受誤解或抨擊。本論文旨在探討奧斯汀小說中的基督教元素與其呈現手法。緒論為介紹作者之時代背景與以其宗教觀為研究主題之文獻回顧。首章探討奧斯汀如何在小說及現實生活中實踐基督教精神。第二章分析作者如何將聖經教訓不落痕跡的化為男女主角們的行為準則；並且對時人模稜兩可的道德觀提出警告。末章核心在於奧斯汀對於神職人員的針砭，並且分析小說家借用書中人之口所描繪出關於牧者的理想形象。此外，本文也進一步分析奧斯汀晦於書寫宗教場景的原因，以期能為其小說世界提供不同的視界。

In the field of Jane Austen study, some critics regard her novels as a preaching of Christianity while some others consider her works as secular novels. In regards of the author’s religious background, it is essential to re-examine her novels in order to formulate the influence of religion in both her life and her works and to settle certain debates on her belief.
This present thesis will center on three of Austen’s novels: Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma, with exploring her surviving correspondence in mention of her opinion on Christians, to probe into her religious principles and to provide a neutral viewpoint to scrutinize the relation between literature and religion in the novels.
The introductory chapter gives an overall look on Jane Austen’s religious and historical background. The following three chapters aim to discuss several elements of Christianity in her novels respectively. Chapter One exemplifies the practice of Christian charity in Austen’s novels as well as in her daily life. It also elaborates on certain “good principles” that were well-known by the Regency congregation and that were practiced by the authoress. Chapter Two discusses how Austen reflects the biblical teaching in her novels without using direct quotes and how she presents her concern of the potential crisis with ambiguous values. The final chapter deals with the problems facing by the Regency clergy and how Austen projects her ideal clergy through a hero’s mouth. Most importantly, this thesis conjectures the reasons of Austen’s evasiveness on religion in hope to gain a new insight into her fictional world.

論文審定書 …………………………………………………………………i
Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………….ii
Abstract ………………………………………………………………………iii
摘要 …………………………………………………………………………iv
Abbreviations ..……………………………………………………………….v
Introduction ………………………………………………………………….1
Chapter One: Christianity and Everyday Life ………………………………34
Chapter Two: The Bible and its Teachings ………………………………….58
Chapter Three: God’s Advocates: Church Work and the Clergy ……………90
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………120

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