Hey Nostradamus!

And Saint Ralph Essay Outline

Bjorn Bols

Thesis: Faith, in both Hey Nostradamus! and Saint Ralph, is a double edged sword that
brings hope and happiness but if that faith is misplaced, people question their beliefs and
lose hope in life.

Point #1 : In Hey Nostradamus! Cheryl says, "God is now here, God is nowhere."
-Coupland Page #9. This quote shows her transition from having faith in the mercy of
god and the goodness in all people is broken during the school shooting. She starts to
question god's methods and if he is truly out there.

Point #2: In Saint Ralph, Ralph's mentor, Father Hibbert was once the best marathon
runner in Canada until he injured his knee. He could not run even after he recovered due
to the War. He is very bitter, does not want to talk about his old career, and does not
believe in miracles. On the other hand, Ralph has faith and manages to get into the
Boston Marathon, thus making Father Hibbert believe once again.

Point #3: Jason, from Hey Nostradamus! has not only lost faith in god but society as well.
Despite saving many lives by killing one of the gun men. His father shuns him, the
public thinks he was involved in the shooting and his former friends, the Youth Alive!
group try to turn Cheryl's parents against him. While the third gunmen, who despite
killing many, is forgiven for "seeing the light" and putting down his weapon. Later
Jason's name is cleared but he cannot forgive everyone. "Now I was a semi-hero, but at
that point screw everybody." -Coupland Page 103.