Religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and the purpose of the universe, usually involving devotional and ritual observances. Religion can have a very positive impact on people and bring societies and communities together by bonding and having faith in a common belief. At the same time, however, it can also destroy relationships, communities, and societies. “Parker’s Back” by Flannery O’Connor and “This Blessed House” by Jhumpa Lahiri, are two short stories that both deal with religion and religious iconography between two married couples. Believing and having faith in a common belief can really bring people together and build relationships, but in these two short stories, religion is the underlying cause of a conflict of two perfectly romantic relationships. The two couples in each of the stories collide over religious iconography. The husbands in the story have a defining moment where they discover faith and have a spiritual awakening, and then ultimately this collision leads to them submitting to the beliefs and values of their wives. In the two short stories religious iconography is an overall dominating element. “Parker’s Back” is replete with Biblical symbolism. In “Parker’s Back,” the burning tree that appears towards the end of the story holds a great deal of symbolism within it. This tree can be perceived as the “tree of life” and also as a reference to the Biblical story of Moses and the Burning Bush. Along with the burning tree, Parker loses his shoes and they are burned as well. This is a powerful image because Parker losing his shoes acts much like Moses who must remove his shoes before he can be in the presence of the burning bush. “This Blessed House” begins with Twinkle discovering something in a cupboard above the stove. Twinkle had found a “white porcelain effigy of Christ” just lying in the cabinet (136). Imagery is also is hidden in O.E. Parker’s name itself. Obadiah translates to “Servant of God” and Elihue translates to “My God is He.” In “This Blessed House,” the couple finds Christian relics throughout the entire house and within one week of living there, Twinkle has managed to fill up the entire mantle with a “sizable collection of Christian paraphernalia” (137). Displayed on the mantle there was a “3-D postcard of Saint Francis done in four colors, a wooden cross key chain, a framed paint-by-number of the three wise men, and there was also a tile trivet depicting a blond, unbearded Jesus, delivering a sermon on a mountaintop.” (137) With the pressing issue of religious iconography throughout the two stories, the couples eventually begin to clash with one another. While different aspects of Christianity fascinate both women, their husbands do not wish to have anything to do with this religion. Sarah Ruth is a woman of devout faith in Christianity and Twinkle is obsessed with the Christian paraphernalia that she continues to find throughout their house