There are various religious characters in this television series. Pennsatucky is one in particular who stands out for several reasons. Leading up to her arrest, Doggett was sexually irresponsible drug addict who had multiple abortions. She was sent to Litchfield because after her last abortion the nurse made a comment on the amount of them that she has had, and Tiffany shot her. An amalgamation of pro-life activists believe that Pennsatucky is a hero, and hires her a notable Christian lawyer to defend her in court. At first she pretends to be a Christian to make it seem like she shot the nurse for the greater good. This eventually led to her be perceived as actually having faith and converting to Christianity.

 

In Litchfield she spends most of her time preaching about God, and trying to convert other inmates to Christianity. There is also the question as to whether she is actually truly religious or whether she is just egotistical and uses religion to try to get her own way (4). This is discussed by Josh Dubler, an assistant professor of religion at the University of Rochester. He states that, “the image of Pennsatucky fits with common secularist imaginings of religion, in which piety, particularly in prison, is either a con or the last defense of the pitiable,” (4).

 

If however she actually has converted then she has completed some questionable actions. She could be viewed as an overbearing Christian, or as someone who views their beliefs as superior, making her intolerable to others' faith or lack there of. Pennsatucky attempted to push her religion on others multiple times throughout the series – including trying to get a huge cross hung up in the prison Church (which is against the rules), and trying to make Piper be get baptized. The latter was the result of Piper and her butting heads, and the attempt at a truce. Piper couldn't go through with it through, and ended up completely insulting Tiffany's beliefs. The biggest religious irony that occurs with Pennsatucky is when she tries to murder Piper at the end of season one. This is an obvious act against not only religion, but against the rules of the general population.